Director General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has said the potentials of the blue economy are enough to pay off the country’s debt and improve its finances if properly harnessed .
This was the highlight of a lecture delivered by Dr. Jamoh at the 7th Annual Bullion Lecture held in Lagos on Thursday.
In his lecture, titled; “Banking on Blue Economy for Nigeria’s Economic Development,” he noted that the greatest obstacle to Nigeria’s Blue Economy is “sea blindness”, a situation whereby people are unaware of the impact of shipping in their daily lives.
He disclosed that people now see shipping as an old-fashioned industry, which is not the case, as it is still depended on and brings in almost 90 per cent of what Nigerians consume, adding that the country is faced with the need for diversification and a move away from the dwindling revenue hitherto generated from the oil sector.
According to him,”There are many aspects to maritime domain awareness, ranging from security to safety, to the health of the marine environment.
“But when it comes to the Blue Economy, all eyes must be on the money. We need to know what we as Nigerians have domiciled in our Economic Maritime Domain.
“Most discussions about Maritime Domain Awareness have centred largely on security. Little wonder that when I assumed office three years ago as the Director-General of NIMASA, we introduced our strategy around the tripod of Maritime Security, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, known popularly as the TRIPLE ‘S’, but with the recent gains in calming our waters, it is now time for Nigeria to pivot to the Economics of Maritime Domain Awareness, hence the Blue Economy.
“We need to take stock of what is out there in our waters, we need to know what we have in terms of what will create jobs, build coastal communities, grow careers, enhance transportation of humans and cargo, renew and sustain the environment, reduce littoral areas poverty and make our nation competitive by maximizing our comparative oceanic advantages.
“The country had focused on a hybrid economic structure that blends oil with agriculture, but the former remained consistent as growing economic mainstay ahead of the latter over the years.
“Today, the waters provide low hanging fruits to diversify the economy. It is increasingly being accepted that the country’s future lies in the Blue Economy’’.

“Dr. Agbakoba made mention of the debt that the incoming government will inherit. If you look at the blue economy, you will think that it’s child’s play, but it is not. Once we are serious, we can use the blue economy to knock out the debts”.

Jamoh noted that the Federal Government’s policy direction towards economic diversification from oil dependence to blue economy is deliberate because studies have proven the oil industry to be subject to limitations in the face of global demand for environmentally sustainable sources of energy.

He said the country stands to benefit more from her waters, if sustainable steps are taken to harness the many untapped marine potentials for investment and job creation while preventing marine pollution.

The NIMASA boss explained that while many confine their thinking to a blue economy concept that revolves around littoral states where large bodies of waters are found with ports and jetties, the benefits are cascading to none littoral areas like Kaduna and Kano which now have Dry Ports; and Northern based businesses and importers can depend on trans-shipment of cargoes from the seaports to these dry ports.

While listing the five key pillars of the blue economy as sustainability; promoting ocean resources; preservation of the ecosystem; economic growth, as well as improved livelihoods and jobs, he stated that the industry is valued at USD2.5 trillion per annum while 350 million jobs is linked to marine fisheries worldwide.

Similarly, while 34 per cent world’s crude oil production is offshore, aquaculture is the fastest growing food sector providing 50 per cent of fish for humanity.

According to him, in 2012, sea tourism increased by four per cent despite the global economic crisis and constituted nine per cent of Global GDP: nine per cent of global jobs; and generated USD1.3 trillion of the world’s export.

He further listed maritime transportation, fisheries, aquaculture, renewable energy, tourism, climate change, waste management, port development and logistics, shipping, dockyards, marine tourism, dredging, offshore oil & gas exploration and production, renewable energy & biotechnology, and maritime fabrication and construction as key segments of the blue economy.

Speaking further on the inherent opportunities of the blue economy, he urged investors to look in the area of tourism, cargo operations, stevedoring services, warehousing/bonded terminal, haulage, ship building & repairs, ship/cargo surveying, ship management, and tank farms.

Other areas include; packaging, logistics, bunkering services, ship/cargo surveying, ship chandelling, short-sea services, ship brokerage, ship agency, ship finance services, training for shore and ship board personnel, marine insurance services, legal/admiralty services and IT services.

Jamoh stated that NIMASA is driving Nigeria’s blue economy agenda through the following: “Disbursement of Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) USD360 million. Deployment of the Modular Floating Dock. Capacity Building (Seafarers Development Programme) – NSDP. Capacity Building (Maritime Skills) – Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs). Midwifing of Strategic Synergy to further enable ship-owners easily acquire vessels to expand the national fleet through financial investment and cargo support by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

“The NNPCL has offered to provide 9 per cent of the 15 per cent CVFF ship-owners’ contribution, thereby lessening the financial outlay on the ship- owners to just 6 per cent contribution.

“Additionally, the NNPCL has committed to providing the much-needed cargo for the vessels to engender the business of coastal shipping, thus creating a win-win partnership that will boost the economy and create employment”.

The Federal Executive approved nationwide wreck removal exercise to clear all underwater encumbrances to make the nation’s water channels safer for vessel navigation.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos