By Obiabin Onukwugha
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called on the federal government and the national assembly to take conscious steps in reducing bottlenecks that hamper maritime businesses in order to harness the sector for economic growth.
Sanwo-Olu also called on the executive and legislature to develop the blue economy in Nigeria by paying greater attention to the sector.
He made the call while playing host to Senate Committee on Marine Transportation led by its Chairman, Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni who paid him a courtesy visit at Lagos House, Marina recently.
He said: “First is to thank Mr. President for creating a new ministry called the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the National Assembly has taken the right direction by setting up a proper committee to do oversight function in this very important national assignment.
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“We know how the blue economy is transforming the indices of economic development and both the executive and legislature need to support this area such that our economic activities can better be developed, supervised and monitored.
“We need to aggressively reduce bottlenecks of businesses all around facilities and Lagos so that businesses can thrive; they can do well, generate desired revenue to keep people in employment, pay their taxes and create wealth for themselves, families and the nation in general.
“Lagos is happy that there is a whole team that is looking at the blue economy sector and we believe that when we work together, not only the sector will benefit but the entire economy itself will benefit tremendously from all the engagements.”
Earlier, Senator Eshinlokun-Sanni emphasised the importance of Lagos State to the blue economy sector, noting that 70 percent of activities in the sector takes place in Lagos.
He said some of the challenges bedeviling the growth and development of the blue economy in Nigeria include non-state actors, illegal collectors and ocean surge, adding that such issues will be addressed immediately.
