Maritime is a catalyst to nation’s economic efficiency – Okowa

Harboursandport.com: Lagos --- The Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has said that the maritime sector is a catalyst to the nation’s economic efficiency.

Deputy Governor, Delta State, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro,

Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and

Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, NIMASA

Board member, Engr. Kenneth Asekome and Executive

Director, Operations, NIMASA, Engr. Rotimi Fashakin,

FNSE during the 2018 Day of the Seafarers with the

theme: “seafarers wellbeing” held in Warri, Delta State today.

The Governor noted that the efficiency and effectiveness of the Nigerian economy depends largely on the maritime sector as over 90 per cent of the world trade are transported through the sea.

Okowa who made this remark in his keynote address during the 2018 Day of the Seafarers celebration with the theme; “seafarers’ wellbeing” held in Warri, Delta State, also commended NIMASA for its efforts and determination to ensure that Nigeria is reckoned with in the international maritime domain. 

He stated this at the event organized by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and other maritime Agencies.

The Governor who was represented by the Deputy Governor of the state, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro, further applauded the initiative of the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU), which is the first specialized in Africa and expressed the readiness of the State to partner the Agency in actualizing the vision behind the establishment of the institution.

According to him, “As a State, we are prepared to support and partner NIMASA and the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure the underlying motive of establishing the Maritime University is achieved; we are also certain that the University undoubtedly will be a source of training more seafarers and adding more commercial value to the Nigerian economy” the Governor said.  

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside noted that the Nigerian seafarers ranks among the best in the world and can favourably compete with their foreign counterparts.

Accordingly, the DG said this is why the Agency in the past few years embarked on the training and retraining of Nigerian Seafarers and Cadets in specialized maritime courses both locally and internationally, which is aimed at enhancing their competences and employability.

Speaking further, Dr. Peterside who reiterated the Agency’s commitment to ensuring a better living condition for the seafarers in line with the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Decent Work Agenda gave the assurance that the Agency will continue to make issues concerning the seafarers a priority.

He also highlighted the importance of the ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 which he said Nigerian ratified in 2013, stating that it made adequate provisions for seafarers’ welfare which if fully implemented will also guarantee their wellbeing.