Nigerian Cabotage: Its Policy, Prospects and Challenges

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to critically examine the Nigerian Cabotage Law and its policy. It will look at what Nigeria stand to benefit by enacting the Law. It is a fact that some countries attempt certain policies in order to experiment, as to whether it will work for them and then they tap into its exploits. Others venture into specific policies because some have successfully experimented and they believe they can do it too. Whatever category Nigeria falls into, the study will attempt to analyze the policy upon which the Nigerian Cabotage law is anchored. It will examine the issue of Ministerial waiver in the event that there are no indigenous capacities to carry out the objectives as spelt out in the Act. It will also examine the various challenges encountered at different stages of implementation. The study contends that what Nigeria stand to gain by Cabotage transcends what she will lose if the law is not given birth to. It concludes that if the implementation guidelines are jealously adhered to and the enforcements are strictly followed, Cabotage has the potentials of becoming a great rivalry to Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria.

Keywords: Nigeria, Cabotage, Maritime, NIMASA, Shipping