A former Provost Marshall of the Nigerian Navy, Retired Rear Admiral Francis Dan Akpan is advocating for a reduction of government agencies at the ports and deployment of modern technology to achieve more gains from the blue economy.
Rear Admiral Akpan who was speaking at the ongoing blue economy week of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron Akwa, Ibom State said it’s time for Nigeria to reap from its naturally endowed marine ecosystem that holds potential to fight poverty and inequality.
Akpan also a former FOC Western Naval Command described the blue economy concept as critical to Nigeria’s national security and economic sustenance, noted that too many government agencies slow down the process of trade as most of the agencies seek to examine containers which could be better achieved using technological devices like scanners
Rear Admiral Francis Akpan disclosed that other neighbouring maritime countries like Benin Republic, Togo have achieved shorter cargo clearing time at their ports with the introduction of technology.
He stressed that the general ignorance and failure to identify the potential of the maritime industry. amounted to wealth blindness.
According to him, Nigerian blue economy was greatly endowed with 7 ports in 8 states , 275 identified jetties and terminals and wharves with an estimated 5000 ships calling at Nigerian ports including large potential for increased fishing activities.
Admiral FD Akpan said it’s time Nigeria acted to reduce wastages and utilize her fishing capacity for employment and food, in addition to activating its underutilized water transportation potential through ferry services
Akpan said inadequate vessels which he noted was about 291 ships was not enough to create employment and support Nigeria’s quest for higher maritime trade adding that maritime transport contributes 1.89% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2022 which shows under utilisation
According to him, there is the urgent need to reinvent the maritime tourism and regatta like the Argungu Fishing Festival, Osun Osogbo festival and other activities that will engage the demographics to erase the degradation Nigeria has suffered over the years adding that a whooping $5.9b could be saved annually from marine biotechnology
