It appears re-establishing a Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) over which previous administrations maintained a promise-and-fail posture for sixteen years running is now becoming a reality.
Marine and Blue Economy Minister, HE Adegboyega Oyetola gave the hint in Lagos, Tuesday, while speaking at his Ministry’s maiden stakeholders’ Roundtable on Advancing Sustainable Development in Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy. Re-establishing an indigenous shipping line through a strategic Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) arrangement, he assured, will assist Nigeria to take advantage of a substantial share of the estimated $10 billion annual ship charter market existing within the country.
Allaying the fears of indigenous ship owners that their businesses stand to take a nosedive if they embrace the initiative, he said it would rather avail them opportunity to create and extract more value from the marine sector, especially through ship construction, maintenance and repairs.
The Minister gave an assurance that the initiative which encompasses a collaborative synergy between the efficiency of the private sector and oversight of the public sector will transform the newly-established Marine and Blue Economy as well as lead to the creation of massive job opportunities. It will also facilitate increased trade and investment in Nigeria, while reinforcing what he referred to as the ministry’s collaborative and forward-looking approach.
He stated that it has become necessary to collaborate and brainstorm with stakeholders so as to devise workable strategies to leverage Nigeria’s marine resources to uplift the sector for the good of the national economy .
“It is imperative,” he said, ” we come up with practicable ways of ensuring that our inland rivers, lakes and waterways are well utilized for cargo shipment and passenger transportation”.
He described the Engagement Forum as crucial to the development of the sector as it offers an opportunity for all to collectively contribute perspectives, ideas and offer relevant inputs that can propel the sector to the trajectory of success necessary to support the development of the economy as well as meet the expectations of Mr. President who took the courage to open up Nigeria to focus on the Blue Economy Value Chain.
“The zeal for a better life for Nigerians propelled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to recently unveil 8 Presidential Priorities to address critical national challenges. These priorities are to be delivered through eight focus areas, namely: economic growth, food security, energy and natural resources, infrastructure development, security, healthcare, education, improved governance, and job creation.
“Our Ministry, though new, is not resting on its oars and has continued to foster Inter-Agency collaborations and implement initiatives to promote Port efficiency, cargo shipment, maritime security and tap into the resources of the Seabed.
“The ministry’s decision to consider the re-establishment of a National Shipping Line, through a strategic PPP arrangement, is borne out of our desire to capture a substantial share of the estimated $10 billion annual ship charter market within the country.
“This initiative will not seek to impede the growth of local players but rather to provide an avenue for them to create and extract more value from the sector, especially through ship construction, maintenance, and repairs. This would enable our local businesses to better leverage the Carbotage Act, which gives Nigerians the exclusive right to control locally generated seaborne trade.
“Other anticipated outcomes include the creation of substantial job opportunities and the facilitation of increased trade and investment in the nation, reinforcing our collaborative and forward-looking approach”.
The Minister who said he is acquainted with the sector’s challenges, assured of his commitment to “bequeathing to Nigerians a better sector than we have met today”.
According to the minister, the forum was convened to bring together players in the sector to discuss and chart a roadmap/direction that will advance the industry’s potential, promote sustainable Blue Economy investments and ensure global competitiveness within the sector.
The Stakeholders’ Engagement, Oyetola assured, would will be a continuum, as it is important to normalize the harmonious synergy and work together to ensure that the Marine and Blue Economy is safe, reliable and sustainable.
The Roundtable later broke into specific areas of group discussions which included ways and means to strengthen the Blue Governance; Transforming Port Operations; Enhancing Port Infrastructure; and Promoting Blue Economy Investments.
