Need To Maximize Ocean Resources Reason for Creating Marine and Blue Economy Ministry – NIMASA

Need To Maximize Ocean Resources Reason for Creating Marine and Blue Economy Ministry – NIMASA

By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

Nigeria’s ocean resources contain huge but untapped potentials capable of boosting the national economy if properly exploited. This informed the carving out of a separate Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by President Bola Tinubu, a master stroke that is beginning to reposition a subsector largely perceived as comatose.

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr Dayo Mobereola stated this while speaking at a training session for the maritime media on the theme, ‘Regulating the Maritime Industry : the NIMASA Perspective’.

He was represented by Chief Isichei Osamgbi, the Agency’s Director of Administration and Human Resources.

Osamgbi pointed out that global trends show that there is no great nation that is not a maritime nation as a consequence of the deliberate policy to take full advantage of ocean resources.

He identified United States, Japan, United Kingdom,China, Norway, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, among others as nations with wonderful economic developments in which marine resources have played a part.

The President did not just create the Ministry, Isichei observed, but also chose experts with proven records, such as the Minister, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola and the NIMASA DG, Mobereola, to drive the sector.

He expressed optimism that the marine and blue economy sector with available opportunities will take Nigeria to great heights economically even as he called on the media to collaborate with the government to ensure the success of the Marine and Blue Ministry.
He specifically said that the media has the task of disseminating information on the great potentials in the sector.
The NIMASA boss recalled that not many Nigerians knew so much about marginal fields in the oil and gas sector until the media gave the sector-wide exposure which attracted indigenous companies to the treasures available.

Among the resource persons at the training workshop were the former Director, Shipping Development, NIMASA, Mr. Anthony Ogadi who delivered a paper entitled ‘Understanding the International Maritime Regulatory Framework’ and Deputy Director in the agency, Barr Peter Agbaminola, whose paper presentation was on: ‘Understanding the International Maritime Regulatory Framework and ‘NIMASA Regulatory Processes at a Glance’ .