The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has said that
the President Muhammadu Buhari led Government is committed to building
capacity for all the segments of the Transport sector in order to
progress the Nigerian economy.
Speaking at the 2nd Nigerian Maritime Technical Summit organised by
the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES) with the
theme Ship Operations in Nigeria: Policy, Technical, Financial
Challenges and Solution, held in Lagos recently. The Honourable
Minister noted that the Government is committed creating policies that
would enhance the growth of the entire transport sector.
The Minister who was represented at the event by the Director General
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku
Peterside noted that Marine Engineers and Surveyors are critical to
the growth of the Maritime Sector adding that they play major roles
from the building of the Ships through the entire lifespan of the
vessel.
According to the Minister “Marine Engineers and Surveyors are at the
very heart of shipping, the life of a ship begins on the table of a
marine engineer and the surveyors and they continue to play a role on
the ship through the entire life span of the vessel”, he said.
Amaechi who also noted that shipping stands on a tripod of funding,
right policies and proper technical direction said that the government
is doing everything within its powers to ensure that the maritime
industry thrives.
He said that the Government has taken a bold step to audit all
Agencies and parastatals under the transport sector in order to
strengthen them to perform optimally.
The Honourable minister further informed that efforts are in top gear
to resuscitate the National Fleet adding that the committee made up
largely of stakeholders in the industry will soon submit its report
and recommendations for the setting up of a National Fleet.
While also informing the audience of the on going reforms in the
maritime sector, Amaechi said that Government has taken steps to
develop the port master plan. He stressed that the Federal Government
have also mandated NIMASA to invest in manpower development that would
raise successors for the experienced practitioners in the industry.
He finally commended AMES for championing the reforms in the sector
stating that the Government has continually relied on the
Association’s counsel and advises to move the maritime sector forward.
He charged industry players to continue to patronize AMES stating that
in the Association the Country possess the best hands in the
continent.
Earlier in his remarks, the President of AMES, Engr. Charles Uwadia
said that he is moved by the enthusiasm of the President Buhari led
administration to revamp the maritime sector. He pledged that AMES
would continue to work with the Government in order to ensure that the
sector reaches its full potentials to the benefit of the Nigerian
economy.