The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has described the Nigerian maritime sector as a catalyst for economic development.
Peterside, who made this remark when the City People Media Group conferred on him the “Award of Excellent Leadership in Public Service” in Lagos, restated the agency’s commitment to building a robust maritime sector that will substantially contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation’s economy.
He described the award as a proof that the efforts of the agency in actualizing its mandates of repositioning the sector were being recognized.
He explained: “This award means a whole lot because it shows that Nigerians acknowledge the efforts that we are making to ensure a cleaner ocean for safe and secure shipping. Also, this will spur us to keep doing our best so as to have a robust maritime sector capable of catalyzing and impacting the growth and development of the economy”.
The industry regulator recalled that in the past two years, the agency was able, for the first time in its history, to put over 250 cadets onboard ocean going vessel to do sea time training, making the graduates employable and was also able to make substantial contribution to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
This is even as he explained that his agency had been releasing the maritime industry forecast, which will serve as a compass to investors for the year 2018 and 2019.
“Today, the whole country appreciates the fact that we are making a difference In the Maritime space, we are not only contributing to the economic development of the country, we are not only creating employment for our people we are giving people opportunities they will remember for a life time”, the NIMASA chief said.
While thanking key stakeholders in the industry for their continuous collaboration and support to the agency, Peterside urged them to sustain their support and promised them better days ahead.
He lauded the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, for supporting the activities in maritime sector, saying that his support has enabled the agency to meet up with international best practices and thereby putting Nigeria on the pedestal of global competitiveness in the industry.
