By Godfrey Bivbere
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has stressed the need for the establishment of a national maritime policy to help execute the strategies for the sector’s optimum contribution to the economy.

Disclosing this at the meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Implementation of Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS) 2050, held in Lagos, Director General of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside, noted that a maritime policy for Nigeria will provide a platform to implement the framework for the protection and sustainable exploitation of Africa’s Maritime Domain (AMD).
The NIMASA boss who was represented at the meeting by the Agency’s Executive Director, Operations, Engr. Rotimi Fashakin, urged the committee to take cognizance of the current maritime security architecture in Nigeria that has been structured in line with international best standards and practices.
He also stated that in order to realise the dream of a blue economy, strategies must be put in place, and that security and capacity building amongst other initiatives, are key areas to unlocking the opportunities that abound in the blue economy.