FG Grants ISAN Shipping Company National Carrier Status

The Federal Government is set to grant the Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria (ISAN) Shipping Company a national carrier status.

Revelation to this effect came at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the instance of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) recently in Lagos.

Speaking at the meeting, Director-General of NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, said that the meeting was organised to harmonise the different views of stakeholders in granting the ISAN Shipping Company a national carrier status so as to have a common voice in the industry.

He said that granting ISAN Shipping Company a national carrier status will enable NIMASA to be able to perform some of its statutory responsibilities effectively and help the agency in presenting a better argument to government.

In his words: “This meeting is to harmonise our views to grant ISAN a national carrier status, because it will make our job simple and minimise the way we are in the press for negative issues. I am in the mood to give ISAN a national carrier status. We are going to give the national carrier to ISAN, but the views should be harmonised.”

Akpobolokemi, who said that he is favourably inclined to the decision to grant ISAN a national carrier status, noted that there was nothing wrong in giving ISAN a national carrier status, since, according to him, the body represents several interests in the Nigerian maritime industry.

He urged stakeholders to support the move to grant ISAN Shipping Company the national carrier status.

“We must put national interest before personal interests. National interest should take precedent over personal view,” Akpobolokemi said.

Also speaking at the meeting, NIMASA’s Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Ibrahim Zailani, explained that the decision of the agency to support ISAN Shipping Company in getting a national carrier status is as a result of the fact that ISAN has been able to galvanise the sector for the benefit of Nigerians.

Zialani said that NIMASA will pursue the national carrier status for ISAN Shipping Company to a logical conclusion.