The
Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that partnership is a
crucial element to the effective utilization of Africa’s maritime
resources, just as a committee of Stakeholders has been set up to map
out strategies to develop the Nigeria’s Blue Economy.
The
NIMASA DG who said this today during this year’s celebration of the
African Day of Seas and Oceans held in Lagos with the theme
“Partnership Key to a Sustainable Blue World” noted that the need
for countries in the African continent to collaborate has become
imperative in order to realize a common goal, geared towards the
actualization of the Blue Economy.
In
his words, “Our passion for Africa’s partnership inspires
our leadership role in the Association of African Maritime
Administration (AAMA) to continue to innovate with ideas to pull
African Maritime Administrations (MARAD) together for sustainable
realization of the objectives of the African Integrated Maritime
Strategy (AIMS) 2050 towards a peaceful, prosperous and integrated
Africa where there will be equal opportunity to participate towards
economic growth.”
Speaking
further, Dr. Peterside noted that the world is concerned about the
sustainable use of the seas and oceans as it is endowed with enormous
resources, hence the need for Africa to utilize the opportunities
embedded in it.
While
using the opportunity to call for more collaboration among
Stakeholders in realizing a robust maritime sector in Nigeria and
Africa as a whole, he assured that NIMASA will continue to engage and
educate the public on the sustainable use of the seas and
oceans.
The
event which was well-attended by Stakeholders and experts in the
maritime sector also had in attendance the Managing Director, Starz
Marine and Engineering Services Limited, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun as the
Chairman of the occasion, who said in his opening remarks that the
world is beginning to go back to the original creation God blessed
mankind with, which is the seas and the oceans.
He
noted that Nigeria is at a vantage position with a good geographical
location with about 900 km coastline, hence the need to work
harmoniously to realize the blueprint of the AIMS 2050 with the
overall goal of actualizing the concept of the Blue Economy in Africa
for continental economic growth.
Also
speaking at the event was Barrister (Mrs.) Margaret Orakwusi who
delivered the lead paper titled; “National Maritime Strategy and
the National Maritime Transport Policy Framework: How Far is the Road
Yet?” concluded by saying; “For Nigeria to develop a
robust and sustainable maritime sector, there is the need to prepare
an all-inclusive framework and strategy based on the development
strategies of the African Union in line with the AIMS 2050, Agenda
2063, Lome Charter and the African Maritime Transport Charter”.
In
his paper titled; “Developing our Blue Economy as a
Critical National Economic Objective: The Partnership Model.” Dr.
Chris Asoluka stated that the only way to fully optimize the
opportunities embedded in the African seas and oceans is to work
collaboratively as a continent, so that we can compete favorably with
our counterparts in other continents. He also reiterated the fact
that Nigeria’s maritime domain remains a fertile ground waiting to
be fully utilized for economic growth and development.
On
his part, Professor Babajide Alo an environmental expert who also
spoke at the event advised that beyond the annual celebration of the
event, partnership strategies to ensure sustainable implementation of
the resolutions must be considered so that in the long run all set
goals are achieved for the benefit of the entire African continent.
At
the event, the NIMASA Board Chairman, Major General Jonathan India
Garba (rtd.) and the Director General, Nigerian Chambers of Shipping,
Barrister (Mrs.) Obiageli Obi in their goodwill messages unanimously
agreed that it is important to realize that the world is getting more
and more dependent on resources from the seas and oceans, noting that
it is the engine for economic growth. They also urged Stakeholders in
the maritime industry to work together for the benefit of the
actualization of the Blue Economy in Africa.
The
highpoint of the event was the setting up a partnership committee on
implementation of sustainable Blue Economy in Nigeria to be Chaired
by Major General, Jonathan India Garba (rtd) and the Secretary is Dr.
Mrs. Felicia Mogo, the Deputy Director, in charge Marine Environment
Management of NIMASA. Other members of the Committee includes; Dr.
Chris Asoluka, Captain Sunday Umoren amongst others.
The
Committee while being inaugurated by Mr. Mike Igbokwe, a Senior
Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was charged to come up a framework for the
actualization of the Blue Economy initiative in Nigeria amongst other
responsibilities, all geared towards the realization of a robust and
virile maritime sector in Nigeria.
It
may be recalled that the 22nd Ordinary Session of Heads of States and
Governments adopted the 2050 AIM Strategy and Plan of Action,
including a roadmap for the incremental implementation of the
strategy in line with International Maritime Law.
The
Strategy includes a framework for action on, inter
alia:
fisheries and aquaculture; environmental and biodiversity monitoring;
marine tourism; Disaster Risk Management (DRM); handling and shipment
of hazardous materials and dangerous goods; maritime governance; flag
state and port state control; and illegal activities, including money
laundering, piracy, maritime terrorism and human trafficking and
smuggling by sea.
The
African Day of the Seas and Oceans was instituted by the African
Union in 2015. It seeks to draw attention to the strategic importance
of proper management of marine resources for the development of the
African continent in a sustainable manner.
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