Lagos – Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has promised to be part of a three-day Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX 2013) opening on March 12 in Lagos.

Mrs Magaret Onyema-Orakwusi, the Chairman, Planning Committee of NIMAREX 2013, said in a statement on Sunday that Obasanjo gave his approval when the committee visited him in Abeokuta.

According to the statement, the former president will speak on key maritime issues at the opening of the three-day event.

“ The former Nigerian leader has confirmed that he will be present to chair the opening ceremony of Africa’s largest maritime event – the Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) 2013.’’

The statement said Obasanjo, as the military head of state from 1976 to 1979, acquired 19 ships for the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL).

According to the statement, Obasanjo will want to know how well Nigerian ship owners have fared.

It added that the event’s planning committee also assured the former president of a hitch-free expo.

“The event is a not a profit-making venture, but is being organised to stimulate rapid development of the nation’s ailing maritime industry.

“It is also meant to open up the industry to the rest of the world, with a view to attracting foreign direct investments.

“NIMAREX is an annual event hosted jointly by the Federal Ministry of Transport with its parastatal agencies and stakeholders in the maritime industry to show the nation’s enormous maritime endowments.’’ (NAN)