
The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi has called for synergy among stakeholders in the maritime industry to tackle insecurity in the nation’s water.
Amaechi said this in Lagos on Thursday on the occasion of the 2020 World Maritime Day, with the theme, “Sustainable Shipping For Sustainable Planet.”
Amaechi, who joined the event virtually from Abuja, also identified the secure anchorage issue as one that required greater understanding and transparency on the part of stakeholders.
According to him, it is only synergy among stakeholders that could end the security challenge in the country’s waters and called for synergy among stakeholders in tackling the problem.
Speaking also at the occasion, the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)Dr. Bashir Jamoh restated the Federal government’s commitment to the security of the country’s marine environment through the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also known as the Deep Blue Project.
According to him, “The determination of the Agency to ensure sustainable use of the seas and oceans is clearly demonstrated by our establishment in 2008 of a specialised department in charge of marine environment management.
He further reiterated that the agency’s commitment was to get Nigeria waters free from all maritime crimes.
“Under the SPOMO Act, we have arrested 10 in Lagos, they are still under trial in the Federal High Court and we hope before the end of October, we will see the result of that.
In her welcome address, the Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, said the event provided an opportunity for the country to focus attention on the crucial role of the maritime industry in the attainment of the SDGs.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, in her own remarks, emphasised the importance of sustainable use of the seas and oceans.
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