As NIMASA Gets Ready to Hosts AAMA
President Mummadu Buhari will later this month on April 20 meet a body of
African Maritime leaders under the aegis of Association of African
Maritime Administration (AAMA) from across the continent to brainstorm on
ways in which Africa can come together to maximize the economic
opportunities of the continent’s large ocean.
The meeting, which is part of the third edition of AAMA Conference being
organized by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
in conjunction with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) will
attract the participation of over 32 African countries, as well as other
maritime countries across the globe with representative from IMO and major
shipping Line operators.
Increased interest in growing the maritime industry and need to evolve a
stronger economy by boosting non-oil revenue sources is a major part of
the Buhari Government economic policy thrust, hence the Federal
Government’s huge interest in encouraging greater cooperation among
African nation to enable them make the best of the opportunity.
President Buhari who had earlier approved the participation of Nigeria
through NIMASA in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) council
election coming later in the year, will also address the conference on
certain policy directions of his administration as it concerns the
maritime industry. The President will also be unveiling the new NIMASA,
brand during the three day event.
AAMA Conference will also feature notable speakers like the Secretary
General of IMO, Mr. Kitack Lim, Chief Executive Officer of South African
Maritime and Safety Agency (SAMSA), Sobaitu Tilayi, Malaysian Maritime
Authority and European maritime association among others.
On the sidelines of the conference, the NIMASA Management will also hold
strategic sessions to garner support for Nigeria’s bid for category “C”
seat on the council of IMO.
The council is the highest decision making body of the IMO and Nigeria’s
participation will further add value to the economy through participation
in critical decision making sessions on global maritime affairs.
Nigeria controls the highest cargo throughout in the West and Central
African regions with over 200 million metric tonnes of cargo annually and
more than 6000 ocean going vessels calling at her ports yearly, sitting on
the council will further reinforce the country’s leading role in the
maritime industry in Africa.
It would be recalled that the Association of African Maritime
Administrations (AAMA) was formed following the signing of the African
Transport and Maritime Charter in 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the
aim of the association is to promote the Development of Africa’s maritime
regulatory and maritime environment. The Association which is an umbrella
body of five African Maritime Stakeholders’ groups namely: Association of
Maritime Administrations of Africa, Africa’s Ship Registry Forum, African
Ship Owners Association as well as Africa Shippers’ Council and Seafarers’
Forum seeks to bring together all players in the African maritime sector
to chart a way forward for the industry’s development on the continent.