Lagos State resolves to boost maritime opportunities in the state

The Lagos state government has restated its resolve to address the challenges of developing a virile maritime sector that will boost socio economic growth and development for the benefit of the citizens.

The state government added that if the challenges were addressed, it would engender regional integration of countries that are landlocked.

Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu stated this at Mission To Seafarers (MTS) 2021 Symposium that held in Lagos on Thursday.

He maintained that maritime industry is a veritable wealth generation and job creation platform.

According to Sanwo-Olu, seafarers, merchant vessel operators, ship chandlers, import and export cargo brokers were among the beneficiaries of the opportunities created by the sector.

The Governor who was represented at the event by the state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederick Oladeinde said, “Our administration places a premium on the opportunities available to the State due to its  littoral status and we have developed strategies, programmes and initiatives that will ensure the provision of adequate infrastructure and services to enhance maritime trade and transport in Lagos State.

“Indeed, the water transport and commercial operations is a major factor in our administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda for the growth and development of Lagos Economy in the 21 Century.

“It is, therefore, very critical that we sustain the stakeholder relations between our administration in Lagos State and the “Mission to Seafarers” organization.

“Lagos State has emerged as a preferred location for investors and tourists because of the available opportunities, hospitable nature of the people and the ease of doing business processes that is guaranteed by government.

“Our administration will continue to synergise and cooperate with all stakeholders and investors in the maritime sector to grow and develop infrastructure and services that will enhance opportunities for regional integration and national development for wealth generation and job creation that will benefit our people and all investors in the maritime sector.”

Earlier, he stated that the maritime sector was a critical factor in the socioeconomic, physical and infrastructural growth and development of the global economy saying, that It was on record that the earliest recorded commercial transactions across nations were carried out through maritme trade.

“It is therefore my pleasure to join the Chaiman, Mission to Seafarers Lagos, Chief Adebayo Sarumi, the management and members of the Mission To Seafarers in Lagos at this year’s Maritime Symposium with the theme “Maritime Industry as a Strategic Driver for Regional and National Economic Development” which is being hosted in Lagos State today.

“It is significant that you have chosen to honor Lagos State, a littoral State that accounts for a substantial portion of the maritime industry in Nigeria and the ECOWAS sub region. Lagos State with a physical land size of about 4000 square kilometers is largely surrounded by water.

“The aquatic potentials available in Lagos exposed the State to intercontinental trade very many years ago and this has contributed in making it the cosmopolitan city that attracts people and trade from across the world,” he posited.