AT WORLD MARITIME DAY, 2013

Gov Imoke Makes Case For Increased Cabotage Implementation    

Cross Rivers State Governor; Senator Liyel Imoke has lamented what he called foreigners dominance of the nation’s coastal and inland water transportation, both in terms of ownership of vessels and operation, even as he urged the Federal Government and its agencies to deepen local participation of Nigerians in maritime business within the country.
Imoke, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Efiok Cobham, said it was imperative that the Federal Government had to pay more attention to the maritime industry.
He said that ``an effectively managed and operated industry has the capacity to further boost the nation’s economy’’.
The governor said that to achieve this, the government must take the right pronouncement and policies that would drive the development of the sector.
According to him, government must work at ensuring that the nation’s ports are functional and operated with international best practices.
Imoke listed some of the problems as inadequate supply of craft and plants, a cumbersome documentation system, dilapidated ports infrastructure, low labour productivity and volatile dock labour.
The Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Mr Koji Sekimizu, said the UN was taking global level role in pursuing effort to give substance to the concept of sustainable development.
Sekimizu, represented by Mr William Azu, the Head African-Anglophone Section of IMO, said that a significant landmark on the road to sustainable development was laid down last year.
He said that this was during the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in Rio de Janeiro in June, 2012.
``One of the main outcomes of the (Rio+20) conference was the agreement by member states, including Nigeria, to lunch a process to develop sustainable goals,’’ he said.
And speaking on the theme of this year's WMD celebration- Sustainable Development : IMO's Contribution Beyond Rio+20, Transport Minister, Senator Idris Umar reiterated government's drive to improve the nation's economy through various means including the maritime sector.
The minister who was represented by Engr. Nebolisa Mordi, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Transport, added that the Goodluck Jonathan administration is committed to providing institutional framework for sustainable development in the maritime industry.
As part of effort to achieve this feat, the minister said the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding was put in place to safeguard against sub standard shipping within the West African sub region through port state control activities.
In making Nigerian waters more navigable, Umar said Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have continuously engaged in removal of ship wrecks and other possible navigation barriers within and outside the nation's channels.
The event which centered on the theme also featured paper presentation and appraisal of Nigeria's potentials of becoming a maritime hub in the sub region.
This year's theme was chosen in order to focus on International Maritime Organisation’s efforts during 2013 on carrying out the commitments made at the United Nations' Conference on Sustainable Development, better known as Rio+20, held in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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