MARCON, NPERA forge stronger alliance to transform maritime industry 

 

Maureen Aguta

The Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) and the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) have moved to deepen their partnership, with both organisations stressing the need for stronger collaboration to reposition Nigeria’s maritime sector and make its ports more competitive.

The President of MARCON, Ismail Aniemu, stated this on Tuesday when the association’s executive members paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NPERA, Dr Pius Akutah.

Aniemu congratulated Akutah and his management team on the establishment of the new port economic regulatory agency, describing the development as a major milestone in the long-running effort to strengthen economic regulation in Nigeria’s port industry.

He said maritime correspondents had closely monitored the evolution of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the various initiatives aimed at establishing a dedicated port economic regulator, adding that the process had ultimately culminated in the creation of NPERA.

According to him, the emergence of NPERA represents an important development for the maritime industry and the wider Nigerian economy.

He also commended the efforts and sacrifices made by stakeholders to secure the passage of the legislation establishing the agency through the National Assembly.

“On behalf of my colleagues, I want to assure you that in our own little way, MARCON will continually support NPERA to help the Nigerian ports to be competitive and achieve the hub status that we all have been anticipating for the West and Central Africa sub-region,” Aniemu said.

The MARCON president further commended Akutah for his role in maritime dispute resolution and what he described as his commitment to fairness in the industry.

He urged the NPERA helmsman to leave a lasting legacy by not only becoming the agency’s pioneer Director-General but also by contributing to a fundamental transformation of Nigerian ports.

Aniemu said MARCON was prepared to support initiatives that would improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the port sector, noting that effective regulation would be critical to achieving Nigeria’s long-awaited ambition of becoming a regional maritime hub.

He also informed the NPERA management of MARCON’s forthcoming conference on sustainable fishing in Nigeria, scheduled for September 30 at Rockview Hotel, Apapa.

Responding, Akutah thanked MARCON for the visit and acknowledged the contribution of the media and other maritime stakeholders to the development of NPERA.

He described the media as a critical partner in national development, particularly in explaining complex maritime policies and regulatory developments to the public.

“Where we are today would not have been possible without the continuous collaboration and support that we receive from all of you,” he said.

Akutah assured the association that NPERA would remain firm and fair in the implementation of its enabling law, while urging maritime journalists to help the public understand the agency’s mandate, responsibilities and the limits of what it could achieve under the law.

He called for a stronger relationship between NPERA and the media as the agency moves into its next phase.

“We want our partnership to continue, to be stronger and stronger, even as we move into this next stage,” he said.

The NPERA boss also accepted MARCON’s invitation to the September 30 sustainable fishing conference, noting that its theme was closely aligned with the agency’s policy direction and the broader development of Nigeria’s blue economy.

IUU fishing threatens blue economy
Akutah identified illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as one of the major challenges confronting Nigeria’s maritime sector, warning that the practice could undermine the sustainable development of the country’s marine resources.

He also disclosed that Nigeria currently faces a fish production deficit of more than two million metric tonnes, underscoring the need for a more sustainable and productive fisheries sector.

According to him, recent engagements between Nigeria and Danish authorities further demonstrated the importance of responsible management of marine resources.

He cited Denmark’s experience of overfishing its waters and subsequent efforts to rebuild fish stocks as a lesson Nigeria should take seriously as it develops its blue economy.

Akutah stressed that Nigeria must avoid repeating the mistakes of countries that depleted their marine resources through unsustainable exploitation.

He said sustainable fishing should therefore form an integral part of Nigeria’s strategy for developing its blue economy and maximising the economic potential of its vast maritime resources.

The NPERA chief executive also assured MARCON that the agency would remain open and accessible to the media, promising to provide relevant information required for accurate and balanced reporting of its activities.

He urged maritime correspondents to sustain their watchdog and public enlightenment roles while supporting initiatives aimed at improving the performance of Nigeria’s maritime sector.