March 23, 2025

WMD 2024: Nigeria To Invest In New Technologies, Alternative Fuels For Safe – Oyetola By Asuquo Nuwak …Let’s renew our dedication for safety, innovations – Mobereola The Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has assured that Nigeria will increase investments in new technologies and alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emission and ensure safe shipping operations in the country. His Excellency, Adegboyeka Oyetola, who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Oloruntola Olufemi, in his presentation during the celebration of World Maritime Day (WMD) 2024 in Lagos, said: “For safety and operational efficiency, it is imperative that we invest in upgrading our facilities and building capacity to ensure Nigeria remains competitive in the global arena of seaborne trade”. This year’s World Maritime Day theme, Navigating the future: safety first!” looks to focus on a “collective effort to keep pace with the ongoing transformation in shipping” and regulatory regimes that priorities safety in the face of technological advances. “World Maritime Day is a day where global maritime community marks 50 years of international ship safety treaty. It is observed on the last Thursday of September each year to highlight the importance of marine safety, security and protection of the marine environment”. “The year 2024 marks a significant milestone in the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, a crucial treaty by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that regulates maritime safety”. He said since its founding in 1948, the IMO has prioritized safety as a central aspect of its mission, while Nigeria has consistently worked to align its regulatory framework with IMO standards and other international maritime regulations, reinforcing the commitment to upholding the highest standards of maritime safety. He disclosed that in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is taking proactive measures to enhance the maritime sector by embracing emerging technologies and fostering innovation to drive growth. According to the report, “Key among the initiatives of the Ministry are digitalization and automation of port operations to enhance safety, security, efficiency as well as performance optimization to reduce costs, increase reliability, and the adoption of innovative practices to propel the industry towards sustainable development”. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun, and Chairman, House Committee on Maritime Administration, Safety and Education, Hon. Khadijah Bukar Ibrahim, affirmed the legislators’ commitment to developing the requisite laws to support the maritime industry. The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, in his remarks called for renewed dedication to safety, while assuring that the Agency is committed to maintaining a sustainable maritime future for Nigeria. In his words: “Let us renew our dedication for safety, innovation and stewardship in the maritime sector. Together, we can navigate a safer future for our maritime industry,” The President of Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES), Engr. Israel Obadan, in his presentation, commended the maritime industry, particularly NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy, for fostering a new sense of calm on the nation’s maritime domain. The MD/CEO of Sea Transport Services Nigeria, Mr. Aminu Umar, told the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry and the industry to continue supporting youth in exploring career opportunities and vocations in the maritime sector. The event also included the presentation of awards, cash prizes and scholarships to several secondary and tertiary institution students who wrote articles on the Blue Economy, sponsored by NIMASA. A former Minister of Interior and Chairman of Integrated Oil, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, who presented the award, also congratulated the winners of the competition. In the words of Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho: “Let this be a lesson to our students that hard work and diligence pay.” World Maritime Day was first held in 1978 to mark the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the IMO Convention. Since then, celebrations have taken place worldwide to highlight the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment, while emphasizing specific aspects of International Maritime Organization’s mission”. Dignitaries in attendance included Director-General of NIMASA, Dr.Dayo Mobereola, Chairman/CEO, Genesis Worldwide Shipping Company, Captain Iheanacho; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Oloruntola Olufemi; President, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Aminu Umar, Managing Consultant/CEO Samuelson, Tony Epelle; Director, Maritime Se curity and Safety, FM M&BE, Babatunde Bombata. Other dignitaries at the event included Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the IMO, William Bwala; Vice-President, Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES), Engr. Emmanuel Ilori; Director, Special Duties, FM M&BE, Vivian Nwosu; Technical Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, (FM M & BE) Prof. Busayo Fakindele; Director, Maritime Security and Safety, FM M&BE, Babatunde Bombata. Further breakdown of dignitaries included Former Director, Special Duties, NIMASA, Lami Tumaka; Director Procurement, NIMASA, Otonye Obom; Executive Director, Operations, NIMASA, Engr. Fatai Adeyemi; Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Jibril Abba; Head, Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standards, NIMASA, Patrick Eigbe; SA-ED Ops, Peter Agbaminoja; Head, Abuja Zonal Office, NIMASA, Mojisola Jimoh; Head SER     Â

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WMD 2024: Nigeria To Invest In New Technologies, Alternative Fuels For Safe – Oyetola

By Asuquo Nuwak

…Let’s renew our dedication for safety, innovations – Mobereola

The Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has assured that Nigeria will increase investments in new technologies and alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emission and ensure safe shipping operations in the country.

His Excellency, Adegboyeka Oyetola, who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Oloruntola Olufemi, in his presentation during the celebration of World Maritime Day (WMD) 2024 in Lagos, said: “For safety and operational efficiency, it is imperative that we invest in upgrading our facilities and building capacity to ensure Nigeria remains competitive in the global arena of seaborne trade”.

This year’s World Maritime Day theme, Navigating the future: safety first!” looks to focus on a “collective effort to keep pace with the ongoing transformation in shipping” and regulatory regimes that priorities safety in the face of technological advances.

“World Maritime Day is a day where global maritime community marks 50 years of international ship safety treaty. It is observed on the last Thursday of September each year to highlight the importance of marine safety, security and protection of the marine environment”.

“The year 2024 marks a significant milestone in the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, a crucial treaty by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that regulates maritime safety”.

He said since its founding in 1948, the IMO has prioritized safety as a central aspect of its mission, while Nigeria has consistently worked to align its regulatory framework with IMO standards and other international maritime regulations, reinforcing the commitment to upholding the highest standards of maritime safety.

He disclosed that in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is taking proactive measures to enhance the maritime sector by embracing emerging technologies and fostering innovation to drive growth.

According to the report, “Key among the initiatives of the Ministry are digitalization and automation of port operations to enhance safety, security, efficiency as well as performance optimization to reduce costs, increase reliability, and the adoption of innovative practices to propel the industry towards sustainable development”.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun, and Chairman, House Committee on Maritime Administration, Safety and Education, Hon. Khadijah Bukar Ibrahim, affirmed the legislators’ commitment to developing the requisite laws to support the maritime industry.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, in his remarks called for renewed dedication to safety, while assuring that the Agency is committed to maintaining a sustainable maritime future for Nigeria.

In his words: “Let us renew our dedication for safety, innovation and stewardship in the maritime sector. Together, we can navigate a safer future for our maritime industry,”

The President of Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES), Engr. Israel Obadan, in his presentation, commended the maritime industry, particularly NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy, for fostering a new sense of calm on the nation’s maritime domain.

The MD/CEO of Sea Transport Services Nigeria, Mr. Aminu Umar, told the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry and the industry to continue supporting youth in exploring career opportunities and vocations in the maritime sector.

The event also included the presentation of awards, cash prizes and scholarships to several secondary and tertiary institution students who wrote articles on the Blue Economy, sponsored by NIMASA.

A former Minister of Interior and Chairman of Integrated Oil, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, who presented the award, also congratulated the winners of the competition.

In the words of Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho: “Let this be a lesson to our students that hard work and diligence pay.” World Maritime Day was first held in 1978 to mark the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the IMO Convention. Since then, celebrations have taken place worldwide to highlight the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment, while emphasizing specific aspects of International Maritime Organization’s mission”.

Dignitaries in attendance included Director-General of NIMASA, Dr.Dayo Mobereola, Chairman/CEO, Genesis Worldwide Shipping Company, Captain Iheanacho; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Oloruntola Olufemi; President, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Aminu Umar, Managing Consultant/CEO Samuelson, Tony Epelle; Director, Maritime Se curity and Safety, FM M&BE, Babatunde Bombata.

Other dignitaries at the event included Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the IMO, William Bwala; Vice-President, Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES), Engr. Emmanuel Ilori; Director, Special Duties, FM M&BE, Vivian Nwosu; Technical Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, (FM M & BE) Prof. Busayo Fakindele;
Director, Maritime Security and Safety, FM M&BE, Babatunde Bombata.

Further breakdown of dignitaries included Former Director, Special Duties, NIMASA, Lami Tumaka; Director Procurement, NIMASA, Otonye Obom; Executive Director, Operations, NIMASA, Engr. Fatai Adeyemi; Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Jibril Abba; Head, Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standards, NIMASA, Patrick Eigbe; SA-ED Ops, Peter Agbaminoja; Head, Abuja Zonal Office, NIMASA, Mojisola Jimoh; Head SERVICOM NIMASA, Rekiya Lamai.

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