The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, says the blue economy has the potential to provide 350 million jobs for Nigerians if properly utilized. This was announced at the 18th Abuja International Trade Fair, Abuja, on the NIMASA Special Day.
Dr. Jamoh contends that Nigeria’s massively underdeveloped blue economy presents enormous prospects for growth and development in order to address the country’s current financial difficulties. He emphasized the inadequate exploitation of ocean resources like fish, prawns, and other seafood.
Additionally, he noted that because local facilities are inadequate, ship repairs are conducted in distant Turkey and nearby neighboring nations.
According to him, NIMASA is working to carry out its mandate of regulating operations in the maritime industry with the aid of contemporary technology, pertinent laws, support from the federal government, relevant agencies, stakeholders, and the allocation of CVFF funds.
He added that the development of new waterways would be a far stronger inducement than tax exemptions since it would promote more foreign direct investment (FDI) and private sector participation in the maritime transport industry.
Dr. Jamoh emphasized that the Blue Economy is every Nigerian’s economy and challenged everyone to become “Blue Ambassadors” (Advocates for the Blue Economy). He demanded a complete rethink from the perspective of ceremonies, calling for events like the Argungu Fishing Festival and others to be reinvented and repackaged in light of the blue economy.