The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has charged regulatory agencies to reduce the cost of doing business by checking exploitation of operators at seaports.
Amaechi gave the charge in Lagos at the 2020 World Maritime Day Celebration.
He pointed out that the objective behind the Secured Anchorage Area (SAA) has been defeated with the exorbitant charge of $1500 a vessel per day.
In a keynote address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said that it’s been five years since President Buhari, joined other world leaders at the 70th Session of the UN to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of 17 SDGs on universal call to end poverty, safeguard the planet and ensure peace and prosperity by year 2030.
She, however, called on stakeholders in the sector to capitalize on available local resources and invest in infrastructure and machinery that are economically and physically in line with the aspirations of the SDGs.
Meanwhile, the Director General, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashiri Jamoh, in his presentation assured International community that with the Anti-piracy Act, Nigeria is now repositioned to fight piracy and change the narrative following recent statistics by IMO that the country’s waters are the most dangerous to trade in.
Other presenters encouraged development and coordination of the Blue Economic policy, use of scientific and verified information for development of the maritime sector.
They further pointed out that the major threat to marine life emanates from land, adding that the country should consider turning the land wastes into recyclable and reusable energy.
The participants came out with a communique which among other things emphasised that SDGs are germane to the maritime industry and in this regard, urgent measures towards diversifying the economy away from oil revenue is apt.
They also reiterated the need to develop regulations for the implementation of relevant IMO instruments to forestall effects of climate change and pollution on marine environment.
