The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA Dr Bashir Jamoh accompanied by the Executive Director, Maritime Labour Services and Cabotage, Right Honourable Victor Ochei, the Executive Director Operations, Mr Ahmed Shehu and other Maritime stakeholders on Thursday 4th March, 2021 paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa at the Exco Chambers of the government house, Asaba.
Dr Bashir Jamoh, stated that he was in the State with his management team to seek partnership with the Delta State Government on ways of developing the maritime industry in the state.
In the words of the DG
"It is my sincere pleasure to be with you this morning as part of our stakeholder's sensitization in terms of the development of the maritime sector, where we felt that as an Agency belonging to the Federal Government, we should not just stay back and allow littoral States doing things that concern maritime without the regulatory body of this country".
The DG, while commending the Governor on his developmental strides and achievements especially on the health sector and education, emphasized that it is not out of place to choose Delta State as a key littoral state in the next line of approach in terms of harnessing the blue economy.
The DG averred that within seven years, the Agency has domiciled three major maritime projects in Delta State. He cited some of the projects as the establishment of the first maritime university in Nigeria Okerenkoko, the NIMASA Science and Technical College Okoloba, the proposed shipyard project for ship repairs of which the floating dock is in Lagos laying down over three years after it's arrival.
He further posited that over one thousand Deltants benefited from the Agency's overseas scholarship scheme to study marine related courses
He added that according to the World Bank, the maritime industry has the capacity to generate almost ninety trillion dollars per annum, stressing that the figures signifies over ten percent of the revenue being generated in the oil and gas sector.
Dr Bashir emphasised that based on this potential of the maritime industry, the Agency has decided to develop a policy, a roadmap and an action plan in ensuring that these figures are reflected on the nations economy
It is in the light of the above that the DG is seeking to have the Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as an ally to harness the blue economy
He also stated that the colaboration with the Delta State Government will bring about positive results, adding that it is time to executive projects that will stand the test of time as well as create job opportunities for the younger generation, such as ship repairs, ship building, ship recycling, shipping business as well as tourism.
In his response, the Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa who welcomed the NIMASA DG and his team to the state said that the visit is more than a courtesy call because the DG has done a detailed brief on the activities of NIMASA in the state.
Dr Okowa said that "the take off of the Nigeria maritime university brought peace to the Niger Delta, and we are grateful for NIMASA's effort"
He prayed and hope that the Agency will meet up with the plan mapped out towards developing the Maritime Industry
Dr Ifeanyi Okowa who reacted to all the points raised by Dr Jamoh said he would like to visit the NIMASA Science and Technical College Okoloba having heard that there are infrastructures already in place
Dr Okowa further stated that Nigeria stands to gain alot in harnessing the Maritime Industry. He also spoke on the issues of the dock yard project that his Deputy Governor is already talking with the Vice President of Nigeria on the way forward.
He thanked the agency for awarding scholarship to indigenes of the state.
The Governor reiterated that the nation has depended too much on the oil and gas sector for too long, that the maritime industry needs to be developed by the opening of other Sea ports, stressing that Nigeria is too big to be a one Port Nation and the non operation of other Ports is causing pains to stakeholders and that it affects maritime activities negatively.
The Governor also called for the Agency's continual support in upholding the Nigerian Maritime University, saying collectively, alot can be achieved and all stakeholders need to be carried along.
Lastly, the Governor pledged his support as a stakeholder to achieve the policies of the Agency on the development of the Maritime industry and thanked the DG for all that NIMASA is doing for the State
In an interview with the press , Dr Bashir Jamoh responded to various questions ranging from effective utilisation of the maritime industry towards the nation's growth to issues that bother on maritime security.
He further explained that with the Deep Blue Project alot has been acquired and done to curtail maritime insecurity to the barest minimum, even though He was not in the State to talk about the project
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