Minister Adegboyega Oyetola has outlined Nigeria’s plans to enhance the maritime industry, focusing on security, marine environment management, climate action, and human capital development.
He shared these goals during the 33rd session of the International Maritime Organisation’s General Assembly in London.
Oyetola highlighted the ministry’s substantial progress in building a more progressive and dynamic maritime sector.
He said: “We have already begun the process of developing a framework that will ensure short, medium and long-term outcomes to reposition the maritime sector to achieve the new administration’s agenda for economic growth and development.
“In the area of national security initiatives, Nigeria has continued to take concrete steps in emplacing the necessary legal and institutional framework to sustain the successes attained in ensuring maritime security within her maritime domain.
“It is noteworthy to mention in this regard the enactment of a dedicated legislation, the Suppression of Piracy and Other Offences Act, which fortifies the legal framework, and in addition to that, the implementation of the Integrated National Surveillance and Waterways Protection Solution, known as ‘the Deep Blue Project’, which further enhances maritime security with its command and control infrastructure.”
The minister also noted that the mentioned initiative has strengthened Nigeria’s maritime security, leading to a significant decrease in security incidents in Nigerian waters and the wider Gulf of Guinea. Adding that the achievement resulted from collaboration with member states, stakeholders, and the IMO.
However, Oyetola emphasized Nigeria’s dedication to fulfilling treaty obligations, highlighting the recent ratification of six maritime conventions and protocols aimed to enhance a cleaner marine environment, establish ship-breaking criteria, set global standards for fishing crew, and improve responses to oil pollution casualties.