Nigerian shippers lose $1.9bn to foreign ship owners annually—Hassan Bello.

Chinazor Megbolu |

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barrister Hassan Bello, has said that Nigeria loses $1.9 billion to foreign ship owners annually.

He made this known during a working visit to the Headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

In a statement issued by Group General Manager Public Affairs, Dr. Kennie Obateru,
Bello urged the NNPC subsidiaries to patronise jndigenous shipping companies in their businesses.

The NSC Chief Executive pointed out that the Federal Ministry of Transportation established NFIC three years ago in a bid to advance ownership of vessels by Nigerians.

Bello during the visit, maintained that the intervention will empower Nigerian shipping businesses to take control of the market in accordance with the diversification push of the federal government of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Mele Kyari in his response said: “We believe in this process, we will ensure that Nigerian ships enjoy a greater patronage in the business henceforth”.

He also promised that NNPC would back domestic fleet owners in getting more involved in the oil and gas maritime business in Nigeria.

Kyari, however, assured Bello that considering the size of NNPC’s operations in the maritime sector, the agency would have more engagement in the activities of the fleet management committee towards consolidating the partnership between the NNPC and the private sector.