Nigeria joined the global community on Thursday to commemorate the World Maritime Day 2024, with the federal government reaffirming it’s commitment to promoting safe, efficient and environmentally responsible maritime transport.
The World Maritime Day, celebrated
on the last Thursday of September every year focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, security and the marine environment while emphasising a particular aspect of IMO’s work.
This year’s World Maritime Day with the theme ‘Navigating the Future: Safety First’ also highlight the contributions of the maritime industry to global development.
Speaking at the event held in Lagos on Thursday, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, emphasized the need for more investment in upgrading port facilities to safeguard shipping safety and operational efficiency.
Oyetola also highlighted the need for capacity building to ensure Nigeria’ remain competitive in global seaborne trade.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olufemi Oloruntola, the minister emphasized the need for stakeholders to re-examine safety and security challenges, particularly in the context of new technologies and alternative fuels aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships.
He stressed Nigeria’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of maritime safety, aligning its regulatory framework with IMO standards and international maritime regulations.
He said, “The Federal Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy is taking proactive measures to enhance the maritime sector by embracing emerging technologies and fostering innovation to drive growth.
“Key among the initiatives of the ministry are digitalisation and automation of port operations to enhance safety, security, and efficiency as well as performance optimisation to reduce costs and increase reliability, and the adoption of innovative practices to propel our industry towards sustainable development.
“The administration of President Bola Tinubu is investing heavily in port modernisation to reduce inefficiencies, lower operational costs, and improve safety in our ports. This process is being financed through public-private partnerships (PPP) arrangements.”
Oyetola said the government has also made significant progress in creating a conducive environment for port operations by aligning its policies with global best practices.
This, he said, has enhanced safety, security, and efficiency in the nation’s ports, leading to notable reductions in delays associated with processing exports and imports.
He called for continued private sector support to provide the resources and state-of -the art facilities needed to take Nigeria’s maritime industry to higher trajectory.
Also speaking, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA) Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho said
the Nigerian Ports is at conclusive stages of the deployment of the Port Community System (PCS.).
Noting that automation is the linchpin of port efficiency, Dantsoho said the PCS when concluded will set the pace for the operationalization of the National Single Window Project of the Federal Government.
Represented by the Executive Director, Engineering and Technical services, Ibrahim Umar, Dantsoho said, “This is in addition to the comprehensive modernization of Ports infrastructure and equipment to enhance competitiveness.”
Dantsoho reiterated the commitment of NPA to the maximization of the opportunities inherent in the maritime endowments for the benefit of Nigerians and the larger world.
“Making global port operations healthier, safer and more secure whilst actualizing the other noble objectives of the World Ports Sustainability Program rests heavily on our shoulders as policy framers, investors and stakeholders in its broadest ramification.
“The maritime sector is not just pivotal to national economic prosperity, but to global economic sustainability, ” he said.
On his part, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola highlighted some challenges affecting the industry, including rapid technology advancement, environmental concerns, sustainability, and involving global trade
These challenges, the NIMASA DG said provide opportunities for tremendous success in the industry.
He emphasized the need for strengthened collaboration and cooperation among industry players to address the increasing complex regime due to emerging technologies.
“Let us renew our dedication to safety, innovation, and responsible stewardship in our maritime environment.
“While we confront these challenges, we must accord safety an important priority. In this regard, we must, one, invest in cutting-edge safety technologies, two, emphasize training and capacity building for the maritime sector, three, strengthen our regulatory frameworks to meet international standards, and four, foster collaborations between the public and private sectors, he said.
NMASA, Mobereola said is leading the way to creating a safer and more efficient and sustainable maritime future for Nigeria and beyond.
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