Maritime: Stakeholders Set To X-ray Marine And Blue Economy In Nigeria On Friday 

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE 

The stakeholders in the Maritime industry are set to gather at the Ikeja Airport Hotel, Lagos, on Friday, 23rd August 2024, to x-ray the journey of the marine and blue economy in the past  one year after having a separate Ministry.

P.M.EXPRESS reports as was disclosed by the president of League of Maritime Editors, Chief Timothy Okorocha, who stated that the event will be declared open by the Minister of Marine and Blue economy, H. E. Adegboyega Oyetola and chaired by the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Barr. Pius Akutah, at 11am.

Among maritime issues to be discussed,  the Nigeria Customs Service will be  presenting a special paper titled: “Challenges of Customs Revenue Generation/Anti-Smuggling Operations”.

Also the Industry issues such as achievements, challenges, roadmap for the development of the sector as they affect all the agencies under the Marine and Blue Economy will be featured.

Specifically, the progress being made in the areas of exploring the potentials of the sea to the growth of the national economy, ports infrastructure renewal, port economic regulation and indeed customs revenue generation and anti-smuggling war under a harsh economic environment will be discussed.

The programme is the main focus of the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) which includes a seminar with a  theme “Renewed Hope Agenda: The Place of Nigeria’s Maritime Industry”, which will involve paper presentations from agencies and other industry experts.

Guests of Honour expected at the event include the Special Adviser to the President on Policy/Coordination, Ms  Hadiza Bala Usman, Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Abubarkar Dantsoho.

Other Guests of Honour include former Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barr Hassan Bello and  Chairman, Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria  (STOAN), Dr. Mrs Vicky Haastrup.

Guest Lecturers expected at the occasion are the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Ade Dosunmu and Senior Lecturer at the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Dr. Charles Okorefe.

The President of the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers, Chief Timothy Okorocha, said the seminar is part of the contributions of the association to the development of the maritime sector.

The association is made up of veteran maritime media practitioners, who have covered the industry for close to three decades.

Okorocha added that top maritime industry stakeholders and experts have been invited to be part of the discussions on different issues affecting the marine and blue economy.

The League’s President also disclosed that key industry stakeholders, who have been approached have indicated their willingness to attend the seminar.