Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency
(NIMASA) has called for a proper framework and structure for full exploitation of
the opportunities derivable from the Blue Economy in Africa.
Disclosing this during a paper presentation to the
Management of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in Lagos titled; “Introducing the
Blue Economy Concept”, Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside,
said there is need for participatory engagement and agenda setting.
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| Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside |
Dakuku also stressed the need for participatory policy
design and implementation and multi sector partnership are key areas that must
be considered.
Speaking further, he said the Blue Economy
which stands on three pillars namely; Environmental Sustainability, Economic
Sustainability and Social Sustainability has a lot of benefits to the growth
and development of the sector in Africa, thereby making it compete favourably
with its counterparts in other continents.
The NIMASA boss also highlighted fair
multilateral and bilateral agreements, improved well-being, inclusive job
creation, Eco-tourism, debt swaps and green ports amongst others as some of the
tools and opportunities that abound in the blue economy sector in Africa. He
added that the concepts it will bring to Africa ranges from sustainable
business opportunities, circular economy, resource efficiency, and conservation
of development. All these he said will help the continent actualize the blue
economy sector.
“About 70% of the earth resources are underneath the sea and has been
in most cases left untapped; almost all the cities in the world begin their
development from the sea which shows the underlying importance of the sea to
economic and social growth. We must therefore work hard and collaboratively to
actualize our blue economy sector in Africa”, Dr. Peterside said.
While identifying, maritime insecurity,
criminal activities at sea, climate vulnerability, poor infrastructure among
others as factors militating against development of Africa’s blue economy, he
assure that NIMASA is doing all it can to curtail the issues relating to
criminal activities in the nation’s territorial waterways. We have proposed an
Anti-piracy bill which is presently before the National Assembly and would be
passed soon. This will enable the Agency prosecute those found in such
nefarious activities that is capable of hampering the development of the
maritime sector.
Furthermore, the DG called for a budgetary
provision for blue economy management as obtainable in other climes and also
the creation of an institutional framework for the blue economy sector.
The DG also used the opportunity to urge
African nations to provide investments needed to support improved governance
and initiatives and assured the NSC that the Agency will continue to encourage
collaborations amongst Stakeholders in the industry, as it is the only way that
can guarantee the growth, development and actualization of the blue economy.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive
Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barrister Hassan Bello, he
commended the efforts of the Dr. Dakuku Peterside led Management of NIMASA and
stated that within a short time of his appointment, he has been able to
transform the sector.
He also described the Agency as a worthy
partner and said that the need for the Council to collaborate with NIMASA to
drive the blue economy cannot be over emphasized; this necessitated the
invitation of the NIMASA DG to come and give the entire Management team of the
NCS firsthand information on the concept of the blue economy.
The blue economy in the African context covers
both aquatic and marine spaces including oceans, seas, coasts, lakes, rivers
and underground waters. It also encompasses a range of productive sectors;
Fisheries, Aquaculture, Tourism, Transport, Ship building, energy, bio
prospecting, under-water mining and related activities.
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