Oyetola inspects maritime assets, lauds NIMASA

By Abiodun OBA

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola on Tuesday inspected some maritime assets at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Resource Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos.

Oyetola, the former governor of Osun state commended NIMASA for the efforts put in place to ensure the security of the nation’s waterways.

According to the Minister, for the Blue Economy sector to thrive, there must be adequate security in place as that would attract investors to boost the sector.

After taking a tour of the NIMASA facilities in company of the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani and other ministerial delegates, Oyetola said Nigeria was truly ready for the blue economy business.

“NIMASA has done very well. I have seen the C4i centre and other maritime assets. They have reduced the level of piracy to zero and we should be able to sustain that.

“I have been to the NIMASA facilities, enforcement areas, the head office, the training school, some officers manning the security of our waterways.

“I am impressed with what I have seen so far, and I think we are really ready for the marine and blue economy in the real sense of it,” the Minister added.

Oyetola further identified tourism, maritime security and waterway transportation as top priority aspects of his leadership.

“Nigeria has about 853km coastline which is in abundance. The first thing is to ensure the security of our waterways so that people will use the waterway for transportation.

“We need to invite investors. In Kenya, there is a particular beach that contains 10,000 villas, one can imagine the kind of revenue they get. I want us to be able to ensure investors in this sector, but investors want to be guaranteed security. So, the first thing is to ensure that security of our waterways is guaranteed,” the Minister said.

Oyetola said that Nigerians are really looking forward to the ministry to harness the potentials that have been there all along in a coordinated manner.

Welcoming the Minister, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, declared that his appointment was unique and timely.

The DG noted that the uniqueness of the Minister’s appointment was based on the industry and stakeholders’ clamour for independence, and the magnanimity of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to create the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, showed that the President is a listening leader.

During the visit, the pioneer Minister of Marine and Blue Economy inspected the NIMASA Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and intelligence, C4i centre, and NIMASA e-library.

He also inspected the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) radio room, Marine Environment Management Laboratory, the newly acquired NIMASA headquarters, Search and Rescue Base Clinic and the NIMASA Skill Acquisition Centre in Apapa.