The International Bargaining Forum, IBF, has delisted Nigeria from the list of countries designated as risk maritime nations.
This follows Nigeria’s improvement in global ratings on security in the nation’s maritime sector, a feat achieved from the collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Gambo, told Journalists in Abuja that the sustained collaboration has also paved way for Nigeria to be removed from the list of countries paying War Insurance Premium on ships whose destination is Nigeria by Llyods of London, United Kingdom.
Vice Admiral Gambo explained that with the removal of the country from the list of nations designated as risk maritime corridors, Nigeria has finally ended partnership in the annual payment of $793Million as insurance premium with regard to vessels plying Nigerian sea-lanes and waters.
‘‘Before now, Cargo ships and other vessels plying the Nigerian route or whose destination was Nigeria were made to pay a significantly higher premium on insurance due to heightened security fears and attacks” Vice Admiral Gambo stated.
Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, described the feat as a landmark achievement under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that the achievement was a product of a well-structured multimodal policy implemented to fight piracy and other criminalities in Nigerian waters.
Writing by Saa Albashir; Editing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade & Adeniyi Bakare