By Obiabin Onukwugha
The Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has once again emphasised the need for adequate security on the Gulf of Guinea, stating that it is key to the development of the Marine and Blue economies of coastal countries in the African region.
This is as the NIMASA also noted that the Nigerian government will consciously formulate policies that develop the blue and maritime sectors to benefit from its huge potentials.
Director General of NIMASSA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, made this submissions while declaring open a 5-day training programme of Maritime and Defence reporters on maritime security, organised by the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in collaboration with the NIMASA, in Lagos on Monday.
Jamoh described the 21st century as the Marine and Blue Economy century, noting that the sector will help Nigeria pull out of the mono-economy of oil and gas.
The NIMASA boss assured that Nigeria as an interested party, will continue to ensure that the security of its corridor of the GOG was maintained.
He revealed that globally, the Marine and Blue Economy sector provides 350 million jobs opportunities and trade valued at $2.5trillion annually.
Jamoh used the forum to call on journalists to be conscious of the impact of negative reports on maritime trades within and around the GoG region.
“We will continue to maintain the temple of security in the Gulf of Guinea, the Deep Blue project is to enhance the Marine and Blue Economy. The Federal Government must introduce fiscal and monetary policies that will help the sector to prosper.
“The Blue Economy will generate 350million jobs and $2.5trillion globally, the need for Nigeria to key into it and take its share of the benefits.
“It is the media that will enlighten Nigerians on the potentials of the Blue Economy, it is the media that will focus its attention on the international community.
“It is the media that will change the narrative of the maritime security by ensuring positive aspects of maritime trade in the region and tell the world of the efforts Nigeria and indeed Africa is putting in to create a better and prosperous African continent,” he stated.
Earlier in his Address, the Director of the Kofi Anan International Peacekeeping Training Center, Prof Kwesi Aning, described the role of the media as important in disseminating information on important issue like the Blue Economy.
Aning explained that the training sought to provide basic factual hands on information, saying, “the importance of these issues is the quality of the reportage.”
Topics at the training included; Introduction to the Blue Economy, Introduction to Maritime Security, Legal and Policy Frameworks on Maritime Security, Legal, Policy and Institutional Frameworks on Maritime Security in Nigeria, Media and Maritime Security, Collaboration and Cooperation among Maritime Security stakeholders and Gender, Livelihoods and Maritime Security among others.