NIMASA, Blue Economy Accelerators and Maritime Development In Nigeria.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is making visible efforts to promote development of the blue economy in Nigeria. Notwithstanding, can the Blue Economy Accelerators’ Programme  transform Nigeria’s maritime potential into real economic value?

Admittedly, Nigeria has undeniable significant maritime advantages, such as a long coastline, inland waterways, working ports, fisheries, offshore resources, shipping routes and a large population that is ready to take up maritime jobs. Nonetheless,  most of these potentialities are underdeveloped and NIMASA is very much aware and agrees.

Maritime stakeholders believe that the accelerator program can only succeed by  addressing the real issues such as insufficient indigenous shipping capacity, the lack of funds, the weakness of the shipbuilding and repair infrastructure, the skills gap, the inter agency loose loop, the poor state of the logistics chain and the inadequacy of investments in Nigeria’s maritime  industry.

Young Nigerians and Nigerian businesses should have access to maritime value chains. NIMASA has established skills acquisition centres in the six geopolitical zones (how functional are these centre?)

Through its Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme, NSDP, the Agency  extended the range of professional maritime trainings which we think the Accelerators programme aims to  build on by linking the training to jobs, entrepreneurship, innovation, creativity, investments options and job opportunities for young Nigerians.

Maritime professionals insist that  Nigeria is very good at launching very ambitious programmes. The challenge is in achieving real targets, proper coordination and execution.

The blue economy includes shipping, ports, fisheries, inland waterways, tourism, offshore services, energy, environmental protection and technology. NIMASA should pick areas within its purview and achieve.

The accelerators program should therefore be directly linked to the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy policy which has identified maritime transport, shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, marine resource, innovation  technology, green shipping and reduction of emissions as areas of concerns/focus.

NIMASA has to align its programs/projects to economic realities, not conference presentations/optics.

For instance, how many jobs have been created? How much Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, has come in? How many vessels owned by Nigerians have joined the Nigerian ship registry? How many maritime businesses have moved from start-up status to sustainable operations? And how much of the revenue from cargo, ship repair, offshore services and general  shipping service remain in Nigeria?

The process of digitalisation of its ship registry and other operation is of great importance. The NIMASA Maritime Labour E-Platform and Discharge Book digitization illustrates the effect technology can have on registration, verification, data management and transparency.

The same approach should be applied to licensing, vessel registration, compliance, maritime safety/security, training and investment opportunities.

Security must not be overlooked since investors will fail to finance maritime enterprises if piracy and other illegal activities endanger operations.

Nigeria has without  doubt achieved remarkable progress in the suppression of piracy which must be sustained as it is beneficial for the development of the blue economy.

NIMASA has to ensure that the accelerators program does not turn into another launch of a vehicle without engine.

Private sector operators  must be brought onboard, get involved and make funds being available.

The vision is clear, the opportunity is huge; it is time to stop talks on the  blue economy, operationalize it and  achieve tangible growth.

If NIMASA turns ideas into investment, skills into jobs and maritime assets into sustainable value then it would have renewed hope and brought real change to Maritime development in Nigeria.

Does Nigeria have a blue economy; yes it exists.

Can Nigeria translate her blue economy potentials into life transforming opportunities and business expansion options-that is the big question and a challenge for NIMASA and other agencies under the blue economy ministry.