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Maritime stakeholders have raised concerns about the recent introduction of a $2,000 registration fee for indigenous shipowners by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
At the 2024 Stakeholders Engagement in Lagos, former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency,
Temisan Omatseye, expressed dismay over the two licensing fees imposed on indigenous shipowners by NMDPRA.
Omatseye highlighted that NMDPRA is demanding a $2,000 registration fee for one license and an additional N2 million for another, known as coastal licenses.
He emphasized that NMDPRA's authority to collect such fees is questionable, as it goes against international provisions.
Omatseye called on the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to ensure that NIMASA can carry out its constitutional duties.
"According to him, NIMASA has ownership over any cable or pipeline laid on the seabed. The ministry should take back its responsibility and return it to NIMASA. He suggested that the industry should be managed jointly by NIMASA and the ministry."
Echoing the sentiments of the former NIMASA DG, Aminu Umar, a shipowner and the President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, emphasized the need to address the issue of multiple clearances that shipowners are required to obtain.
Umar highlighted the burden of having to seek clearance from multiple agencies in order to operate, citing the redundancy of requiring shipowners to obtain clearance from NMDPRA when NIMASA has already done so.
He suggested that NIMASA and NMDPRA should collaborate to streamline the clearance process, ensuring that once NIMASA clears a ship, NMDPRA should accept that clearance as sufficient.
In response, the South West Regional Coordinator of NMDPRA, Mr. Ayo Cardoso, clarified that the agency charges $1,200 for the coastal vessel license, along with processing and application fees as per the regulations.
