NIMASA, Navy To Partner On Blue Economy

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and the Nigerian Navy have inaugurated a Committee to establish ways in which the synergy between both organs of government can be channeled into creating a welcoming environment for investment in the Blue Economy. Assistant Director, Public Relations, NIMASA Osagie Edward, in a statement said, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC West), Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, who inaugurated the 8-Man Committee charged them to come up with policies to create a welcoming maritime environment for investment in the Nigerian Blue Economy. Membership of the 8-Man Committee includes on the Navy side, Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, FOC, Western Naval Command; Cdre K.O. Oguntuga, Commander NNS Beecroft; Cdre N.S. Kaman, COO Western Naval Command and Capt. A. U. Tijani. The Committee members representing NIMASA namely, Director Deep Blue Project, Chief Otonye Obom; Head Shipping Development, Kurahson Inuwa; Head, ISPS, Isa Mudi; and Deputy Director,  Cabotage Services, Aisha Usman Dangote. You will recall that the Agency’s Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh OFR, during a visit by a delegation from the Nigerian Navy to the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos recently, had announced the constitution of an 8-Man committee, comprising four each from the Navy and NIMASA. 

Blue Economy Can Provide 350m Jobs If Harnessed Properly —NIMASA DG

The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh has posited that Nigeria’s blue economy has the capacity to offer 350 million jobs if adequately harnessed. Jamoh, who was represented by the Acting Coordinator of NIMASA, Abuja Office, Hajia Rakiya Lamai, said during the NIMASA Special Day at the 18th Abuja International Trade Fair, Abuja. According to him, Nigeria’s vast under-utilised blue economy offers huge opportunities for growth and development to overcome its present economic challenge. “The blue economy has enormous potential as it offers the country the opportunities of 350 million new jobs if adequately harnessed. “Ocean resources like fishes, shrimps and other sea foods have not been satisfactorily harnessed, just as ship repairs are done in neighbouring countries and in faraway Turkey because the facilities are lacking locally. “With a combination of modern technology, relevant laws and support from the Federal Government, relevant agencies and stakeholders, disbursement of CVFF Funds, NIMASA is working to fulfill its mandate of regulating operations in the maritime industry,” he said. He said NIMASA was intensifying efforts to secure the Nigerian maritime environment and develop indigenous capacity for shipping expansion to provide value addition for sustainable growth and development of the Nigerian economy. Jamoh further said waterways expansion would be a much better incentive than tax waivers as it would encourage more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and private sector involvement in the maritime transport business. According to the NIMASA boss, moving toward waterways expansion will boost Port services and encourage the much-needed development in the industry. “While we await a cohesive policy to fully kick into gear, we must all become ‘Blue Ambassadors’ (Advocates for the Blue Economy). “The Blue Economy is every Nigerian’s Economy; the Media, Civil Society and other non-state actors, all have a role to play in galvanizing greater national awareness and participation. “We must rethink our waters, we need a total rethink from a ceremonial view; events such as Argungu Fishing Festival as well as others which must be redesigned and repackaged from the standpoint of the blue economy,” he said. He said efforts ought to be doubled to banish sea blindness amongst Nigerians and make seaward and sea-related activities more mainstream and attractive.  He added that a Public Private Partnership (PPP) ought to be harnessed for maritime cluster development. 

Oyetola assumes office as Minister, Marine and Blue Economy

*Pledges Responsible Management and Utilisation of Marine Resources The newly appointed Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has assumed office with a pledge to build a responsible management that will ensure efficient utilisation of the nation’s marine resources. Oyetola who made this known on assumption of duty at the Ministry in Abuja expressed happiness at the honour accorded by Mr President to champion and chart a course for the the growth of marine resources, urging the management team to support him to deliver on Ministerial mandate. Oyetola observed that regarding the size of Nigeria’s blue economy, it cannot but be a significant player in the sector which is estimated to be about a $3 trillion globally. Furthermore, he said the blue economy has the capacity to contribute immensely to revenue generation and provide jobs for the unemployed, hence the need to properly harness it. Speaking on fostering and facilitating trade by making our inland waterways navigable, Oyetola said: “We must come up with practicable ways of ensuring that our Inland rivers and waterways are properly utilised, both in terms of cargo shipment and passenger transportation and this can be done by embarking on a wholistic dredging campaign for most of our strategically important waterways so as to make them navigable for the passage of goods and people”. In her welcome speech, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy/Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, promised a smooth working relationship with the Minister, stating that together they can move the Marine and Blue Economy forward and make it more impactful to the economy of Nigeria. Speaking on efforts made thus far, the Permanent Secretary stated: “We have done a bit in terms of Blue Economy in the country before now. There is a Committee that is being Chaired by the former Vice President working on the Blue Economy and there is an expanded Committee that brings in everyone that is within the waters, so now that we have a stand alone Ministry, we hope and desire that it will impact alot to the economy of the country and move our nation forward”