Government agencies insensitive to plight of ship owners —SOAN

The Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) has said government agencies are insensitive to the plight of jobless ship owners.

This is even as the association accused government agencies of descending harshly on jobless ship owners with charges and levies, while banks and other financial regulators keep harassing bankrupt ship owners for loans not paid back.

Speaking ahead of the Annual General Meeting/Dinner of the association, President of SOAN, Mr Greg Ogbeifun during a chat with Nigerian Tribune correspondent, wondered how foreign vessels got waivers when there were government agencies saddled with the responsibility to ensure such things happen.

According to Ogbeifun, “It has not gone well with indigenous shipping in Nigeria, business-wise. All you need to do to know this is to look at Marina in Lagos; you will see that all the berths are empty. As we are speaking, about 12 vessels loaded with rice are waiting offshore Cotonou, waiting to discharge. Those ports are very busy, ours are empty”.

Nigerian Tribune, November 16, 2017

 

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