Expert demands blueprint for marine, blue economy

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A maritime expert, Dr Kayode Farinto, has called on the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, to provide blueprint to make the industry viable.

Farinto told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Lagos that to achieve the blueprint, the minister needed to discuss with technocrats in the industry.

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According to Farinto, the former acting National President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents if the blueprint is achieved, it will give the industry focus.

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“With the blueprint, the ministry can create employment for our teaming youths and it will also ensure the industry generates revenue for the Federal Government.

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“The untapped resources underwater will be harnessed,” he said.

He regretted that the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy had not been harnessed, noting that their intention when they called for the creation of the ministry, was not known again.

He noted that with the blueprint, government would address some of the challenges facing the sector so that they would be able to harness it.

According to Farinto, stakeholders have a lot of issues and challenges facing the maritime sector and the first is the issue of provision of forex for port operations.

“We appreciate the administration of the current Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, as it has addressed the issue of opening Form M, which anyone can do now.

“If we have a cargo train, things can be done under two/three days and this can strengthen the naira and before we know it naira will be competing with dollars,” he said.

Farinto also urged Nigeria’s policy formulators to sit up and look at areas in the maritime sector where this administration could harness to generate revenue.

NAN