•Engages Marine, Blue Economy stakeholders on roadmap
By Steve Agbota and Idu Jude (Abuja)
The Federal Government has concluded plans to re-establish a National Shipping Line through a strategic Public Private Partnership (PPP) to capture substantial share of the estimated $10 billion annual ship charter market within the country.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, stated this on Tuesday at a stakeholders roundtable engagement on advancing sustainable development in Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy, convened to bring together players in the sector to discuss and chart a roadmap to advance the industry’s potential, promote sustainable Blue Economy investments and ensure global competitiveness within the sector.
He said with the nation’s expansive coastline stretching over 853 kilometers along the Atlantic Ocean and a network of potentially navigable waterways covering 10,000 km across 28 of her 36 states, Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy stand as a pivotal sector to foster sustainable economic growth of the nation.
“The ministry’s decision to consider the re-establishment of a National Shipping Line, through a strategic PPP arrangement, is borne out of our desire to capture a substantial share of the estimated $10 billion annual ship charter market within the country.
“Let me hasten to say that this initiative will not seek to impede the growth of local players but rather to provide an avenue for them to create and extract more value from the sector, especially through ship construction, maintenance, and repairs.This would enable our local businesses to better leverage the Carbotage Act, which gives Nigerians the exclusive right to control locally generated seaborne trade,” he added.
The minister said the sector can be transformed through the innovative PPP models that the ministry has embraced, adding that the model, a collaborative synergy between the private sector’s efficiency and the public sector’s oversight, is set to bring about transformative impact on the marine and blue economy.
He added that anticipated outcomes include the creation of substantial job opportunities and the facilitation of increased trade and investment in the nation, reinforcing its collaborative and forward-looking approach.
“It is worth noting that this engagement forum is crucial to the development of the sector as it offers an opportunity for us all to collectively contribute our perspectives, ideas and offer relevant inputs that can propel the sector to the trajectory of success necessary to support the development of the economy as well as meet the expectations of Mr. President who took the courage to open up Nigeria to focus on the Blue Economy Value Chain.
“The zeal for a better life for Nigerians propelled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to recently unveil 8 Presidential Priorities to address critical national challenges. These priorities are to be delivered through 8 focus areas, namely: economic growth, food security, energy and natural resources, infrastructure development, security, healthcare, education, improved governance, and job creation.
To actualise these Priorities, our Ministry has also moved a step further by putting up this Roundtable so that we can harvest ideas that would form part of our roadmap and policy direction. This is why today we will be looking at such areas like Strengthening the Blue Governance; Transforming Port Operations; Enhancing Port Infrastructure; and Promoting Blue Economy Investments,” he added.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary, Federal of Transportation/Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, said that the maritime sector is a major source of revenue earnings for the country, an enabler of trade and a key engine of economic growth and sustainable development.
According to her, Nigeria is blessed with so much aqua and so has an extensive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) making it a natural hub for shipping and International Trade for most landlocked neighboring nations in West and Central African region.
“Our maritime industry is also blessed with many experts including captain of maritime industries, indigenous ship owners, terminal operators, freight forwarders, shipping lines, barge operators, maritime lawyers, stevedoring companies, women groups etc who are in this hall today and have paid huge sacrifices in advancing the Nigerian Maritime Industry to its presence state.
“Dear eminent stakeholders, We are aware that you are the last mile, and the major link between the Government and the Nigerian People. You are the main operators as well as the litmus test in determining the impact of the Government policies, programmes and initiatives.
As such, this stakeholders engagement Roundtable is necessary as it enables us to present our challenges, jointly brainstorm on the solutions with a view to chart a roadmap for a Maritime Industry that is sustainable technological advanced and innovative.
“This stakeholders forum has been designed for us to inform, equip and enable us to share knowledge on critical issues affecting the maritime sector particularly as the new administration has deemed it fit to showcase the potentials of the Marine and Blue Economy as well has harness its opportunities for the benefit of Nigerians. Let us lend our voice as we begin this journey of more growth for the maritime industry,” she stated.