BY AKUDORO GLORIA
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has stated that the Ministry’s collaboration with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), is fully committed to promoting partnerships with industry players to drive innovation, and champion sustainability.
Oyetola made this statement during his opening address at the Stakeholders Sensitization Workshop on Deep Seabed Activities in Nigeria, held recently in Abuja.
He said government-private sector partnerships are vital to unlocking the maritime sector’s full potential, emphasizing that effective harnessing of the vast potential of the nation’s marine resources is a crucial step in diversifying Nigeria’s economy.
The Minister, in a statement issued on Saturday by Mr. Osagie Edward, Assistant Director/Head, Public Relations of NIMASA, stated that the transition from a fossil fuel-based economy to a mineral-based presents opportunities for Nigeria to leverage its marine resources, particularly wave and tidal energy, to generate clean energy.
This shift, he said could significantly contribute to the nation’s energy needs.
“Nigeria’s establishment of a full-fledged Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2023 demonstrates our commitment to diversifying our economy and capitalizing on the global surge in deep-sea exploration. As a major oil-producing country with an extensive coastline and inland waterways, we cannot afford to lag in this new frontier,” said Oyetola.
The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Oloruntola Olufemi, explained that the workshop aimed to raise awareness among key stakeholders in the sector about the significance of deep seabed exploration and exploitation.
On his part, NIMASA’s Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said the Agency in collaboration with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and relevant MDAs, will ensure Nigeria’s compliance with global standards.
Speaking on the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, Dr. Mobereola noted that the need to amend the Act to reflect relevant provisions of the ISA’s model of legislation on exploration and exploitation could not be overemphasized.
He acknowledged the commitment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and NIMASA to ensuring the full implementation of relevant legislative frameworks for the sustainable use of the marine environment and safety standards.
“We remain committed to ensuring that relevant legislative frameworks on the sustainable use of the Marine Environment and Safety standards are fully implemented,” he said.
The statement further indicated that stakeholders present at the workshop were drawn from diverse sector including representatives of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), National Border Commission (NBC), International Seabed Authority, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, among others.