Oyetola Rallies Stakeholders to Commemorate 2024 World Maritime Day with Focus on Safety, Thursday

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Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Nigeria will join the global community in Lagos on Thursday, September 26h 2024, to celebrate the 2024 World Maritime Day under the theme “Navigating the Future: Safety First.”

Speaking ahead of the event, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, highlighted the Ministry’s dedication to ensuring that all agencies under its purview adhere to internationally recognized standards.

“This year’s theme for World Maritime Day is particularly relevant, as safety is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving a robust and business-friendly maritime sector. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is dedicated to ensuring that the Blue Economy makes a significant contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” Oyetola stated.

Dr. Dayo Mobereola, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), also reassured stakeholders and investors of the safety of Nigerian waters, emphasizing the Agency’s commitment to fostering growth in the sector.

“Safety is at the core of our mandate at NIMASA. Whether it’s the safety of lives and property at sea or the safety of investments, we are forward-looking and committed to implementing government policies that will ensure a sustainable future for maritime in Nigeria,” Mobereola said.

Engr. Israel Obadan, President of the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES), underscored the critical importance of safety in the daily operations of Nigeria’s maritime sector. “As Surveyors, it is pertinent to state that the health of the vessels plying our waterways matters; because the classification of vessels plays a key role in assessing their overall health, which in turn impacts the maritime sector as a whole. This makes safety a priority in the sector, not only in Nigeria, but globally,” Obadan emphasized.

Supporting this perspective, Engr. Emmanuel Ilori, a member of AMES, stressed the importance of collaboration with NIMASA to ensure that all ships navigating Nigerian waters are safe. He noted that this focus on safety is essential for protecting lives and property and aligns with the broader goals of the Blue Economy for a sustainable ocean.

World Maritime Day, first celebrated in 1978, marks the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Convention. It is an annual event observed worldwide to emphasize the importance of shipping safety, maritime security, and the marine environment, with a particular focus on specific aspects of the IMO’s work.

Nigeria’s observance of World Maritime Day 2024 will take place in Lagos on Thursday, September 26, 2024. The Honourable Minister Oyetola, along with all agencies under the Ministry, will be in attendance to mark this significant occasion.

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