Nigeria: Push for new maritime transport policy

At the recent “national workshop” on Maritime Transport Policy (MTP) organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, stated that Nigeria is in dire need of a maritime transport policy that would complement the existing National Transport Policy and advance the country’s global maritime trade.

Dr Peterside noted that the programme is a new phase in the nation’s journey towards effectively maximising its maritime opportunities, especially in line with the agency’s mandate of promoting and facilitating maritime trade.

“You will agree with me that 60 per cent of the cargo headed to West Africa will likely end up in Nigeria,” he said. “We have not only a long coast but also one of the longest inland waterways, in addition of six active port complexes. All these, coupled with our population, make us the biggest economy in Africa. Therefore, we need a sustainable maritime policy that would guide the coordination of maritime activities as we strive to advance Nigeria’s global maritime goal.”

Peterside also said that as part of Nigeria’s transport sector development, the government is advancing intermodal transport by linking all the port complexes to the hinterland via railway to further facilitate ease of doing business.

NIMASA is working closely with the International Maritime Organisation to come up with a model to develop a maritime transport policy in the country.