President Muhammadu Buhari has called for improved synergy and collaboration among African countries to effectively attain a sustainable use of Africa’s Oceans and Seas.
President Buhari who made the call while declaring open the 3rd Conference of the Association of Heads of African Maritime Administration (AAMA) in Abuja advised Maritime Administrators across the continent to continually work together in building strong maritime economies.
The President who was represented by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) noted that the Federal Government has paid significant attention to making the Nigerian maritime business environment business open and efficiency to enable quick turnaround time of vessels.
He said: “We recently approved a new maritime security architecture and infrastructure to be jointly coordinated by NIMASA, National Security Adviser and Federal Ministry of Transport. We have given required support to the Navy so that they can work with others within our sub region to effectively police our waters for trade. This arrangement will also contribute to resolving and eliminating piracy and sea robbery in our maritime domain”
President Buhari also praised the vision of AAMA, Africa in fostering collaboration and synergy among member countries to develop the African maritime sector.
On his part, the Honorable Minister of Transportation, Honorable Rotimi Amaechi said that Africans couldn’t allow the international partners set and champion an agenda for the African continent. He noted that Africa’s seas should contribute significantly to the economic and environmental needs of the continent and cgarged members of AAMA to lead the way and outline a vision
While calling on other African countries to support Nigeria’s quest to return to category C of the IMO, he disclosed that Nigeria has ratified 35 IMO Conventions, gazette 34 maritime regulations, while several other maritime conventions are at different stages of being either domesticated or ratified. He added that Nigeria has stepped up efforts to make the country a deserved maritime hub by embarking on comprehensive port reforms, digitalization of all processes in the sector, upgrading port infrastructures and linking it to the rail network.
He said: “What we require to move Africa forward is a concerted and co-operative spirit amongst African. That is why it is imperative that maritime administrators and regulators conference of this nature becomes regular to forge needed partnership.”
The Director General of NIMASA Dr Dakuku Peterside noted that Nigeria is delighted to host the 3rd AAMA Conference after the first in Mombasa, Kenya and the second in Sandton, South Africa.
While noting that Nigeria accounts for over 60% of the total seaborne traffic in volume and value in West and Central Africa region, he said the country is determined to advance African Maritime prosperity.
According to him “It is no coincidence that this conference of maritime administrators and stakeholders is coming two years after African Leaders through the African Union subscribed to seven (7) key aspirations encapsulated in the Agenda 2063 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2015 and three years after the adoption of Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS) 2050.”
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