From right: Customs Area Controller, Tin Can Island Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, ex-ANLCA president, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, Dr Charles Okoroefe of the NMU, Okerenkoko and Comptroller Ben Oramalugo at the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the League of Maritime Editors held in Lagos last week.

In line with Federal Government’s efforts to harness Nigeria’s vast but largely untapped blue economy resources, a shipping expert and University Don with the Nigerian Maritime University NMU, Okerenkoko, Delta State, Dr. Charles Okerefe has proposed a strong synergy between the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and Ministries of Agriculture, Power and Tourism.

Meanwhile, the League of Maritime Editors have made a passionate appeal to President Bola Tinubu to stimulate measures for the immediate disbursement of the 20-year old Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund CVFF, which is believed to have accumulated in excess of $350million to enable Nigerian shipowners to acquire vessels at least for coastal trade.

Delivering a lecture at the recently concluded Silver Jubilee anniversary of the LOME entitled: ‘Harnessing Nigeria’s Potential in Marine and Blue Economy/The New Customs Act and Its Implications on Trade’, which held in Lagos, Dr. Okerefe, who hailed President Bola Tinubu for creating a new ministry for the marine and blue economy, insists that there is urgent need for synergy and collaborations with allied ministries and agencies to achieve the desired goals and objectives of creating the new ministry.

He argued that the task of harnessing the country’s rich blue economy potential cannot be successfully carried out by one ministry or agency, since the resources embedded in the country’s seas and oceans fall under the purview of various ministries, especially Marine and Blue Economy, Agriculture, Tourism and Power, among others, a development that has made such synergy necessary and expedient.

According to him, Nigeria is still lagging behind in harnessing her vast marine tourism potential, deep sea mining and renewable energy, among several others. He noted that collaborations among the ministries that oversee these aspects of the country’s economy would promote a common focus and mitigate possible areas of clash or overlapping functions.

He said: “All these areas are part of the potential of the blue economy, especially in terms of job creation so as to begin to curb the problem of high unemployment rate, especially among the Nigerian youths.

“With the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the question we must not fail to address is how prepared are we to go extra mile to get these things in place so that Nigeria can record her name among countries that have developed echo tourism?

“The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has to liaise with Ministries of Agriculture, Power, and the Ministry of Tourism for it to succeed in harnessing the country’s ocean resources, it cannot possibly do it alone. Also, the parastatals under the Ministry have to be put on their toes because a lot is on the table to offer.”

While fielding questions from participants as to whether Nigeria is a maritime nation or not, he noted that Nigeria is truly a maritime nation because she has the cargo, given the size of her population and economy as well as the huge maritime potential embedded in her seas and oceans.

He however regretted the country’s low tonnage capacity in terms of ownership of vessels and ability to lift her the cargo generated within her domain, which he said accounts for why her exports are lifted on the basis of Free-On-Board FOB, while her imports are shipped on the basis of Cost, Insurance and Freight CIF, which is not good for her economy.

While speaking earlier at the event, president of the LOME, Chief Timothy Okorocha called on President Tinubu to disburse the over $350 million CVFF to indigenous shipowners as part of measures to grow local capacity in the country.

Okorocha, while delivering a welcome address, urged President Tinubu to provide the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola and his ministry with the needed approvals to disburse the long standing fund to rejuvenate the dying indigenous segment of the shipping industry.

“As insiders, the League over the years has seen the genuine struggle by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and its leadership, especially under the present administration to disburse the CVFF in its commitment to grow local capacity, but observe the otherwise disruptive tendencies within the field of political play.

 “We appeal to Mr. President to use his good office to prevail on the relevant authorities to respond to the needs of our industry as there can be no better time than now. We also salute Mr. President’s bold steps and visionary outlook and do hereby with utmost respect urge to him exercise the required political will to push farther by ensuring that the often routine talk about the rehabilitation of collapsed critical port infrastructure receives urgent executive attention”, he said.