HARNESSING POTENTIAL IN AFRICA’S OCEANS
creation God blessed mankind with, which is the seas and the oceans.
He noted that Nigeria was at a vantage position with a good geographical location with about 900 km coastline, hence the need to work harmoniously to realise the blueprint of the AIMS 2050 with the overall goal of actualising the concept of the Blue Economy in Africa for continental economic growth.
Also speaking at the event was Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi, a lawyer, who delivered the lead paper titled: “National Maritime Strategy and the National Maritime Transport Policy Framework: How Far is the Road Yet?” concluded by saying; “For Nigeria to develop a robust and sustainable maritime sector, there is the need to prepare an all-inclusive framework and strategy based on the development strategies of the African Union in line with the AIMS 2050, Agenda 2063, Lome Charter and the African Maritime Transport Charter.”
Also, in his paper titled: “Developing our Blue Economy as a Critical National Economic Objective: The Partnership Model,” Dr. Chris Asoluka, stated that the only way to fully optimize the opportunities embedded in the African seas and oceans is to work collaboratively as a continent, “so that we can compete favourably with our counterparts in other continents.
He also reiterated the fact that Nigeria’s “maritime domain remains a fertile ground waiting to be fully utilised for economic growth and development.”
On his part, an environmental expert, Prof. Babajide Alo, noted that beyond the annual celebration of the event, partnership strategies to ensure sustainable implementation of the resolutions must be considered so that in the long run all set goals are achieved for the benefit of the entire African continent.
The NIMASA Board Chairman, Major General Jonathan India Garba (rtd.) and the Director General, Nigerian Chambers of Shipping (NCS), Mrs. Obiageli Obi, unanimously agreed that it was important to realise that the world was getting more and more dependent on resources from the seas and oceans, noting that it is the engine for economic growth.
They also urged stakeholders in the maritime industry to work together for the benefit of the actualisation of the Blue Economy in Africa.
The highpoint of the event was the setting up a partnership committee on implementation of sustainable Blue Economy in Nigeria to be chaired by Major General, Jonathan India Garba ( rtd) and the Secretary is Dr. Mrs. Felicia Mogo, the deputy director, in charge Marine Environment Management of NIMASA.
Other members of the committee are: Dr. Chris Asoluka, Captain Sunday Umoren.
The committee while being inaugurated by Mr. Mike Igbokwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria ( SAN) was charged to come up a framework for the actualisation of the blue economy initiative in Nigeria amongst other responsibilities, all geared towards the realization of a robust and virile maritime sector in Nigeria.
African heads of states and governments had at the 22nd ordinary session recently adopted the 2050 AIM Strategy and Plan of Action, including a roadmap for the incremental implementation of the strategy in line with International Maritime Law.
The strategy included a framework for action on, inter alia: fisheries and aquaculture; environmental and biodiversity monitoring; marine tourism; Disaster Risk Management ( DRM); handling and shipment of hazardous materials and dangerous goods; maritime governance; flag state and port state control; and illegal activities, including money laundering, piracy, maritime terrorism and human trafficking and smuggling by sea.