A CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND OVERVIEW OF THE NIGERIAN CABOTAGE ACT AND ITS OBJECTIVES

Nigeria's cabotage regime is critical to supporting indigenous involvement and growth in the marine sector. This legal framework control Nigeria's Maritime activities, and makes a case for reform proposals targeted at improving its efficacy in encouraging Nigerian shipping, shipbuilding, and other marine businesses and addressing existing issues. This article explained the historical perspective on when the CABOTAGE Act was enacted and also explained the distinction between the liberal or relaxed and strict or protectionist Cabotage implementation on the current legal framework. Strengths and shortcomings, indicating areas that require adjustment to fulfill the cabotage regimes planned objectives. It also examines key issues such as a lack of local capacity, a limping legal framework, insufficient enforcement, ambiguities in the legal provisions, a lack of capacity building, and limited access to funding that impede the effective implementation of the cabotage regime. The principal results of this work are the enforcement procedures, which is mostly domiciled under the institutional coordination of NIMASA saddled with the responsibility of, capacity-building programs, financial incentives, and the promotion of shipbuilding and ship repair infrastructure to solve difficulties and encourage long-term growth in Nigeria's marine industry. This study calls for a comprehensive strategy for reforming the legislative structure controlling Nigeria's cabotage regime. It emphasizes the significance of stakeholder engagement, effective enforcement, and focused policy interventions to improve indigenous involvement, encourage economic development, and increase Nigeria's standing in the global marine industry. In conclusion, this paper proposed reforms if implemented will provide a favorable climate for Nigerian ship owners, seafarers, and allied industries to prosper, thereby contributing to the nation's maritime sector's growth and sustainability.