Tinubu encourages regional cooperation in advancing the Blue Economy

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for cooperation in the sub-region, with focus to advancing the blue economy, for the continent’s fortune.

Tinubu made the call on Monday in Lagos, while speaking at the 43^rd Annual Council of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) conference.

The president who was represented by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, noted that Africa’s Blue Economy presents the continent with untapped opportunities for growth and development.

“We must acknowledge the maritime sector as a central driver for the sustainable development of our nations,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of collaboration, the president observed that despite national boundaries the region remains connected through water, which is a natural source of connectivity.

He spoke on the importance and need for port automation in order to maintain its competitiveness in the global maritime industry. He added that establishing a port community system through automation would drive the course for the implementation of a national single window, which is essential for streamlining port operations.

“As a government that believes in the necessity of infusing information technology into public management to aid transparency and ease business processes, we are giving the Nigerian Ports Authority all the backing necessary to fast track the operationalization of the Port Community System,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Mohammed Bello Koko, the Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian Ports Authority, also called for regional cooperation in the maritime sector.

He noted that the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are substantial, even as he urged African leaders to work together to eliminate trade barriers and harness these opportunities for the collective prosperity of respective national economies.

His words:  “The opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are substantial. We must work together to eliminate trade barriers and harness these opportunities for the collective prosperity of our respective national economies.”

He praised the PMAWCA for its role in promoting ports’ cooperation and expressed the Nigerian Ports Authority’s commitment to partnership and support for policies and action steps that will be discussed during the conference.

He added that the 43rd PMAWCA conference, with its focus on the Blue Economy and the significance of regional cooperation, has set the stage for a crucial dialogue on how African nations can unlock the potential of their maritime resources.

The NPA MD urged delegates from West and Central African countries, alongside international observers, to exchange ideas and insights, with the shared goal of enhancing trade facilitation and spurring economic growth in the region.