‘’Consider Investing In Maritime Industry’’- Jamoh Advises Nigerians In Diaspora

By Sphen Ubanna

 Given the importance of the Blue Economy  initiative  to harness  greater benefits  from the nation’s maritime industry  and secure the waterways  appears to have  strengthened the resolve of Bashir Jamoh , Director General , Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to take his Campaigns   to the African and Global  Diaspora Workshop  in Abuja. The Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Jamoh, the NIMASA, Director General, may have taken advantage of the Workshop , on  Building   stronger connections  between Africa and the Global Diaspora to speak on investment on the nation’s maritime sector, popular Blue Economy’’.

Describing ‘’investment in the country’s maritime sector, popular, the Blue economy   as the next big thing packed with assets to fuel the growth of the economy’’, Jamoh, who could not hide his feelings had said that ‘’ there is need for Nigerians in Diaspora and foreigners to invest in the nation’s maritime sector which is an ‘’’’untapped gold  and future oil in the country’’.

Ably represented at the African and global Diaspora Workshop, at the FCT, by siechi Osamgbi, the agency Director, Special Duties, he had said that ‘’the assets in the country’s maritime industry or Blue economy is higher than we can imagine’’.  This may have informed why he had repeatedly said that ‘’it is something worth investing in now’’, noting that ’’investment in maritime should not be considered as a wasted funds’’    

 Unitil his resignation on May 17,2022, Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of  Rivers  state and immediate past minister of Transportation, to pursue his Presidential ambition on the Platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC, had outlined  at the 2021 Greek-   Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Technology  Investment  Summit  in Athens, Greece  seven areas  in which  investment opportunities  were currently  available for Nigerians in Diaspora and foreigners  in the nation’s maritime sector.

The erstwhile minister of Transportation   had said that the country’s maritime industry was a ‘’fertile ground for Nigerians in Diaspora and foreign investors   to venture into, stressing that ‘’these investment opportunities   include automation and artificial intelligence in the maritime sector’’.

According to him the seven areas in  which Nigerians  and foreigners  could consider interesting to invest included  ‘’maritime freight and logistics services, marine tourism,  maritime training, ship financing, shipbuilding and ship repairs including marine insurance’’.

Many believe that Nigerian oceans, seas, rivers, Lakes and creeks, present assets that should awaken Nigerians in Diospora and other foreign investors to invest in the nation’s maritime sector.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Comission, NiCOM,  the organisers of  the  all- important Workshop at the FCT,  who  may have seen the opportunity of the event to develop a good  working relation with the Jamoh led maritime regulatory agency,  had expressed appreciation  to Jamoh and his Management  for their support  to ensure the success  of the programme, urging participants, both within and outside the country.

Last April,  the NIMASA boss  had delivered  a maidien Lecture  of the Institute  of Maritime Studies , university of Lagos. The lecture titled, ‘’ From Crude  to Blue’’-Nigeria’s Blue Economy: the Imperative  of Maritime Domain Awareness and Good Governance , may have exposed him to  Diri-Erewa, Chairman, NiDCOM, to also invite him to be the lead speaker of the Commission Workshop on Building Stronger  Connections  between Africa and Global Diaspora.  

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