President of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, Mrs Mfon Ekong Usoro has described the newly inaugurated expanded partnership committee on blue economy as a bold step by Nigeria to fully harvest multiple benefits from the marine environment
Usoro who is a member of the committee Inaugurated by the Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo on Monday, said it will help in optimizing the opportunities in the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA and strength Nigeria’s position in many areas of local and international trade
According to her ,Nigeria should not only be viewed as the largest market to be exploited by our trade partners but should as well evolve into the logistics hub for the continent.
Usoro, a maritime lawyer with experience in environmental consultancies expressed pleasure that the the Vice President reminded members of the wide spectrum of the Blue Economy.
She said Nigeria is set to join the rest of the world in sustainable exploration of the new and emerging ocean activities such as offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed extractive activities, marine biotechnology and bioprospecting, mining and underwater tourism in addition to rethinking the way we exploit the traditional ocean industries like fisheries, oil and gas and marine transport.
All of these activities have logistics and transport components which in point of fact is what gives economic value to those products and activities and the CILT will also contribute in that regard.
The described the approach of government involving as much as ten state governors, eight ministers and many other agencies as a masterstroke that will yield bountifully under the coordination of the VP
Usoro a former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) advised various state governments involved in the project to stay consistent as the present cohesion initiated by the federal government for the project is unprecedented
