The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo has restated Nigeria’s commitment to the sustainability of the blue economy.
The Minister identified finance as a critical driver for unlocking the potentials of the blue economy in Africa and particularly Nigeria.
“Sustainable financing models are therefore important to build critical maritime assets such as shipyards and ports across the country,” he said while speaking at the Nigeria International Maritime Summit held in Lagos on Monday.
Sambo said Nigeria’s commitment to the sustainability of the blue economy is demonstrated by the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“To this end, an Expanded Committee on Sustainable Blue Economy in Nigeria (ECSBEN) under the leadership of no less a person than the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is driving the implementation process and to perfect the agenda for a national strategy.
“This agenda amongst others is focused on providing an assessment of the current realities, opportunities and challenges for economic diversification and the growth of a sustainable blue economy. This includes the identification and review of relevant policies and institutional/capacity-building mechanisms.
“This is in addition to the identification of regional and cross-border partnerships necessary for the implementation of the blue economy plan, the relevant sectors, actors and linkages, and the development of a national action plan with an implementation strategy for the Nigerian blue economy,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Kitack Lim said, “I am aware of Nigeria’s significance to the maritime sector of West and Central Africa. Carbonisation is the greatest challenge of our time, which IMO is working to address. The upgrading strategies shall be concluded in July 2023.
By next year, we shall adopt the long time strategy. However, prior to that time, we shall continue to support member countries.”
He lauded Nigeria’s role in the suppression of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea but cautioned that stakeholders must continue to remain vigilant as continuous capacity building is key to success in this regard.
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