- Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo (left), Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, Michael Lodge, and Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, during Lodge’s courtesy visit to the minister in Abuja…Thursday
By Anthony Nwachukwu
Concerned that none of the 12 exploration projects in developing countries around the world is in Africa, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, has assured that Nigeria will lead other African countries in harnessing the abundant resources of the blue economy for her benefit.
Sambo, who spoke when the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Michael Lodge, noted that the resources in the sea far outweigh those on land, and that the continent’s inability to substantially harness it has become a challenge.
However, he said the country is lucky to have an organisation like ISA to help it explore and exploit its untapped blue economy.
Regarding the workshop, Sambo advised that the outcomes should be escalated to the President and the National Assembly to accord it priority attention.
Lodge had earlier informed that the workshop was to “create awareness in Africa and hopefully at some point in future encourage African states and investors to look at the possibility of participating in deep-sea exploration rather than only look towards the lands.”
According to him, the deep blue resources should be enjoyed by all and not just the rich and technologically advanced countries.
Earlier, the Ambassador to Jamaica and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative on ISA, Dr Maureen Tamuno, thanked the minister for providing enabling environment for the workshop and access to enable them visit the Maritime Academy, Oron in Akwa Ibom State to assess its readiness to provide required competences for future activities in the deep seabed sector.
