The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has charged Nigerians to key into the opportunities afforded by the Blue economy, stating that it is the fastest growing sector in the world with enormous business potentials.

The DG, who made this known recently at the 23rd Nigerian Economic Summit themed “Opportunities, Productivity and Employment: Actualizing the Economy Recovery and Growth Plan”, said that with the length of the nation’s coastline and the attendant volume of maritime trade, Nigeria is at an advantage of developing the blue economy and stakeholders have to actively participate to reap the benefits of the sector.

According to Peterside, “developing the blue economy is paramount across the globe now, and the public and private sector have to collaborate to sustainably harness the potentials of our maritime sector for the benefit of the Nigerian economy especially as the Federal Government continues the economic diversification drive.”

The NIMASA DG also stated that it was high time Nigerians began to tap into the opportunities embedded in the maritime sector, adding that economies of the likes of Singapore, Ukraine and South Korea thrived on the activities of their maritime sector.

He further suggested that with improved maintenance culture, adequate data management and statistics as well as articulated actions from stakeholders backed up with political will, Nigeria would be a leading light in the comity of maritime nations.

Peterside further advocated synergy within stakeholders stating that the Agency with the support of the Federal Government was working assiduously to ensure that Nigerians reap the benefits that abound the sector. He pointed out that the newly approved maritime security architecture will effectively reduce piracy and other related sea crimes.

The summit serves as a platform where stakeholders from both public and private sectors chart a way forward for the development of the Nigerian economy. This year’s event had notable maritime stakeholders in attendance. They included Dr. Olisa Agbokoba; Executive Secretary Shippers Council, Mr. Hassan Bello; and Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, among others.

Peterside had always charged stakeholders to actively participate in the Nigerian maritime sector in order to support the growth of the country’s blue economy. This was also evident at the recently concluded Harmonised NIMASA Stakeholders Interactive Forum with the theme “Synergy: An Instrument for Sustainable Development of the Blue Economy” organised by the Agency.

•Photo shows NIMASA DG, Dr. Dakuku Peterside (Center) and other discussants at the 23rd Nigerian Economic summit which held in Abuja recently.

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