Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s indigenous shipping industry.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Minister, Dr Bolaji Akinola, in Lagos on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the minister gave the assurance on Tuesday when he received a delegation from the Nigeria Maritime Exhibition and Conference (NIMAREX) planning committee in his office in Abuja.
The team visited the minister to seek the Ministry’s support for NIMAREX 2025, scheduled to take place in Lagos from Nov. 17th to Nov. 19th.
The statement noted that Oyetola said that there was no going back on efforts to reposition local operators for global competitiveness.
The minister commended the committee for reviving the once-dormant NIMAREX platform, saying that government viewed the event as a crucial avenue for collaboration.
He added that the government also viewed the event as necessary for investment promotion and knowledge exchange within the maritime sector.
Oyetola assured the team that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was taking decisive steps to create a conducive operating environment for indigenous shipowners.
He stressed that steps were being taken to address longstanding structural challenges, and unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s maritime domain.
“Our commitment to indigenous shipping is total and irreversible.
“The Federal Government is working round the clock to put in place the right policies, funding mechanisms and infrastructure that will enable Nigerian shipowners to compete favourably, not just locally but on the international stage.
“There is no going back on this commitment. We are determined to see Nigerian-owned vessels flying our national flag and operating sustainably within our coastal waters and beyond.
“This will create jobs, retain value within our economy and build a stronger maritime nation anchored on local capacity,” the minister said.
Earlier, Mr Sola Adewunmi, the Chairman of the NIMAREX Committee and President of the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), said NIMAREX was revived after several years of inactivity.
He said that NIMAREX was refocused to complement the government’s renewed push to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into the maritime and blue economy sectors.
Adewunmi explained that the upcoming edition would serve as a unifying platform for public and private stakeholders to discuss strategies for sustainable growth.
“NIMAREX is back, and this time it is bigger, broader and better aligned with national objectives.
“We have the full support of key industry associations including NISA, the Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), and the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping.
“Our goal is to position Nigeria as a leading maritime hub in Africa,” Adewunmi said.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for creating the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and commended Oyetola for his visionary leadership.
The NIMAREX committee chairman also lauded Oyetola for his inclusive approach to engaging stakeholders in the implementation of the Blue Economy Agenda.
Adewunmi noted that the minister’s support had rekindled confidence among shipowners and investors.
The statement said that the delegation, led by Adewunmi, also included Ms Funmi Folorunso, Secretary of the Committee, and Mr Tokunbo Ogunwale, its Director of Government Relations.
