The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has kicked against maritime stakeholders, particularly ship operators’s inability to properly prepare their documentation for the purpose of registering vessels on the nation’s ship registry.
Speaking in Lagos at a stakeholders’ interactive forum, Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said the agency has been inundated with stakeholders submitting incomplete documents thereby slowing down the processing of applications.
Peterside noted that despite the availability of a checklist, which applicants are suppose to adhere to, incomplete documents are still submitted.
He said: “Stakeholders should note that the length of time spent on registration of companies is largely caused by the inability of stakeholders to submit complete documentation as provided in the checklist for such registration.
“In a move to circumvent the provision and provide fake documents, such process is usually stalled during verification of those documents by our officers, and attempts to get in touch with such stakeholders for resubmission of documents will delay such process for months. In this regard, the agency calls on her current and potential stakeholders to endeavour to abide by the rules to enable us serve you better.
“This equally applies to registered contractors of the agency often when contract is awarded to them, as it takes months for them to submit acceptance letter which is required by the procurement department to complete their documentation. The agency has commenced 24 hours a day and seven days of the week in line with the Presidential Order on the Ease of doing business.”