The Eyewitness Reporter

Undaunted by the challenges that have stifled previous efforts to re-float the moribund national shipping line, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy,  Gboyega Oyetola, has reiterated the commitment of his ministry to break the 28 years jinxed efforts to give life to the dead national carrier.

Oyetola, who was speaking in Lagos, Tuesday during the opening of the stakeholders roundtable engagement, said the passion of government to revisit the suspended venture was the desire to have a cut of the estimated $10 billion annual ship charter market within the country.

The Minister, who charged the stakeholders and government agencies to brace up for the challenges ahead, warned that there is no business as usual as there is an urgent need for a collaborative effort to brainstorm and devise strategies to leverage the nation’s marine resources for the betterment of the economy and safety of our planet.

Oyetola would be the third Minister in the Transportation Ministry( now Marine and Blue Economy Ministry) who would try to re-establish the sunken national shipping line after the famous Nigeria National Shipping Line(NNSL), established in 1959, went under in September 1995 due to heavy debt burden.

Rotimi Amaechi, in 2021, had a shot at refloating the dead national carrier through the Public-Private Partnership(PPP) model but could not succeed when the foreign counterparts in the project, suddenly withdrew.

His successor, Alhaji Mu’azu Jaji Sambo identified the refloating of the national shipping line as one of the low-hanging fruits he intended to harvest during his short stay but also failed to achieve anything on the project.

However, the pioneer Minister of the new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Oyetola, has followed the same trajectory as his predecessors, as he has indicated his desire to re-float the moribund project, using the PPP model.

While addressing the stakeholders, he promised that the re-floating of the national shipping carrier will in no way impede the growth of local players but rather provide an avenue for them to create and extract more value from the sector, especially through ship construction, maintenance, and repairs.

“This would enable our local businesses to better leverage the Cabotage Act, which gives Nigerians the exclusive right to control locally generated seaborne trade” he assured.

Oyetola disclosed that his ministry will embrace the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models to transform the sector.

He said the stakeholders’ meeting was convened to bring together players in the sector to discuss and chart a roadmap/direction that will advance the industry’s potential, promote sustainable Blue Economy investments and ensure global competitiveness within the sector.

He noted that the PPP model which his ministry will adopt, is a collaborative synergy between the private sector’s efficiency and the public sector’s oversight that is meant to bring about a transformative impact on the marine and blue economy as well as boost the creation of substantial job opportunities and the facilitation of increased trade and investment in the nation, reinforcing the ministry’s collaborative and forward-looking approach.

Some areas of discussion at the Roundtable are strengthening Blue Governance; Transforming Port Operations; Enhancing Port Infrastructure; and Promoting Blue Economy Investments.

“There is an urgent need for a collaborative effort to brainstorm and devise strategies to leverage our marine resources for the betterment of the economy and safety of our planet.

” It is imperative we come up with practicable ways of ensuring that our Inland Rivers, Lakes and Waterways are well utilised for cargo shipment and passenger transportation.

“This engagement forum is crucial to the development of the sector as it offers an opportunity for us all to collectively contribute our perspectives, and ideas and offer relevant inputs that can propel the sector to the trajectory of success necessary to support the development of the economy as well as meet the expectations of Mr. President who took the courage to open up Nigeria to focus on the Blue Economy Value Chain.

“The zeal for a better life for Nigerians propelled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to recently unveil 8 Presidential Priorities to address critical national challenges. These priorities are to be delivered through 8 focus areas, namely: economic growth, food security, energy and natural resources, infrastructure development, security, healthcare, education, improved governance, and job creation.

“Our Ministry though new, is not resting on its oars and has continued to foster Inter-Agency collaborations and implement initiatives to promote Port efficiency, cargo shipment, maritime security and tap into the resources of the Seabed.

“Other anticipated outcomes include the creation of substantial job opportunities and the facilitation of increased trade and investment in the nation, reinforcing our collaborative and forward-looking approach”.

The Minister who said he is acquainted with the sector’s challenges, assured of his commitment to “bequeathing to Nigerians a better sector than we have met today”.

He assured that the Stakeholders’ Engagement will be a continuum, “since it is important that we normalise this harmonious synergy and work together to ensure that our industry is safe, reliable and sustainable”, he declared.

The stakeholders’ meeting is expected to brainstorm on ways and means by which the huge potential in the sector could be harnessed for the growth of the economy and the betterment of the people.

The minister said the outcome of the deliberation will form a nucleus of his blueprint for the development of the marine and blue economy sector which he intends to unveil to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the public.