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.