The minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoruwa left and the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo right in a tete-a-tete during the 2022 World Maritime Day celebration.
Story by Dili Utomi.
The celebration of the International Maritime Day took place at the Eko Hotel on Thursday with several ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria present. The theme of this year’s celebration is “New technologies for greener shipping”.
Dr. Magdalena Ajani, the permanent secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transportation in her opening speech declared that “The world maritime day celebration was conceived in 1978 to provide opportunities for International Maritime Organisation, member states and the maritime community as a whole to focus attention on the importance of shipping, maritime safety and security and the protection of marine environment. It was also intended to promote IMO’s activities, achievement of the objectives in the short, medium and long term as well as organise events focussing on specific to themes chosen by IMO. In Nigeria, the event aside providing the opportunity to sensitise the public on the achievements and challenges confronting the maritime industry also provides a veritable platform for maritime professionals, stakeholders and practitioners in the country to meet, network, share ideas and proffer solutions shared towards addressing the challenges confronting the sub-sector”. The Minister for the Environment, Mohammed H. Abdullahi who was the chairman of the occasion declared it open.
The Honourable Minister of transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo in white attire and in the middle of the picture during the meet the press session after the celebration.
The Minister of state for Transportation, Mr. Ademola Adegoruwa noted in his remarks that “Statistics has shown that the shipping sector is said to consume over 300 million tonnes of oil per year thereby contributing largely to world carbon dioxide emissions”. He noted that the sector through the IMO is moving towards sustainable energy options.
The special guest of honour for the occasion was Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, but because of his recent bereavement, he was ably represented by Capt. Ibrahim Olugbade (Rtd.) and in his presentation, he noted that “As a matter of fact, there is a need to shift discussion to the value of a green ship and the potential strategies to increase energy efficiency and decarbonise global shipping by reducing carbon footprint through the reduction of fuel consumption and emisions”.
The Minister for Science and Technology, Olorunnimbe Mamora in his goodwill message noted that man cannot survive without the environment, therefore we must take good care with what we do in our environment. He said that the conversation in the global space now is energy conservation and that everything lies in the realms of science and technology, but that also we should be mindful of what our conversation should be.
The CRFFN Registrar, Sam Nwakohu left and Ret. Com. Duja Efedua, the Rector of MAN Oron at the event.
The director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh in his goodwill address noted that marine transportation started about five thousand years ago when this alternative source of transportation was discovered. He noted that this means of movement has gone through a lot of transformation and will continue to do so as we move into the future.
A group Photograph at the event.
The managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Koko also said that we all owe it as s duty in reducing the carbon footprints in our environment by conciously employing those energy saving, yet efficient means of transportation.
Mr. Emmanuel Jime, the executive secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’Council said among other things “According to S&P Global Platts Analytics, the shipping industry currently accounts for between 2% and 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions and could be 17% by 2050 if left unregulated. Our environment is constantly changing, and as it changes, so does the need to become increasingly aware of the problems that surround and affect it”.
Some of the students who were awarded cash and gift prizes at the event.
The managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority who was represented by engineer Joseph Ewere noted that everything we do that include all carbon emissions have impact on our planet, hence that need to employ new and energy efficient technologies.
Retired Commodore Duja Emmanuel Efedua, the rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron in his goodwill message talked about what his academy is doing to have more energy efficient technologies in place at the school and added that though for now diesel energy is still the most efficient means of shipping, but that we must continue to explore the potentials of hydrogen and nuclear means of powering our engines for better efficiency.
The Registrar of the Council for the Registration of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, Mr. Sam Nwakohu said that that this year’s celebration is instructive to the yearning of freight forwarders in Nigeria in many ways. He encouraged stakeholders to invest in technology that will make the job of freight forwarders easier and better as he pledged that his Council will continue to help make the practise of freight forwarding better.
A cross section of the dignitaries at the event.
The Minister of transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo at the end of the event had a meeting with the maritime journalists present where he fielded questions. Minister Sambo started with the question about the so called ‘low hanging fruits’ as it relates with the first issues he intend to tackle, he noted though that there is no national transport policy in place, but that he and his permanent secretary have agreed that they are going to do everything possible for the country to have a national transport policy in place before May 29th 2023.
The Minister said that the issue of the abandoned rail lines that were constructed will be revisited and that some of the already finished lines can be concessioned for better efficiency, he added that the Nigeria Railway Corporation cannot be an owner, a regulator and an operator at the same time and so should have its functions separated and streamlined.
“My vision is for the maritime sector to drive the Nigerian economy”, the minister added.
On the question of whether the Orashi river in Imo state is scheduled to be dredged, the minister says that he is not aware of any intention of the federal government to dredge the river, but that he will inform the press whenever he gets any information on this matter.
On the very thorny question of when the Cabotage Vessel Finance Funds is going to be disbursed, minister Sambo says that the law is very clear about how it should be disbursed. He says that he is quite sure that the fund will be disbursed before he and his team leave office, but that he is more concerned about increasing the amount presently available in the funds for disbursement.
As part of the event, there were prizes awarded in different categories of competitions to students of the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Cash prizes and laptop computers were given out to 16 different students in all.
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