The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, emphasized the need for Nigeria to invest in modernizing port facilities to enhance shipping safety and improve operational efficiency in the maritime sector.
Oyetola who stated this in an event to mark this year’s World Maritime Day themed, “Navigating the Future: Safety First,”. He stated that boosting investments in this area will enable Nigeria to build capacity and maintain its competitiveness in global seaborne trade.
He pointed out that the government has not fully realized the benefits of port concessions because of insufficient infrastructure upgrades, as many ports are approaching the end of their operational lifespan, which hampers efficiency.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Michael Oloruntola ,he called on stakeholders to reassess the safety and security challenges facing the maritime sector, especially in light of new technologies and alternative fuels designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions from ships. He also noted that his ministry is implementing proactive strategies to improve the maritime sector by adopting emerging technologies and promoting innovation for growth.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy is taking proactive measures by embracing emerging technologies and fostering innovation to drive growth.
“Key among the initiatives of the ministry are digitalization and automation of port operations to enhance safety, security, and efficiency as well as performance optimization to reduce costs and increase reliability, and the adoption of innovative practices to propel our industry towards sustainable development.
“President Bola Tinubu is investing heavily in port modernization to reduce inefficiencies, lower operational costs, and improve safety in our ports. This process is being financed through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) arrangements.”
Oyetola stated that the government has made considerable progress in improving port operations by aligning its policies with global best practices, which has enhanced safety, security, and efficiency, resulting in reduced delays in export and import processing. However, he emphasized the need for private sector support to provide the necessary resources and advanced facilities to elevate Nigeria’s maritime industry.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dayo Mobereola, urged stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to safety, innovation, and responsible management of the marine environment. He highlighted that the challenges within the maritime sector also present significant opportunities for success.
Meanwhile, Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), announced that the authority is in the final stages of implementing the Port Community System (PCS). He stated that the PCS will pave the way for the operationalization of the Federal Government’s National Single Window Project.
