In a joint effort to ensure that African Oceans are not overexploited and used as a dumping ground for toxic waste, participating countries at the just concluded Conference of the Association of Heads of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) have agreed to protect their population, assets and critical infrastructure from maritime pollution.
In the communiqué of the association released at the weekend at the end of the conference, which held in Abuja, Nigeria, the body of all administrators of maritime regulatory bodies agreed that a common stand would safeguard the future of maritime wealth in the continent.
Members of the Association consequently agreed to devote time and efforts in planning for the enhancement of wealth creation, regional and international trade through maritime-centric capacity and capability building.
They pledged to work together to prevent hostile and criminal acts at sea as well as coordinate/harmonize the prosecution of offenders Also they pledged to improve and Integrate Coastal Zone/Area Management in Africa to enhance international trade.
The Conference had in attendance representatives from Mauritania, South Sudan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Comoros, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Benin, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Kenya, Guinea, Libya and Nigeria as well as other non-African countries such as Jamaica, Netherlands, Malaysia, international associations IMO, Abuja MOU, PMAWCA, SOAN, NPA, NSC, NITT, NIWA, ASA, WIMA, FAO.
One of the highlights of the occasion was the election of the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside as the Chairman of the Association.
Dr. Peterside, took over from Mr. Sobantu Tilayi, the acting Chief Executive Officer of South African Maritime and Safety Agency (SAMSA), who had been the acting Chair of the association since 2013.
Peterside stated that task of leading the African Maritime Administrators is enormous but sought the cooperation of members countries to ensure that the African oceans and seas are not over exploited to the detriment of the continent.
Part of the Resolutions made at the conference enjoined all African countries to participate in the day set aside by the AU as the African Day of Oceans and Seas, the 25th July of every year as Africa’s Day of the Seas and Oceans.
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