… Expresses optimism of Nigeria’s winning Category ‘‘C’’ seat of IMO
The Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON recently rolled out the achievements recorded by the apex ministry and its agencies in the past one year.
.
The achievements are attributed to maritime security and safety, port operational efficiency, infrastructure rehabilitation, connectivity and blue economy development.
The Minister, who unfolds the strategic plans of the Ministry and the Agencies which would focus on maritime security, safety, ship building & maintenance, maritime governance, port infrastructure rehabilitation, capacity building, among others.
Addressing members of the League of Maritime Editors & publishers at a luncheon in Lagos, the Minister said that Nigeria’s territorial waters have been very safe in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) in the past one year, adding that the maritime sector has recorded zero incidence of piracy and maritime terrorism for more than one year.
He also spoke on the ministry’s effort toward infrastructure upgrade of Apapa and Tin -Can Island Port which involves the Nigerian Ports Authority, noting that it was to ensure that port facilities remain efficient. According to him, to upgrade the facilities, NPA has negotiated with United Kingdom Export Finances (UKEFs) for a $700m with Citibank of Nigeria, adding that the upgrade is expected to generate no fewer than twenty thousand jobs.
Oyetola told the gathering that the Ministry through NPA has acquired two marine crafts, known as Azimuth Stem Drive Model for berthing large vessels.
On the Inland Dry Port Project, Oyetola stated that the Ministry through Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has commissioned the Funtua Inland Dry Port to decongest the seaports and bring shipping services to the shippers at the hinterlands.
He maintained that the ministry through Nigerian Shippers’ Council also launched the operational manual for Inland Dry Port project across the country. This manual is to guide operational efficiency of the dry port project in the country.
The minister said the Ministry is working assiduously to actualize the implementation of the National Single Window at the nation’s ports to facilitate trade and competitiveness of country’s port system.
He also unveiled plans to expand the domestic shipping fleet by establishing national shipping line through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement and carry out automation of ship registry.
Earlier In her welcome address, the President of the League of Maritime Editors, Mrs. Remi Itie had reiterated the need for the Ministry and Agencies to continue to carry out development plans for the maritime sector.
Itie identified critical industry’s issues, including the disbursement of Cabotage Vessel Finance Funds (CVFFs), port efficiency, indigenous shipping development, national carriers, among others are key to be addressed by the apex ministry.
While the editors called on the Minister to address the issue of inter-agencies rivalry, promote synergy among Agency, capacity development for seafarers, timely assent to Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency bill, among others.
