Former President, Obasanjo wants Govt., Stakeholders’ focus on maritime sector development
L-R: Chairman,
Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, Former
President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, Minister of
Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and Director General, Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside at the opening
ceremony of a two-day stakeholders conference on the maritime industry in
Lagos.
Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, Former
President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, Minister of
Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and Director General, Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside at the opening
ceremony of a two-day stakeholders conference on the maritime industry in
Lagos.
Former President of Nigeria, Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo has asked maritime stakeholders to come up with strategies that would grow the Nigerian maritime industry as a viable option to
oil and gas.
Olusegun Obasanjo has asked maritime stakeholders to come up with strategies that would grow the Nigerian maritime industry as a viable option to
oil and gas.
Obasanjo stated this speaking as the
Chairman at the opening ceremony of a two-day stakeholders’ conference on the
maritime industry tagged, “Building a Sustainable Maritime Industry in Nigeria,”
organised by the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
Chairman at the opening ceremony of a two-day stakeholders’ conference on the
maritime industry tagged, “Building a Sustainable Maritime Industry in Nigeria,”
organised by the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
The
former president said that most countries that have attained greatness utilised
the available resources in their maritime environment.
former president said that most countries that have attained greatness utilised
the available resources in their maritime environment.
He highlighted the opportunities in the
Nigeria’s maritime industry to include the vastness of its coastline and huge
population.
Nigeria’s maritime industry to include the vastness of its coastline and huge
population.
He also called on the government for more
commitment by bringing in professionals in running the affairs of the industry,
in order to make Nigeria a key player of maritime activity in the African
region.
commitment by bringing in professionals in running the affairs of the industry,
in order to make Nigeria a key player of maritime activity in the African
region.
He bemoaned the level of underdevelopment
in the sector over the years, and called on the Federal Government to put
mechanisms in place to sanitize the sector for greater efficiency and
productivity.
in the sector over the years, and called on the Federal Government to put
mechanisms in place to sanitize the sector for greater efficiency and
productivity.
In his keynote address, the Minster of
Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment
to reviving the National Shipping Line without government equity contribution,
to be solely managed by the private sector.
Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment
to reviving the National Shipping Line without government equity contribution,
to be solely managed by the private sector.
The Minister who also identified corruption
as one of the things bedevilling the growth of the maritime sector noted that
President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is determined to stamp out
corruption in all sectors of the nation’s economy.
as one of the things bedevilling the growth of the maritime sector noted that
President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is determined to stamp out
corruption in all sectors of the nation’s economy.
Amaechi expressed the present administration’s
commitment to the well-being of Nigerians, and noted that “this is a reformist
regime and change is not an easy task.
commitment to the well-being of Nigerians, and noted that “this is a reformist
regime and change is not an easy task.
He
said the era of making laws without enforcement and implementation was over,
hence the need for Nigerians to join hands with this government in rebuilding
the nation.
said the era of making laws without enforcement and implementation was over,
hence the need for Nigerians to join hands with this government in rebuilding
the nation.
The two-day conference with a focus to
chart a new course for the sustainable development of the Nigerian maritime
sector was attended by ship-owners, terminal operators, maritime lawyers and
other stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry.
chart a new course for the sustainable development of the Nigerian maritime
sector was attended by ship-owners, terminal operators, maritime lawyers and
other stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry.
