The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has urged stakeholders to take concrete steps towards implementing actionable strategies to ensure the maritime sector generates N1.5 trillion this quarter.
The minister stated this during the launch of a book titled, “Nigeria and Global Maritime Industry,” authored by the National Coordinator of the Presidential Port Standing Task Team (PSTT), Moses Fadipe.
Oyetola, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Olayinka Olusanya, commended Fadipe for the 382-page book, which is a comprehensive exploration of Nigeria’s maritime evolution, saying it contained timely insights into the country’s maritime sector.
The minister highlighted the transformative potential of the book, emphasising the need to move beyond reading commentaries to taking tangible actions.
“The book will add value to the maritime sector. It is relevant in giving a breath of life to the present economy. We must collectively rally around the sector through the policies and programmes the government is putting in place to help us drive this sector so that every Nigerian will have access to efficient service delivery.
“To add value to the gross domestic product (GDP) and economic growth, it is expedient that the Nigerian maritime sector be given a keen attention so that Nigeria itself won’t just do the talking but actionalise the talking,” Oyetola said.
Oyetola said the book is not just a comment, but a prosperity document that can be researched, referenced and profitably consulted.
Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), Pius Akutah Ukeyime, admired Fadipe’s impact on the PSTT, emphasising the unprecedented heights to which he has elevated the activities of the team.
He specifically commended Fadipe’s efforts in addressing the complexities within the port corridor, describing them as transformative measures to enhance efficiency and promote trade in the country.
Ukeyime informed that the new book is a reflection of Fadipe’s 30 years of dedicated service to the nation while emphasising its role as a valuable resource material to propel the maritime sector forward and the need to proactively contribute to national GDP.
The book reviewer, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Convention on Business Integrity (CBi), Mr Soji Apampa, lauded the book as a symphony of knowledge contributing to the advancement of the maritime sector.
Apampa described the book as a harmonious composition consisting of five parts and contributing valuable insights to the tracing of maritime industry history, Fadipe’s career evolution at the Nigeria Shippers Council, his personal experiences, challenges faced during his tenure at the PSTT, and pivotal reforms in Nigeria’s ports.
