Lawmakers, government officials, policymakers, and academics gathered at the permanent site of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) to discuss strategies for advancing Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
The discussions took place during a one-day policy dialogue on “The Imperatives of Harnessing the Potentials of the Blue and Marine Economy,” organized by the Director-General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman.
In his opening address, the convener, Professor Sulaiman, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking the bull by the horns to establish the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to drive the implementation of reforms in the sector.
He said the dialogue focuses on how the potentials of the sector can be harnessed, which includes shipping, marine trade and other onshore activities that can help to drive the nation’s economic growth and development.
The Director General said lessons learned from countries like Singapore, Norway and the United States on the strategic utilization of marine resources can contribute significantly to the nation’s GDP growth while ensuring environmental sustainability.
Professor Sulaiman urged the critical stakeholders at the policy dialogue to identify challenges facing the sector and formulate long-term strategies that will position Nigeria as a leader in Africa’s blue economy.
Goodwill messages were presented by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamo, representatives of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and other allied key players in the sector.
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