Harboursandport.com: Lagos - The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon.
Chibuike Amaechi has disclosed that the Federal Government of Nigeria will
ensure the maritime sector gets into the mainstream of economic strategy as it
will engender economic growth and prosperity.
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| L–R: Prof. Martin Ndende, Senior Regional Adviser, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); Mr. Juvenal Shiundu, Director, Technical Cooperation Division, International Maritime Organisation (IMO); Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Mr. Carlos Salgado, Head, Latin America & The Caribbean Section, Technical Cooperation Division, IMO at the opening of a two-day Regional Workshop on UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework: A process to mainstream the maritime sector organised by NIMASA in conjunction IMO and UNECA) in Lagos. |
The Minister who affirmed this in
his keynote address at the opening of a two-day Regional Workshop on UN
Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework: A process to mainstream the
maritime sector organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency (NIMASA) in conjunction with the International Maritime Organisation
(IMO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Lagos
said that the Maritime Transport Plan and Strategy when fully completed will
also, provide a robust enabling framework for achieving Nigerian maritime
objective and foster Public, Private sector collaboration and inter-regional
cooperation.
“This workshop is an essential step in a continuing shift in strategic
thinking about the sustainable development of our nations and will no doubt
provide an opportunity for stakeholders here present to develop the much needed
cooperation framework in addressing the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)”, Amaechi said.
Speaking further, the Minister who was represented by the
Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside stated that as the African
Continent forges ahead with phase II negotiations for the creation of the
African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), the maritime sector remains
critical to seamless trade and effective economic integration between African
nations.
Accordingly, he said “our approach, therefore, towards the realisation
of the SDG is contingent on our joint effort and ability to put in place the
much needed cooperation framework in collaboration with critical stakeholders
using the maritime sector as a veritable tool to promote agricultural
development, food security, industrialisation and economic transformation of
our nations, the region and the entire continent”.
He used the opportunity to commend the IMO, UNECA and
NIMASA for putting together the workshop, and expressed optimism that with the
level of participation at the workshop, the objectives of developing the blueprint
and agreeing on a common approach in mainstreaming the maritime sector into the
SDG and national plan of states will be achieved.
On his part, the NIMASA DG, in his welcome address stated
there is the need for the leaders of the various countries in the continent to
understand the workings of the maritime sector, as maritime transportation
plays an important role in a nation’s economic development.
He emphasised the need to help
the leaders understand why it is important to the mainstream maritime sector in
economic plan and economic strategies of the various countries.
“As a country, we align with the initiative of the IMO to mainstream
maritime transportation and the maritime sector to the economic planning of our
various nations and also in the strategic planning. Not only are we going to
mainstream maritime transport to the economic strategies of our various
countries, there is being a shift from looking unto other countries for
assistance to working with other countries, international partners in a
cooperative and collaborative manner”, Dakuku
stated.
Also, the NIMASA DG stated that
Nigeria is currently pursuing an economic diversification programme, with a
long term plan. “We are working from the known to a future we deserve, and we have
taken a number of steps; we have clearly identified where we want to be as a
country, we have identified pillars upon which we want to build that glorious
future we are working towards”, Dakuku
averred.
The Director, Technical Cooperation Division
of the IMO, Mr Juvenal Shiundu in his remarks gave the assurance that the IMO
is committed to assisting member states on the United Nations 2030 Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) agenda.
He said, IMO’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development is manifestly reflected in its General Assembly
Resolution (A.1126) adopted at its 30th session in 2017, which
includes among others, invitation to Member States, partner organizations to
coordinate and work with the five United Nations Regional Economic Commissions
to ensure that the maritime sector is reflected in regional programmes.
The two-day workshop is to create a forum for all the key
players and stakeholders involved in the Cooperation Framework process to meet,
establish the necessary contacts, which will be needed for future collaboration
and for the inclusion of maritime in the mainstream of their economic
strategies towards economic growth.
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