Nigeria committed toward shaping International Ocean Governance

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, on Monday in Lagos, expressed Nigeria’s commitment to participate effectively in the shaping of International Ocean Governance in the United Nations.

Amaechi stated this in a message to the African Day of Seas and Oceans with the theme: “Maritime Governance for Sustainable Development’’.

The Minister was represented by the Director of Maritime Safety and Security, Ministry of Transportation, Mr Danjuma Dauda.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that International Ocean Governance framework is based on an overarching legal framework: the UN Convention on the “Law of the Sea” under which a combination of jurisdictional rights, institutions, and specific frameworks have been set up.

NAN reports that the International Ocean Governance includes rules, institutions, processes, agreements, arrangements and activities carried out to manage the use of oceans and seas in an international context.

Amaechi said that the ministry was embarking on bilateral and other multilateral engagements with the coastal neighbouring countries to achieve an improved and sustainable enforced framework.

The minister noted the recent Code of Conduct Incorporated by the Economic Community of West and Central African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community Of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Gulf of Guinea.

Amaechi said that all the organisations mentioned above were commissioned for the fight against piracy, sea robbery and other maritime crimes, adding that these were efforts made to protect the nation’s seas and oceans.

“We are aligning ourselves fully with the African Union strategy on Blue Economy and Maritime Governance, as a tool for sustainable development.

“As we celebrate today, let us always remember that the sea provides the fishes we eat; the oil and gas that sustain our economy; the means of transportation for over 95 per cent of our international trade.

“It contributes immensely to our power generation and agricultural irrigation and importantly, the moderation of our climate and weather.

“We depend on this gift of nature. Therefore, let us always treat this important gift from God with care and respects, ‘’ NAN quotes Amaechi as saying.

He said that the full protection of the ocean would develop a sustainable ocean economy that would be passed from generation to generation in Nigeria.

Also speaking the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, urged maritime stakeholders to key into 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime (AIM) Strategy and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.

Peterside said that stakeholders and regulatory agencies should ensure that Nigerian seas and ocean were clean and safe.

He said that there was need to ensure that the “maritime domain is secured through effective surveillance and monitoring.

The director-general said that the issue of environmental degradation were also tackled.

Peterside said that oceans represented major assets to accelerate the development of Africa’s economics, adding that 90 per cent of imports and exports activities were conducted by sea.

“It has therefore become necessary for the African Continent to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the Blue Economy.

“Oceans and Seas are central to the concept of `Blue Economy in Africa’ and the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has identified the Blue Economy as suitable in meeting sustainable development goals.

“The Africa Union has the clean pictures of the potentials of the Blue Economy and set aside period 2015-2025 as a decade of African Sea and Oceans.

“July 25 is dedicated for the African Day of Seas and Ocean,’’ the director-general said.

He said that an ocean-based economy, including Dishing, Agriculture, Tourism, Ocean and Energy, contributed to human well-being in an economical and environmentally sustainable way.

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello, called on all maritime agencies and stakeholders to utilise all means in sustaining the Oceans for Africa people.

Bello said there was need for more awareness on all maritime activities to enable Nigeria meet up with African Union Regulation for sustainable development.

He said that the revival and strategy of sea and ocean should be used for the diversification of Nigerian Economy and sustainable development.

Also speaking, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Rear Adm. Adeniyi Oshinawo, said that seas and oceans were worth celebrating.

He recalled that not too long, Africa was considered ‘`sea-blind’’ due to low level of awareness of the potential for wealth creation of seas and ocean harbour as well as its relevance to national security.

Ibas said that the sea blindness in Africa was gradually mitigated, adding that the current generation of African leaders and strategic minds displayed unparalleled determination and purpose under the auspices of African Union.

He said that the African Union had developed the 2050 African’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy).

The Chief of Naval staff said that the strategy provided long term goals for wealth creation, in furtherance of the universal shift to Blue Economy.

Ibas said that the ECOWAS development had Integrated Maritime Strategy and established the Pilot Model Security Zone E, which were ongoing initiatives set out in the 2050 A Strategy.

He said that the Nigerian Navy would remain committed to its statutory mandate of creating a secured operational environment for wealth creation in Nigeria.

Ibas commended the cooperation extended to the Nigerian Navy, adding the Navy pledged to sustain cooperation in support of national interest.

He, however, said that direct value of awareness delivered on the platform to celebrate Seas and Oceans was critical in harnessing the available maritime power and other capability.

Ibas said that this would overcome the impediments for purposeful use of African maritime space.