The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that, in order to harness the opportunities derivable from the Blue Economy in Africa, there was a need for a proper framework and structure which would enhance the coordination of the sector.

The NIMASA DG, who stated this during a paper presentation to the management of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in Lagos, said that in realising a desirable blue sea economy framework, participatory engagement and agenda setting, participatory policy design and implementation and multi sector partnership were key areas that must be considered.

In the paper titled, “Introducing the Blue Economy Concept,”Peterside said the Blue Economy, which stands on three pillars namely Environmental Sustainability, Economic Sustainability and Social Sustainability, has a lot of benefits to the growth and development of the sector in Africa, thereby making it compete favourably with its counterparts in other continents.

He also highlighted fair multilateral and bilateral agreements, improved well-being, inclusive job creation, Eco-tourism, debt swaps and green ports, amongst others, as some of the tools and opportunities that abound in the blue economy sector in Africa. He added that the concepts it would bring to Africa ranged from sustainable business opportunities, circular economy, resource efficiency, and conservation of development. All these, he said, would help the continent actualise the Blue Economy sector.

“About 70 percent of the earth resources are underneath the sea and has been in most cases left untapped. Almost all the cities in the world begin their development from the sea which shows the underlying importance of the sea to economic and social growth. We must therefore work hard and collaboratively to actualise our Blue Economy sector in Africa," Peterside said.

While identifying maritime insecurity, criminal activities at sea, climate vulnerability and poor infrastructure among factors militating against the development of Africa’s Blue Economy, he assured that NIMASA was doing all it could to curtail the issues relating to criminal activities in the nation’s territorial waterways. "We have proposed an Anti-piracy Bill, which is presently before the National Assembly and would be passed soon. This will enable the Agency prosecute those found in such nefarious activities that is capable of hampering the development of the maritime sector," the NIMASA boss said.

He called for a budgetary provision for Blue Economy management as obtainable in other climes, and also the creation of an institutional framework for it.

The DG also used the opportunity to urge African nations to provide investments needed to support improved governance and initiatives, and assured the NSC that the Agency would continue to encourage collaborations amongst stakeholders in the industry, as it is the only way that could guarantee the growth, development and actualisation of the Blue Economy.

Earlier in his welcome address, NSC Executive Secretary, Barrister Hassan Bello commended the efforts of the Peterside-led management of NIMASA and stated that, within a short time of his appointment, he had been able to transform the sector.

He also described the Agency as a worthy partner and said that the need for NSC to collaborate with NIMASA to drive the Blue Economy could not be over emphasised, explaining that that necessitated the invitation of the NIMASA DG to give the management team of the NCS firsthand information on the concept of the Blue Economy.

In the African context, the Blue Economy covers both aquatic and marine spaces, including oceans, seas, coasts, lakes, rivers and underground waters. It also encompasses a range of productive sectors, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, transport, ship building, energy, bio prospecting, under-water mining and related activities.

•Photo shows from left: NIAMSA DG, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, NSC Executive Secretary, Barrister Hassan Bello, and the Legal Adviser of NSC during a presentation on “Introducing the Blue Sea Economy Concept” by the NIMASA DG to the Management of NSC in Lagos.