Gift Ekwueme
Lagos — The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Shipping Services, Abdussamad Dasuki, has said the National Assembly, NASS, is targeting a 20 per cent contribution of the maritime sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product in 2024.
Dasuki, who made this statement in Lagos at a special performance retreat organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, said the sector, which was expected to deliver nothing less than 20%, was currently contributing less than 1%.
He also promised that everything that needed to be done to change the narrative would be done accordingly.
“As the chairman overseeing NSC, we are going to be partners in progress to do all that is expected from you as the regulator of this important sector. On that note, I would highlight to you that even before the new executive secretary resumed office, I had championed having important backup law regulating this important agency.
“We are going to fast-track that law and make sure you have legal backing to do what is expected of you. Part of what we are to discuss is to know how to strengthen economic regulation of the Marine and Blue Economy. We should have a Nigerian Shipping Commission Council,” he said.
In his welcome address, Akutah Ukeyima, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, explained that the main purpose of the event is to foster sustainable development within the marine and blue economy sector and also to embark on a collective endeavour that holds profound significance for the future of the country’s economic landscape.
Akutah maintained that the council had long been at the forefront of catalysing innovation, championing progress, and navigating the dynamic waters of global trade.
He said: “As we gather here today, we are embarking on a collective endeavour that holds profound significance for the future of our nation’s economic landscape.
“Today’s retreat marks not just a gathering of minds but a strategic convergence of wisdom, expertise, and foresight. It is a testament to our unwavering commitment to shaping a future where the marine and blue economy sector becomes a beacon of sustainable development and prosperity.
“The focus of the council on economic regulation underscores a profound understanding that effective governance, equitable practices, and strategic policies serve as the bedrock for fostering a thriving blue economy,” he stated.
The event themed ‘Strengthening Economic Regulation of the Marine and Blue Economy’ was organised to set out a roadmap for the council’s operations in 2024.
