World Maritime Day: Oyetola, Mobereola commit to global safety standards

Maureen Aguta

As Nigeria sets to join the rest of the world to commemorate the 2024 World Maritime Day with the theme “Navigating the Future: Safety First,” Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that its agencies operate in accordance with globally recognized standards.

He said: “This year’s theme for World Maritime Day is particularly relevant, as safety is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving a robust and business-friendly maritime sector. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is dedicated to ensuring that the Blue Economy makes a significant contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”

In a similar development, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola assured stakeholders and investors that the Nigerian waters are safe for investment and pledged to create an enabling environment for growth in the sector.

In his word, “Safety is at the core of our mandate at NIMASA. Whether it’s the safety of lives and property at sea or the safety of investments, we are forward-looking and committed to implementing government policies that will ensure a sustainable future for maritime in Nigeria”.

Also speaking, the President of the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES), Engr. Israel Obada disclosed that the issue of safety could not be over-emphasised in the daily operations of the Nigerian maritime sector. “As Surveyors, it is pertinent to state that the health of the vessels plying our waterways matters; because the classification of vessels plays a key role in assessing their overall health, which in turn impacts the maritime sector as a whole. This makes safety a priority in the sector, not only in Nigeria, but globally”.

Engr. Emmanuel Ilori, a member of AMES, reinforced the importance of prioritizing safety. He added that they are eager to collaborate with the agency, while also ensuring that all ships that ply Nigerian waters are safe, thereby enhancing the safety of lives and property. This aligns with the goals of the Blue Economy for a sustainable ocean.

World Maritime Day was first celebrated in 1978 to mark the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the IMO Convention. Since then, celebrations have taken place worldwide to highlight the importance of shipping safety, maritime security, and the marine environment, while emphasising specific aspects of the IMO’s work.

Nigeria’s commemoration of World Maritime Day 2024 is scheduled to take place in Lagos on Thursday, September 26, 2024. The Minister, Oyetola, along with all the agencies under the Ministry, will be in attendance