From Suleiman Amagbor, Lagos
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola has assured indigenous ship owners of the safety of the Nigerian coastal waterways as he affirmed that the $195m Deep Blue project will be made more impactful and visible in terms of security of the waters for ships movement.
The NIMASA helmsman disclosed that he has met with the Chief of Naval Staff thrice since he assumed office recently on the need to carry out a review of the Memorandum of Understanding entered with the Navy on the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure project popularly called the Deep Blue project.
Dr. Mobereola spoke at the opening ceremony of the two ‘2024 Stakeholders’ Engagement on Enhanced Activities in the Blue Economy Sector,’ organised by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in Lagos, where he reiterated the need to enhance the visibility of the deep blue assets on the nation’s waterways.
An indigenous Shipowner and former president of the Nigeria Shipowners Association (NISA), Aminu Umar had expressed fear over the insecurity in the Niger-Delta region and disclosed that Nigerian Shipowners now engage private security guards to protect their vessels each time they sail from Lagos down south.
Umar said “no doubt the Deep Blue Project has made an impact but I can say today, no vessel can move from Lagos-down South without security guards. We need to see deep blue visibilities so that there can be confidence in the project. Our ships should see them and feel secure such that we don’t need more Security guards when going down South the country.”
The NIMASA DG assured that “The new agreement will ensure the project is directed to the agenda and purpose behind its creation, that is, our waters should be safe.” Adding that the agency would hold talks with the hierarchy of the Nigerian Navy to better improve the country’s Deep Blue assets.
He explained “Since my assumption as the DG of NIMASA, I have met with the Chief of Naval Staff three times on this particular Deep Blue project. I can assure you that very soon; we are going to have a new MoU that will make the Deep Blue project more impactful and visible.”
In his opening remarks, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, told shipowners that the ministry is exploring fiscal and trade policies to promote greater participation of Nigerians in the shipping industry.
The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Oloruntola Olufemi, also assured the stakeholders that the ministry under his leadership remains committed to unlocking the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) for it disbursement to support the growth and development of shipping businesses in the country.
Oyetola said “the attention of the ministry to the shipping industry is holistic, encompassing investments in fleet, improvement of regulatory frameworks, upscaling of local manpower and capacities.
Our efforts to enhance efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness in the sector are already yielding positive results. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Act has promoted safety standards, enforced regulations, and boosted investors’ confidence.
We are exploring fiscal and trade policies to promote greater participation of Nigerians in the shipping industry. A major part of the plan is to unlock the Cabotage Fund for disbursement to support the growth and development of shipping businesses in the country. The Ministry is committed to delivering this soonest.
“Our attention to the shipping industry must be holistic, encompassing investments in fleet, improvement of regulatory frameworks, upscaling of local manpower and capacities, fine tuning of operational efficiencies, and of course increasing turnover and revenue. We must work together to reverse unfavourable terms of trade in the sector for the benefit of our economy.”
He said “Moving forward, our collective resolve must be to foster collaboration among regulators and stakeholders to streamline processes and enhance efficiency.”
Speaking further, the former Governor of Osun state explained that “As we navigate the complex waters of global trade and economic uncertainty, we must recognize the significance of the marine and blue economy sector in stimulating national economic growth and development. The government has identified this sector as a pivotal area of focus, and we are committed to creating an enabling environment that supports your businesses and promotes the growth of the sector as a whole.
“Ship owners and operators are the backbone of the maritime sector, contributing to trade, transportation, and job creation. We acknowledge the challenges you face, from safety and security concerns to regulatory hurdles and market fluctuations. It is the resolve of government to address these challenges and foster a conducive environment for your operations.”
