Government urged to exploit maritime potential for alternative revenue

The Federal Government has been urged to fully exploit the huge potential in the maritime sector for alternative sources of revenue for the nation.

A former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who spoke ahead of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Maritime Awards, also commended efforts by the Agency to motivate stakeholders and staff.

He said this would help them take advantage of the policies in place to invest and grow the economy.

“It is time to develop other alternative sources of revenue for the nation and the maritime sector is well positioned to do so. What NIMASA is doing in the industry and the Awards are quite in line to motivate stakeholders and staff to take advantage of the policies in place to invest and grow the economy,” Abubakar said.

The Director-General, NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside, said the successes recorded so far in the maritime sector are as a result of the cooperation between industry stakeholders and the Agency.

Peterside added that the award is in effort to celebrate and reward excellence in the Nigerian maritime industry, and to also encourage more local participation in the shipping business as well as draw attention to the vast opportunities in the sector for both and foreign and local investors to grow the blue economy, which is now the focus of global investments.

“As an Agency, we recognise the role of our stakeholders in our drive to realise a robust maritime sector; without the stakeholders, there will be no NIMASA, and by extension, no maritime industry. We are therefore hopeful that in the coming years, we will continue to work assiduously to meet the yearnings of the industry as we hope to engage more in collaboration, so that all of us can boast of a robust maritime sector,” Dakuku said.

The award categories include Shipping Company of the Year 2018 (Dry Cargo); Shipping Company of the Year 2018 (Wet Cargo); Maritime Education and Training Institute of the Year 2018; Manning Agent of the Year 2018; and Seafarers’ Employer of the Year 2018.

Staff of the Agency will be honoured for outstanding performance and an Employee of the Year will be picked from the 11 winners of the Employee of the Month awards from January to November 2018.

The event, which is scheduled for Saturday, January 12, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, is expected to attract dignitaries from all walks of life, among who are Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, who is billed to chair the event, and the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, who is the host.