Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has outlined the achievements recorded by his ministry and its agencies in the past one year attributing the successes achieved to maritime security and safety, port operational efficiency, infrastructure rehabilitation, connectivity and blue economy development.
Addressing members of the League of Maritime Editors and publishers at a luncheon in Lagos, he informed that the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy; a policy that leverages on technology and private sector initiatives, is nearing Federal Executive Council approval.
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 projects 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 the country’s port system.
He unveiled plans to expand the domestic shipping fleet by establishing a national shipping line through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement and carrying out automation of the ship registry.
Oyetola also revealed that Nigeria has officially notified the International Maritime Organization, IMO, of its intention to contest for a Category C seat. He confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the bid, adding that preparations are already underway.
“In furtherance to our improved international posture in world maritime governance, we have proposed a bid to contest election into the International Maritime Organization Council (Category C) during the 34th IMO Assembly scheduled to hold in London in November/December, 2025. I am pleased to inform you that Mr. President has approved, and the IMO has been notified. We have begun preparation processes.”
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 and national carriers. She urged government to resolve them so that Nigeria can assume her pride place among maritime nations.
She spoke passionately on the need to monitor fishing vessels operating in our territorial waters. According to her, many fishing vessels are operating in our waters without us getting returns of the required revenue
The editors called on the Minister to address the issue of inter-agencies rivalry, capacity development for seafarers, timely assent to Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency bill, and promoting synergy among Agency.
