SIFAX Group Chairman harps on Coastal tourism development

By Abiodun OBA

Coastal tourism development is said to have the potential to provide socio-economic benefits to Nigeria.

The Chairman, SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, emphasized while delivering the 16th Convocation Lecture of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso on the topic “Towards a sustainable blue economy and marine development in Nigeria: trends, challenges and prospects”.

Represented by Bode Ojeniyi, Group Managing Director, Sky Capital & Financial Allied Company Limited, Afolabi emphasized attention to the sector has become imperative especially during this period when the Nigerian government is trying to diversify the economy from being a predominantly crude oil-based economy to a multi-product economy, which can withstand the volatility in oil prices in the world market.

Chairman, SIFAX Group, said developing the country’s blue economy is now more imperative than ever due to the government’s policy of moving away from the largely one-product economy that Nigeria has been running for decades.

The SIFAX boss stated, “Serious attention should be devoted to the development of our coastlines by the government as this could spur huge recreational and economic activities around such localities. Coastal tourism development has the potential to provide socio-economic benefits to Nigeria, especially during this period when the Nigerian government is trying to diversify the economy from being a predominantly crude oil-based economy to a multi-product economy, which can withstand the volatility in oil prices in the world market.

“One other lucrative sector within the blue economy concept is the opportunity for harvesting renewable energy.

“Renewable energies, such as wind, solar, hydro, and tidal energy, are energy alternatives to fossil fuels that can contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of the maritime sector.

“Offshore wind energy is also a real and promising form of renewable energy generated by offshore wind turbines, which makes it possible to take advantage of strong ocean winds for electricity generation later exported to land where it is consumed in several economic activities. In turn, solar energy can be used in power navigation and communication ships’ systems and equipment and those of other floating structures.”

Afolabi further noted that the country can learn from the experience of Philippines which has deployed more seafarers in the global shipping business than any other country. He said the country needs to develop a robust maritime educational curriculum that takes into cognizance technology, trends, and the dynamic nature of the industry.

He however, cautioned that tapping the potential in the blue economy should be done responsibly and sustainably and identified some of the sustainable measures of using the country’s ocean resources.

These include the promotion of sustainable aquaculture practices, modern environmental waste management, monitoring, control, and surveillance of Nigeria’s territorial waters, and improvement of maritime safety and security.

Others are the preservation of marine ecosystems, addressing the challenge of pollution in coastal areas, enactment of laws that promote the blue economy, and proper regulation by relevant government agencies.