Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-GeneralDr. Dakuku Petersidehas said the agency was positioned to contribute substantially to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Peterside told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that if the potentials of the sector were optimised, they would lead to the growth of the economy.
“We are looking at the entire gamut of mix that is necessary to unleash our potential in the industry.
“All I can say is that going forward, maritime is positioned to contribute substantially to our GDP and by extension the growth of our economy,’’ he said.
Peterside said many countries had optimised advantages of their maritime sub-sector to grow their GDP and it had yielded results and urged Nigeria to replicate same.
“If you look at the economy of the Philippians, seafarers contribute more than 11 per cent to their GDP.
“If you look at Bangladesh, it is called the graveyard of ships, in terms of ship breaking, ship recycling; that small sector in the maritime industry contributes substantially to their economy.
”Now, if you look at India, again seafarers contribute substantially to the economy of India. If you look at Korea, ship building contributes to the economy of Korea.
”‘If you look at China, the officer cadre that boards vessel or that ply vessels, or that mounts vessels everywhere in the world, most of them are Chinese.
”If you look at Singapore, by simply being a trans-shipment hub, it is the mainstay of the economy of Singapore.
“So, if you look at all these countries, they have optimised advantage of one sub-sector or the other in the maritime sector. Why can’t we replicate same in Nigeria?”
- The Nation
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