On July 25, Nigeria under the umbrella of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), joined the rest of maritime nations in Africa, to mark this year’s African Day of Seas and Oceans themed, “Harnessing Nigeria’s Marine Biodiversity for Accelerated Economic Growth.”
The event, which hosted many dignitaries from within and outside the nation’s maritime sphere, presented an opportunity for industry stakeholders to review how far Nigeria has failed to sustainably exploit its maritime resources for her economic growth and development. It also created an opportunity for experts to proffer ways Nigeria can harness her marine resources for sustainable economic growth.
Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the House of Representatives, pointed out that Nigeria’s rich maritime resources present a vital economic vehicle for the successful implementation of the federal government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), and actualising its goals.
He pledged that the legislature would support efforts by the Executive to ensure sustainable management of the country’s vast marine resources through effective domestication of relevant conventions of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on marine environment management.
Represented by Linda Ikpeazu, a house member representing Onitsha North-South Federal Constituency in Anambra State, Gbajabiamila said the National Assembly would also work with the Executive arm in putting in place the necessary legal framework for the Blue Economy to engender and protect the Nigerian marine environment and develop the ocean economy.
African countries including Nigeria have been losing out of the multibillion-dollar annual revenue inherent in harnessing the diverse opportunities in the global ocean economy.
This is as countries like China and the United States of America (USA) reported annual revenue of $962 billion and 10 percent contribution to GDP of China in 2014 with 9 million jobs created in the ocean industry the same year. The USA, on the other hand, valued its ocean economy at $258 billion in 2010, contributing 1.8 percent to its GDP.
Dakuku Peterside, director general of the NIMAS, said the above-mentioned statistics show the opportunities which Nigeria can exploit for economic transformation and development.
Peterside, who noted that Nigeria has been witnessing growth in population and urbanisation, said the country must develop an interest in conservation, exploration and exploitation of the country’s marine biodiversity.
“Nigeria can achieve accelerated economic growth and development through the regulation, exploitation and protection of her marine biodiversity through a comprehensive and articulate approach that would not impact on the environment negatively,” he said.
He said NIMASA is committed to formulating policies that are in tandem with the development of the nation’s marine biodiversity towards enhancing economic growth in line with the federal government’s economic diversification agenda, improved livelihoods, and job creation.
To him, NIMASA has concluded and forwarded six IMO instruments on marine environment management for ratification and they include the Hong Kong Convention for the Sale and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessels Personnel.
Other instruments sent to the legislature for ratification include the Protocol Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties Intervention), 1973; and Protocol on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC), 1996, all in an effort to ensure sustainable management of the marine environment in Nigeria.
While stating that the agency was undertaking a review of all the marine environment management regulations, he said, NIMASA has made serious efforts towards ensuring the protection of the nation’s waterways.
Sabiu Zakari, chief host/ permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, said with Nigeria’s over 850 kilometres coastline, the country was blessed with abundant resources to back its economic diversification and development drive.
Zakari, who was represented by director, Maritime Safety and Security in the ministry, Danjuma Dauda, also restated the government’s commitment to the development of the maritime sector.
Melekolo Kyari, Group managing director, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said the NNPC as a corporation would always support NIMASA in its efforts to harness the opportunities in the marine environment which ultimately would help accelerate the country’s economic growth.
Kyari, who was represented by a general manager, Lamin Ibrahim, said “We should not expect to harness our maritime biodiversity if we cannot curb insecurity in the country. For the last decade, Africa has been the epicentre of international maritime insecurity.
Piracy and armed robbery on sea has re-emerged in the modern era, off the east and west coasts of Africa alike, and has caused enormous human and financial damage. But with better and efficient maritime security in the country, economic activities in the maritime sector will flourish.
The African Union (AU) has set a 10-year period from 2015 to 2025 as the Decade of African Seas and Oceans, and July 25 as the African Day of seas and oceans.
Amaka Anagor-Ewuzie
