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Operators in the
maritime industry have been promised a good time, as the proposed
Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is said to be designed to promote
economic activities among Nigerian ship owners who participate in the
freighting of crude oil in and out of the country.

The Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in a statement on Monday, signed
by Levi Ajuonuma, its group general manager in charge of Public
Affairs, said Shehu Ladan, group managing director of the NNPC, gave
the assurance at a reception organised by the Indigenous Shipowners
Association of Nigeria (ISAN), in Lagos.

Mr. Ladan said that
the PIB, if passed into law, would provide a conducive business
environment for ship owners involved in the oil business; assuring them
of his readiness to ensure that their investment is boosted through a
synergy between them and the Corporation.

“I want to assure
you that NNPC under my tenure would do whatever it takes to support
Shipowners of Nigeria origin to get returns on their investment. While
in the saddle, shipowners will not fail. I believe this would give the
Nigerian flagship its pride of place in the maritime industry,” the
NNPC boss said at the event, which was held in his honour and two other
members of the executive council of the federation.

The other two honourees are the Minister of Interior, Emmanuel Ihenacho, and the Minister of Transport, Yusuf Sulaiman.

Mr. Ladan applauded
ISAN for the honour done them and solicited for their collaboration
with the Corporation to sustain the effective export and import of
petroleum products.

Dividends of democracy

Presenting his
remarks, the Chairman of ISAN, Isaac Jolapamo, felicitated with the
honourees for their appointments and described them as “round pegs in
round hole.” He assured them of the association’s partnership and urged
them to use the little time left for them to deliver the dividends of
democracy to the shipping industry.

Mr. Ihenacho, the
Minister of Interior and one of the honourees, while addressing the
gathering, pledged his commitment to the growth of the maritime sector
in the country, adding that “indigenous shipowners would be encouraged
to participate more in the freighting of crude products.”

The president of
Lagos Business School, Pat Utomi, a professor of Political Science,
congratulated the honourees and described ISAN as one professional
association that has provided expertise, and capable of making the
Nigeria economy one of the greatest economies by year 2020.

The event was
graced by the former chief of general staff, Mike Aikhigbe; the
governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, who was represented by his
Commissioner of Environment.