Fight piracy to benefit the ocean economy, operators tell government

Maritime stakeholders have advised the government to tackle piracy, illegal fishing, inter-state disputes and transnational crime to benefit from the US$2.5 trillion ocean economy.

They said Nigeria must also address other challenges such as smuggling of arms and narcotics, among other multifaceted threats to maritime security.

They announced this in Lagos during the International Maritime Organization’s World Maritime Day 2024.

Speaking at the event, the guest speaker and Chairman of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, Prof. Larry Awosika, advised that ensuring safe, secure, energy-efficient and low-carbon maritime transport is essential for the sustainable exploitation of marine resources.

“Unsustainable maritime practices, including safety and environmental degradation, pose a significant threat to the maritime industry,” he stated.

Awosika has set out a vision where the blue economy, which includes fisheries, resource extraction, maritime transport, ecosystem health and tourism, can only thrive through a foundation of maritime security.

He further expressed concern that investments in marine exploration and tourism could be undermined by such security threats, which could affect both the national and global economies.

He urged the federal government to prioritize maritime safety through new investments in infrastructure, science, data and technology.

On his part, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, stressed the need to address safety and security challenges in the sector, especially in light of new technologies and alternative fuels aimed at reducing of greenhouse gas emissions from ships.

Oyetola, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olufemi Oloruntola, noted that Nigeria has consistently aligned its regulatory framework with IMO standards and other international maritime regulations, thus demonstrating its commitment to maintaining the highest level of maritime security is strengthened.

“To ensure both maritime safety and operational efficiency, government must invest in improving facilities and building capacity to keep Nigeria competitive in global maritime trade,” Oyetola said.

“Achieving world-class standards would require continued support from the private sector, whose collaboration is crucial in providing the resources and state-of-the-art facilities required to take the Nigerian maritime industry to the next level,” he said.

Also, Bwala Williams, Nigeria’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization, noted that the IMO’s focus on improving maritime safety and security is timely, “especially as the world commemorates the 50th anniversary of the International Convention for the Safety of Human Life. at sea.”