– Blue economy drive

Esther Oritse

Lagos — Nigeria has made consistent advancements in maritime security, earning global attention. The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr. Arsenio Domínguez, highlighted the nation's three-year streak without piracy and the Deep Blue Project as evidence of its strong leadership in protecting the Gulf of Guinea.

Mr. Domínguez, who arrived in Nigeria on Thursday, made the comments during a visit to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola. He highlighted that Nigeria's investment in maritime safety infrastructure and the cooperation among its security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Navy, have produced measurable outcomes in fighting piracy and maritime crimes. According to him, these initiatives reflect Nigeria's leadership and dedication to promoting safer waters, not only within its own territory but also across the broader West and Central African region.

The head of the IMO recognized Nigeria's recent submission to the organization detailing its national and regional security efforts. While praising the advancements achieved, he emphasized the importance of ongoing support for infrastructure growth and the procurement of advanced equipment. He pledged that the IMO will continue to be dedicated to offering technical assistance via awareness initiatives, training sessions, and programs aimed at enhancing capabilities.

By emphasizing the organization's current initiatives, Domínguez mentioned a regional conference set to take place in Ghana in January concerning the Safe Seas Project, which seeks to bring together inputs from Nigeria and other collaborating nations. He also revealed that talks are underway with the European Union to introduce a new maritime governance project centered on ports and safety, along with two regional projects in Southern and Western Africa, where advancements will be monitored using specific metrics.

In addition to security, the IMO representative highlighted the importance of nations getting ready for broader global issues such as the shift to renewable energy, the use of biofuels, and financial systems to fund seafarer training, infrastructure growth, and the implementation of new fuel technologies. He commended Nigeria's Blue Economy Policy as a progressive approach to utilizing marine resources in an environmentally friendly manner and expressed appreciation for the facilities at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron, particularly the training infrastructure.

He promoted increased cooperation among the academy, the Ministry of Education, and industry representatives to assist young Nigerians in choosing maritime professions.

Oyetola, during his speech, stated that the visit of the IMO head highlighted the robustness of Nigeria's ties with the international maritime organization. He pointed out that Nigeria's collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and other partners had been crucial in curbing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and reiterated the nation's commitment to building on recent achievements and broadening prospects within the marine and blue economy. He appreciated Mr. Domínguez for selecting Nigeria for the visit and conveyed hope that the talks would enhance bilateral cooperation further.