A maritime expert, Andrew Spencer, says delisting Nigeria from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) ‘White List’ has hindered the great potentials of the country’s blue economy.
He said Nigeria had been delisted from IMO’s ‘Whie List’ for the past 13 or 14 years, which had an adverse effect.
Spencer, the President, Caribbean Maritime University, Jamaica and Guest Lecturer, said this on Tuesday at the Convocation Lecture of Olusegun Agagu University of Technology, (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa in Ondo State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the lecture was ‘Strategies For Developing Blue Economy In Nigeria: Lessons From The Careebian”.
NAN reports that IMO was the United Nations specialised agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.
NAN also reports that the ‘White List’ is a list of countries assessed by the IMO as properly implementing the STCW 1978.
Spencer, represented by Ibrahim Ajagunna, Vice President, Caribbean Maritime University, Jamaica, said the world had moved to the sea to tap it’s goldmine for the development of countries.
According to the expert, the sea is ten times bigger than the land with great potential, while the sea alone has over 80 per cent potential that can be annexed for development.
The professor commended President Bola Tinubu for creating the Ministry of Blue Economy and urged the Federal Government to vigorously pursue the IMO’s ‘White-List’.
According to him, the list will enable Nigeria to tap from the potentials of its blue economy for the benefit of citizens.
“Although, Nigeria is not the only country delisted from IMO’s “White List’ because in the whole of Africa, only Kenya is on list
“The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) must also engage in collaboration with international maritime experts to chart a new course in the Blue Economy,” the expert said.
Spencer, however, said the Caribbean University had partnered with several universities across the globe and signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train maritime experts in various designations.
“We signed MoU with OAUSTECH because the institution was startegically positioned in Nigeria and Ondo State to take advantage of the sea,” he added.
Meanwhile, Temi Ologunorisa, OAUSTECH’S Vice-Chancellor, commended the guest lecturer for the various opportunity, senses and education gained from the lecture.
He urged the Federal Government to engage experts like Spencer and others in order to tap the great potentials of the blue economy.
“The guest lecturer has spoken well with lots of enlightenment in the lecture.
“I urge the Federal Government to engage the services of international experts like this to turn the country’s blue economy to the goldmine it deserves,” Ologunorisa said.
