The Minister of Transportation Rt. Honourable 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 minister noted that the government is committed creating policies that would enhance the growth of the entire transport sector.
Amaechi who was represented 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 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 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.