Blue economy: Maritime experts look for positions in new ministries

The newly established Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has been urged by maritime stakeholders to fulfill goals by bringing in professionals to oversee its management.

On Saturday, at the Nigerian Maritime Law Association’s 14th Annual General Meeting and Lecture, which doubled as an elective congress, they made the demand in Benin, Edo State.

President of Benin River Port Greg Ogbeifun urged the managers of the new ministry to be prepared to take advise and make the correct decisions in his keynote speech, “Urgent regulatory reform in the maritime industry: Setting the agenda for the new administration.”

It’s not been a good start for the new ministry, he remarked. We wish top leadership positions were filled by practitioners from the sector.

The establishment of that ministry by President Bola Tinubu and the appointment of the desired individuals are greatly appreciated. Assistance to those appointed is a responsibility shared by everybody. They should be professionals who are prepared to comprehend the industry and make wise choices.

He stated that outdated infrastructure is the main issue facing the nation’s seaports and pointed out that there is no room for growth.

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Regulating adjustments in the sector are needed to address the issue of development encroaching on seaports, as he bemoaned.

According to him, Nigeria’s economy revolves around the maritime sector, which presents several prospects for the country’s advancement.

Yet, the sector has many difficulties, such as insufficient finance, a lack of qualified workers, unfavorable fiscal policies, inefficient flag management, inadequate marine infrastructure, security issues, and regulatory impediments.

Urgent regulatory reforms in the marine sector are necessary as Nigeria adjusts to a new administration in order to establish a strong agenda that will solve the issues and realize the sector’s full potential.

Previously, Funke Agbor (SAN), President of the National Marine Law Association, praised the Edo State Government for supporting the meeting and stated that the association has been leading the charge to ensure that treaties and laws pertaining to the maritime industry, to which the body is a signatory, are domesticated to promote the sector. He also urged practitioners to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the new ministry.

The government has established a new ministry, she continued, so it is up to us to make sure we take advantage of it, equip ourselves, and equip every cluster that makes up the maritime industry so that the government is forced to sufficiently create the enabling environment so that we can measure and hold the government accountable for its actions.