Determined to boost investor confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has perfected plans to unveil the 2019-2020 Nigerian Maritime Industry Forecast.
Dakuku Peterside, director general of NIMASA, who said that the Federal Government is determined to diversify the economy, added that the maritime sector remains a viable alternative to achieving this.
Peterside said that the forecast, which is the second in the series, helps to keep stakeholders and investors abreast of trends in the nation’s maritime industry to serve as a guide.
“The maritime industry is a focal part of Nigerian economy and the Federal Government is determined to explore all opportunities in the sector for economic growth and benefits. To achieve this, there is need to collaborate with our stakeholders and make them aware of global trends in the maritime sector in order to assist them in making informed decisions on business and investment opportunities in the sector,” Peterside said.
He assured stakeholders of NIMASA’s commitment towards its mandate of promoting and regulating shipping in the industry. He urged them to join hands with NIMASA in the effort to realise a robust maritime sector that can compete favourably with its counterparts in other maritime climes.
“The ultimate goal is enable the utilisation of the opportunities that abound in the maritime sector in line with the concept of the blue economy, an emerging global concept that emphasises better exploitation of the ocean resources for the preservation of the marine environment.
Recall that at the first edition of the forecast, the Nigerian maritime industry was projected to grow by 2.5 – 5 percent within the period 2018-2019, with a projected increase in demand for maritime services in Nigeria during the period.
Meanwhile, records show that the performance of the maritime sector in 2018 was unprecedented.
AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE
