National Maritime Transport Policy key to development – Dakuku

By Richards Adeniyi

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that a national policy on maritime and cooperation amongst stakeholders in the industry would go a long way in placing the sector in a pedestal that would lead to economic growth.

This was as stakeholders on the invitation of NIMASA gathered to review the Draft National Maritime Transport Policy (NMTP) to ensure it is elaborate enough to drive the growth of the maritime sector and as well stand the test of time.

Speaking at the opening of the session, Dr. Dakuku who was represented by the Agency’s Head, Planning Research and Data Management Services, Mrs. Ronke Thomas said that it is in the usual way of the Agency in engaging stakeholders especially as it concerns documents that would benefit the sector.

According to the DG “in our usual way of ensuring that the sector is stakeholders driven, we feel this document would benefit all the players in the industry and that is why we have gathered you here to make input on this document so that we will be on the same page when it is time for the implementation of the content” he said.

Also speaking at the event Barrister Mike Igbokwe SAN said that there was the need to have a liberal protection of what he termed the Nigerian local shipping industry. He said documents such as the NMTP would ensure that the Nigerian local shipping industry is protected from being stifled by unfavourable competition from international shipping company.

In her view, the Secretary General of the Abuja MoU, Mrs Ufom Usoro noted that the document should be reviewed with particular focus on the National Transport Policy (NTP) which is at the final level of approval by the Federal Executive Council.

The former NIMASA DG pointed out that having been a member of the committee that drafted the NTP, that there was the need to make reference to the document while reviewing the NMTP. She advised that the NMTP should focus more on objectives of the Maritime Sector and not the Agencies that regulate the sector.

In the same vein Barrister Temisan Omatseye also a former DG of NIMASA said that the NTP is at an advanced stage, he disclosed that there is even a strategy already in place for the implementation of the document. He advised that the NMTP should be embedded in the NTP which will make it more comprehensive and elaborate.

It should be noted that this is the latest in the collaborative efforts championed by NIMASA in the maritime industry. The session had in attendance key stakeholders such Andrew Isichei and Mrs. Obiageli Obi of the Nigerian Chambers of Shipping.

Others are Barrister Chidi Ilogu, Ms. Funmi Folorunso, Otunba Kunle Folarin as well as representatives from the Maritime Workers Union, the Nigerian Merchant Navy amongst other attendees