The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Maritime

  • Ijaw youths hail Senate for passing Maritime Varsity Bill

    Ijaw youths have hailed the Senate for passing “A Bill for the Establishment of Nigerian Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Delta State”.

    This brings the proposed institution close to gaining statutory status, three years after its foundation was laid.

    Youths, under the aegis of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, noted that the senators did the right thing by providing the enabling legal framework to pave the way for the institution’s kick-off.

    In a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, by its President, Pereotubo Oweilaemi, IYC said: “We will like to thank the 8th Senate for the proactive step it has taken to pass the ‘Bill for the Establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Delta State’. The university is one of the demands of major Niger Delta stakeholders.

    “The 8th Senate has demonstrated its responsiveness to the genuine wishes of the Niger Delta people. The Senate has, by passing this bill, contributed to peace building in the Niger Delta and indeed Nigeria, because the university will serve all Nigerians in manpower development in the Maritime sector.”

    The umbrella organisation of Ijaw youths also praised the Presidency for ordering the commencement of academic activities at the university before this year runs out.

    IYC said: “It is indeed commendable that the Presidency has promptly followed its directive on commencement of academic activities at the Maritime University with the setting up of a five-man inter-agency committee, to be headed by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to see to the implementation of the President’s directive.

    “It is our hope that everyone involved will contribute their part to ensuring the opening of the Maritime University in the 2017/2018 academic session.

    “We wish to salute the representative of Delta South Senatorial District, Senator James Manager; the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachuckwu and Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for their ensuring the take-off of the Maritime University.”

    The passage of the bill and the Presidential directive came over one year after attempts to scrap the strategic institution, which Niger Delta leaders kicked against.

  • 48 women benefit from Maritime Academy’s training

    Forty-eight women from Ukpata/Afaha Eduok of Idua community in the Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have benefited from various skill acquisition programmes organised by the Maritime Academy of Nigeria at Oron.

    The 48 women, who hailed the Acting Rector of the academy, Mr Mkpandiok Mkpandiok, for the programme, were taught how to make  meat pie, small chops, chin-chin, egg roll, pancake, as well as soda, toilet and liquid soaps.

    The community’s youth leader, Victor Bassey, yesterday acknowledged efforts of the academy at touching the lives of its host community.

    Bassey said the youths were happy with the acting Rector.

    The youth leader hailed him for his diligence, commitment to duty and experience in piloting the affairs of the institution.

    He said Mkpandiok’s devotion to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the drive for academic excellence were exemplary.

    Bassey said he was confident the acting  rector would interpret the restructuring and repositioning agenda of the Federal Government, judging by his experience and exposure in the Maritime industry.

    The youth leader urged socio-political groups to identify with the new administration in its efforts to actualise the vision and aspirations of the government.

    He said 48 participants were selected from different families from the clans of Ukpata and Afaha Eduok villages for the training programme.

  • Buhari: we’ll unlock oceans, seas potential

    Buhari: we’ll unlock oceans, seas potential

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said Nigeria will reposition the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to facilitate economic prosperity.

    This, he said, will be done by unlocking the huge potential in this country’s ocean and seas.

    Buhari spoke yesterday at a three-day conference of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) in Abuja.

    AAMA is an umbrella body of five African Maritime Stakeholders’ groups, such as Association of Maritime Administrations of Africa, Africa’s Ship Registry Forum, African Ship Owners Association as well as Africa Shippers’ Council and Seafarers’ Forum.

    The President urged other African leaders to tap into the huge resources in their oceans to boost the continent’s economic development and provide jobs for their people.

    Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the opportunities in the vast oceans surrounding the continent needed to be harnessed to diversify its economy.

    The theme of the event is: “Sustainable use of Africa’s oceans and seas”. It was hosted by NIMASA.

    Buhari added that there was the need for other African countries to develop regulatory and legal frameworks that will properly manage maritime resources and address the challenges facing the sector.

    Leaders of the AAMA, Buhari said, must evolve synergies to reap the benefits of the oceans to ensure socio-economic emancipation of the continent.

    The president said:  ”Here in Nigeria, we have taken steps to tackle some of the issues peculiar to us while still calling for regional and sub-regional collaborations. We have set up engagement to resolve and address the misunderstanding and contentious issues in Niger Delta which, off course, is part of Gulf Guinea.

    “We recently approved a new maritime security architecture and infrastructure to be jointly coordinated by NIMASA, NSA and FMOT. We have given required support to the Navy so that they can work with others within our sub-region to effectively police our waters to facilitate trade.

    “This arrangement will also contribute to resolving and eliminating piracy and sea robbery in our maritime domain on our waters. The results are encouraging and piracy has dropped dramatically, especially in the last six months.

    “We are making substantive investment to improve human capacity by taking advantage of international trade in the shipping and our maritime industry.

    “The measure we are putting in place is to increase efficiency of our port and to enable quick turnaround time of vessels. Technology is also being introduced to make our port operation effective to support economic growth. NIMASA as regulator agency is being reformed to play effective role as a facilitator of economic prosperity.”

    Senate President Bukola Saraki, who was represented by Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, said NIMASA’s efforts “have led to an upward swing in the level of local participation of Nigerians in the maritime industry and the use of Nigerian waters and seas for lawful economic activities”.

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara called for collaboration among African countries to cultivate and reap the benefits of its oceans.

    Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi said the African maritime transport charter inspired the formation of AAMA and encouraged information sharing, inter agency collaboration, sub-regional cooperation and approach to planning, implementation and maritime regulation on the principle of inclusiveness and collaboration.

    The government, Amaechi said, has stepped up efforts to make Nigeria a deserved maritime hub in the West and Central Africa by embarking on comprehensive port reforms and upgrading port infrastructure as well as linking the ports to the rail network to boost efficiency and quick cargo clearance.

    NIMASA’s Director-General Dakuku Peterside called for concerted efforts at tackling Africa’s maritime administration challenges.

    Dr Peterside, in  opening remarks at the conference, said: “We are particularly delighted that this conference, the third in the series after the first in Mombasa, Kenya and the second in Sandton, South Africa, is holding on our shores. Nigeria’s place in the maritime world is not only deserved, it is common knowledge.”

    “It (Nigeria) is special in the maritime community in Africa for a number of reasons,’’ the director-general said.

    He said Nigeria accounted for over 60 per cent of the total sea-borne traffic in volume and value in West and Central Africa.

    Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Kitack Lim said AAMA should not relent in its determination to increase Africa’s share of global investments in the maritime sector.

    Lim, who was represented by an official of the IMO, Mr William Azu, said the maritime sector provided raw materials, food items, employment and transportation of 80 per cent of global trade.

    The conference ends today.

  • Benefits of maritime Africa’s meeting in Abuja

    Benefits of maritime Africa’s meeting in Abuja

    Maritime administrators from across Africa are gathered in Abuja for a major conference, which will allow Nigeria showcase itself. In this piece, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Dakuku Peterside, examines the benefits of the conference, which ends tomorrow.

    It has been a matter not only of contemplation but national pride for me since the decision to host Africa’s prime maritime conference in Nigeria this year. So the efforts to get Abuja ready with all the logistics and detail have been a labour of love. So today we are ready.

    That is why it is my pleasure and that of the entire maritime community in Nigeria to welcome all stakeholders to Abuja. We consider it a privilege to host this important conference that embraces Africa’s maritime elite, the men and women who determine when, how, what and who to sail on the high seas, the mainstay of peace, wealth and security.

    As Africa’s largest market, our regulators will meet Africa’s regulators, our policy implementers will rub minds with international policy implementers and stakeholders, the crème de la crème of Africa’s Oceans and seas  who work together with our seasoned professionals in a bubble of ideas and innovation and find ways to bring the maritime industry here to a higher level. We shall chart with them the seas and oceans to optimize their benefits for the development of our people.

    There is a reason Nigeria has waited with bated breath for this day and year to host this all-important gathering.  This conference should have held here in 2014, but the ravaging forces of the Ebola epidemic scared all. So, we couldn’t. Today is great day to hold it.

    That scourge has been cauterised. So I am particularly delighted that this conference, the 3rd in the series, after the first in Mombasa, Kenya and the second in Sandton, South Africa, is holding anchor here on our shores.  Nigeria’s place in the maritime world is not only deserved, it is common knowledge. It is special in the maritime community in Africa for a number of reasons. Nigeria accounts for over 60% of the total seaborne traffic in volume and value in West and Central Africa region.  As the sixth largest OPEC exporting country, we contribute significantly to the global energy supply and what is known as wet cargo traffic. Our signature adorns all continental maritime initiatives and charters that seek to promote the development of Africa. That is a measure not only of our potential influence but also wealth.

    We are geo-strategically located as a major littoral state in the Gulf of Guinea. We sit a coastline of 853 kilometres that taps and caters to a landmass of 923,768 square kilometres. By all estimation, we are a leader, high on the crest of maritime nations, determined to advance African maritime prosperity. So, hosting a conference of the continent’s maritime administrators is overdue.

    It is no coincidence that this conference of maritime administrators and stakeholders is coming two years after African Leaders through the African Union subscribed to seven (7) key aspirations encapsulated in the Agenda 2063 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2015 and three years after the adoption of Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS) 2050. Nigeria was a major part of that story.

    Only recently in Lome , Togo  our Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo led us as a nation to play  a critical role to make Africa adopt a Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development. That singular watermark lay a foundation for making Africa’s maritime space the buoy of the continent’s development not only in terms of secure waterways but also to boost its socio-economic existence. This document was endorsed by 43 out of 54 African nations.

    The AMAA meeting will raise our profile in the world of maritime. All of Africa knows the place of Nigeria on the continental waterways and what is called the blue economy. The fact that we account for 60 percent of the volume and value of African trade becomes even more emphatic as the world gathers in Abuja to deliberate on the issues of the industry.

    A corollary to that is that it will show the maritime international community why Nigeria deserves a seat at the International Maritime Organisation, the premier body of maritime activity in the world. Such a seat will not only put at the centre where the critical decisions are made, but it will put the issue of Nigeria on the front burner.

    Such a seat will allow other big names in the industry to experience empathy about our issues. This is will make Nigeria not just a localised power but a global force.

    It will give power and voice to our efforts at home to fight piracy, other maritime crime, improve our human element capacity , attract investments. It is no small feat. And this conference offers opportunities to show case ourselves.

    When we shall discuss the issue of safety of the seas and ocean as well as cleaner oceans .  When the conference confronts the problem of sea trade and fairness, we will know that the lop-sidedness of trade that affects our current accounts picture will come into play. How can Africa get better share of the global maritime trade considering the cargo we generate and our contributions to seaborne trade. With this conference, we shall create better interface with other trading nations . It means building value in trade and networking with the rest of the world on a better footing based on partnership and not servitude.

    This conference will bring attention to it and make Nigeria’s focus on what will make Nigeria a mistress of the sea.

    It is time to make long-term investments. Ours is an economy of great potential. In the era where we are focusing on the optimization of agricultural   Potential of our people, it is also time to see how we can turn potential into prosperity. There are many Nigerians who are coming up with new ideas, with entrepreneurial audacity to dare and challenge the world with what we have to offer.

    This sort of conference with its eye on how to make Africa assert itself in global commerce will afford us with a view of the sea.

    For Nigeria, it is also an opportunity to look at the maritime environment especially pollution ravaging us and endangering our oceans and seas. With illegal and unregulated fishing confronting us we must rise up and stop the impunity.

    We have a lot to learn in this conference, we shall benefit from other countries as well, how to secure their waters and environment. We can also imbibe how they train their men and women in the industry.

    A conference like this offers us the chance of renewal, to bring back the wealth of water. And where to start that but here, on our shores. We are a critical part of the maritime narrative not only on the continent but also in the world. The world wants to sail her to trade and make profit. They should not only make profit but they should make it on our terms.

    That is why we have an opportunity to showcase our country. Nigeria’s image will be immensely helped as the elite of the industry from 33 countries converge to jaw-jaw on the future of seas and ocean, which is the source of much of life on the continent and livelihood and prosperity.

    • Dr Peterside is DG/CEO of NIMASA
  • Fed Govt can realise N3tr yearly from maritime, says ministry official

    Fed Govt can realise N3tr yearly from maritime, says ministry official

    THE Federal Government can realise N3trillion from maritime yearly if the sector is structured, a top Federal Ministry of Finance official has said.

    The official, who asked not to be named, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to invest part of the money generated from the  sector in the economy because of  the dwindling oil revenue.

    The president should also use 30 per cent of the revenue generated from the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) and the Tin Can Island ports to fix the Oshodi-Apapa Express Way and the Ijora Western Avenue Road to make the ports attractive to investors.

    Speaking with The Nation after the launch of the Nigeria Economic Recovery and Growth Plan ( ERGP) in Abuja, the official said there had been a reduction in cargo volume since the beginning of the year, blaming its problem on some policies on importation.

    “It would be recalled that in 2006, $1 exchanged for about N130, but today it is about N400 to a dollar, which implies a significant decline of about 70 per cent in the value of the national currency since port concession and that is why the Minister of Transport needs to reposition the maritime sector,” he said.

    Customs alone, the official said, could generate about half of the money, if loopholes were blocked and the government stopped the abuse of the waiver clause.

    According to the official, the President should review import policies, especially the foreign exchange (forex) restriction on 41 items.

    Investigation by The Nation revealed that activities at the ports were still very low because of the exchange rate policy.

    For instance, findings revealed that activities at the RoRo Terminal at the Tin Can Island port in Lagos were still at the lowest ebb.

    The exchange rate and the auto policy have impacted negatively on importers, freight forwarders and revenue generated by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other government agencies at the ports.

    The official said in 2012, 11,380 vehicles were imported through the Lagos Port while 251, 375 were came in through the Tin Can Island port in the same year.

    “The figure increased to 14, 422 and 280,057 at the Lagos Port Complex and Tin-Can Island ports respectively, in 2013,” he said.

    The figure dropped below 881 and 124,250 at each of the ports last year.

    The official attributed the low  vehicles import to the exchange rate and the auto policy.

    “We are happy that the ERGP focuses on agriculture. For a country to attain growth and development, its economy has to be diversified. As a matter of fact, there is an urgent need for the federal and state governments to look into diversification of various sectors to attain solid economic growth.

    “The Federal Government needs to diversify the economy by using the money generated from the ports to develop agriculture and other solid minerals to encourage exports so that the economy does not rely on oil export but diversified into other areas.

    The government, the official said, should also encourage Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) for new port projects to come up.

    “In short, the government must focus primarily on raising the revenue generating profile, expanding and diversifying the economic base.

    “Such diversification efforts should ensure that idle, empty containers at the ports are put to use by genuine farmers to increase the volume of our business. Besides, there must be adequate plan to improve on the facilities at the ports to facilitate trade and promote patronage. So, when export business goes up, it will automatically enhance business activities at the ports, in our factories and across the country.”

    The exchange rate, findings revealed, led to a significant drop in the number of containers coming to the ports.

    According to investigation,in 2014, 690,690 containers and 891,638 containers were shipped to the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island ports. But in 2015, 554,739 and 751,534 containers were dropped at each of the Lagos ports. Last year’s  figures were very low compared to the previous years because of the exchange rate.

    Lagos State Shippers Association Chairman, Mr Jonathan Nicol, also  advised the Federal Government to review the import policies, which impose 35 per cent duty and 35 per cent levy on imported vehicles.

    The 70 per cent levy was introduced by the Jonathan administration to support the local industry.

    Speaking with The Nation, Nicol said the exchange rate had reduced activities at the ports.

    He said addressing the high exchange rate would enable many industries to produce most of the items that we use locally, companies to attain at least 80 per cent installed capacity, revamp the local industries and generate employment.

    He suggested that the auto policy should be simplified to improve port activities.

    “Otherwise, activities at the Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) renowned for vehicle imports would continue to drop. If this happens, Nigeria will be losing about N800 million yearly from this source,” the shipper warned.

  • Why Nigeria is hosting maritime administrators, by NIMASA chief

    Why Nigeria is hosting maritime administrators, by NIMASA chief

    The Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is hosting maritime administrators from 30 countries to improve its role as a global player,  its director-general, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said.

    Peterside, in a statement by the organisation’s image maker, Isichei Osamgbi, said Nigeria would host the 3rd Conference of the Association of Heads of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA Conference) in Abuja, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, from April 19 to 21.

    The meeting will be hosted in conjunction with International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

    It will bring together major maritime administrators and leading stakeholders in Africa to discuss ways of improving the maritime sector on the continent.

    The statement reads: “The IMO delegation of five will be led by Mr. Kitack Lim, the Secretary General of IMO, which is a United Nations specialised agency that regulates shipping globally.

    “The hosting of this conference in Nigeria is in line with the economic diversification agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration, and the repositioning agenda of the present Management to make Nigerian maritime industry a leading light in Africa and the global maritime sector.”

    Peterside said it would open new opportunities for unemployed youths, as well as unlock the potentials in the maritime sector.

    The statement went on: “This is just as the conference could serve as a platform towards Nigeria’s re-election into the IMO Council seat later in November this year,” the statement added.

    “The benefits of hosting the conference cannot be over emphasised, it will equally avail stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry an opportunity to rub minds with their counterparts across Africa and the globe, and further chart a way forward for the African maritime sector. It will effectively signal the arrival of the country in the global maritime arena as a respectable global voice.”

  • Maritime workers protest bad roads

    Maritime workers protest bad roads

    Workers in the maritime sector have called for the immediate rehabilitation of roads leading to Apapa Port to save businesses from total collapse.

    The workers, under the auspices of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), dressed in white shirts and trousers, staged a protest at the first gate leading to the port, with placards to express their displeasure in solidarity with their outgoing President, Mr Anthony Nted.

    Some of the placards read: “Our leaders are accountable and transparent’’. “We pass vote of confidence on our leaders” and “No fracas, no friction, we are one union”.

    The workers advised the Federal Government to encourage terminal operators to repair the roads leading into the ports and provide tools for their jobs.

    A dockworker, Mr Samuel Golden, said lack of access to the port and non-functional equipment were  major hindrances to them.

    He said: “One of the workers was killed in 2016 on a commercial motorcycle when the driver of a trailer was trying to make a turn. If the road was good, the accident would not have happened.

    “We need tools to do our jobs efficiently, the beam is not working well  and we need replacement of some of the equipment.”

    Another worker, Mr Femi Adekoya, said workers at the port lacked sufficient protective gadgets to perform their duty.

    “We do our jobs without kits such as protective shoes and others that will help to guard a worker in case accident occurs,”  Adekoya lamented.

    However, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Chairman Mr Edward Okpoto, who spoke on Nted’s administration, praised him for ensuring that industrial crisis was no longer prevalent at the port.

    Okpoto said the outgoing president encouraged workers through training at the local and international levels.

    Also, Mr Adeleke Sanni, the NPA branch president, who read a solidarity and commendation letter for Nted, said the labour leader had passion for workers’ right.

    Sanni said the outgoing president maintained peace among the workers and trained 6,000, out of which 180 travelled to other parts of the country to enhance their skills.

    He said in spite of malicious accusations by some people in the sector, Nted brought credibility to dock workers and ensured that they had a good condition of service.

    Receiving the commendation letter in his office, Nted urged the workers to remain peaceful to boost productivity at the port.

    He said the forthcoming MWUN election would be free and fair as nobody had the right to impose any leader on the people.

  • NIMASA: we’re committed to Maritime varsity

    NIMASA: we’re committed to Maritime varsity

    The Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is committed to the Maritime University at Okerenkoko, in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    The agency, in a statement by its Head, Corporate Communications, Isichei Osamgbi, debunked claims the agency was opposed to the university’s take-off.

    The statement reads: “It has become necessary to clarify the issue as the Federal Government is committed to the actualisation of the project which the agency conceived. It is pertinent to note that NIMASA is supporting every aspect of the law in its determination to fulfill its obligations.

    “In addition, the National Assembly recently held a public hearing on the matter and it is expected that the funding of the institution and other aspects of running it will be specified in the Act setting up the university.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, at no time did the Director-General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, say anything contrary to the Federal Government’s position on the issue and we solidly stand behind the Federal Government on its determination to actualise the project.

    “The benefits derivable from the setting up of the institution will be quite numerous.         Apart from becoming a citadel for knowledge and development of human capital, job opportunities will be created to the Nigerian people, particularly the community.”

  • ANLCA boss asks maritime agencies to embrace reform initiatives

    •The Nation, others hailed on port reform forum

    Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) National President Prince Olayiwola Shittu has urged the maritime port agencies to embrace reform initiatives.
    He said such initiatives had the capacity to ignite the political will and self-honesty required to wake up the country to do what was needed to set the maritime sector on the right path.
    He spoke when the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Nation, Mr. Victor Ifijeh and Chief Strategist of Epsilon Limited Mr. Amechi Chukwujama visited the association on Thursday in Lagos.
    He hailed The Nation and Epsilon Limited for coming up with the innovative idea of organising the 2017 Port Reforms Conference.
    He lauded the organisers for making “great efforts to consult with and involve major stakeholders”.
    Shittu, who was with Zonal Coordinator (West) Dr. John Ofobike, Director-General Mr. Joel Nwosu and National Publicity Secretary Dr. Kayode Farinto, said when institutions work together, success would be guaranteed.
    The ANLCA national president said the association plays a key role in trade facilitation and helps the Nigeria Customs Service to generate revenue for government.
    Lending his support to the project, Shittu said ANLCA would consult with its zonal coordinators and communicate its level of support to the organisers.
    Ifijeh, who was represented by the General Manager, Corporate Services, Mr. Soji Omotunde, told the ANLCA national president the Minister of Transportation Mr. Rotimi Amaechi directed that the ministry collaborate with The Nation and Epsilon Limited in organising the conference on fast-tracking port reforms with the theme: “Making Nigerian Ports World Class.”
    The event holds March 30, 2017 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
    He said one of the aims of the conference was to get critical stakeholders to agree on desired outcomes within a timeframe and nominate a team among them to be accountable for monitoring and motivating implementation.
    Over 150 leaders from stakeholder groups are expected at the event.

  • Maritime ready to take over from oil, says Peterside

    Maritime ready to take over from oil, says Peterside

    The Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said maritime will soon take over from oil as the country’s leading revenue earner.

    He urged the media, especially maritime correspondents, to support the government’s drive to diversify the economy for growth and create alternative opportunities for investments.

    The NIMASA chief spoke while receiving the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by its National President, Mr. Abdulwaheed Odusile, at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.

    Peterside, while noting that the media is the interface between the public and the government, urged journalists to be professional in their reporting as people look up to them as major sources of information.

    He said: “We urge you to support the Government as it diversifies the economy for a better future for the entire Nigerian populace. You have to be fair and professional while reporting Government activities in order not to create unnecessary panic amongst the public.”

    Peterside urged stakeholders to tap opportunities  in the maritime sector.

    Peterside added: “The ocean is a resource a country can leverage on to grow its economy and blessed with a coastline of about 853km and 250 nautical mile Exclusive Economic zone, we must begin to take advantage of the maritime opportunities available to us to grow our economy.”

    Odusile, who had on his entourage Chairman of Lagos branch of NUJ, Mr. Deji Elumoye, said  his colleagues would do more to focus on government activities geared towards revamping the economy. He added that special attention would be on agencies, such as NIMASA that are in the frontline of driving the diversification process. He noted that this will help ensure a virile maritime industry and a greater economy.