Determined to partner with Nigeria in the development of its maritime sector, Poland has expressed interest to invest in critical infrastructure, such as ship building and maintenance yard, as well as human capacity development.
Andrzej Dycha, Polish deputy minister of economy, said Nigeria’s position in Africa in terms of economy and potential prompted the delegation’s visit to Nigeria, pledging that Poland would cooperate with Nigeria in developing the shipyard and other maritime facilities in the country.
During a recent courtesy visit to Idris Umar, minister of transport, in Abuja, Dycha, who was accompanied by some Polish entrepreneurs, revealed that Polish economy offered a good platform for ventures that could provide good environment for infrastructure development.
“We can offer soft loan at below 1 percent interest to finance the development of maritime academy,” he said.
Przemyslaw Niesiolowski, Polish ambassador to Nigeria, who led the delegation, said his country was also interested in investing in development of maritime education in Nigeria.
He said Poland had some expertise and technical know-how on railway development, transportation network and infrastructure planning, expressing optimism that if bilateral relationship was established between both countries, there would be great improvement in the maritime industry in Nigeria.
Idris Umar, in his response, expressed Federal Government’s willingness to partner Poland in maritime development in order to foster the growth of the industry in Nigeria, adding that Nigeria had a lot of maritime opportunities for investors to tap into.
The minster highlighted the ongoing development of NIMASA shipyard and dockyard facility which groundbreaking ceremony was performed by President Goodluck Jonathan on May 10, 2014 as one the available opportunities.
He noted that the shipyard, located in Okerenkoko, Delta State, was expected to build and maintain vessels when completed.
According to Umar, Nigeria was seriously looking for technical partners and private investors in shipyard infrastructural development, further disclosing that discussion on development of the maritime sector would commence between both countries soon.
