NIMASA Director-General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh (middle), flanked by the Managing Director, APEC-Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Centre and Port of Antwerp International, Mr. Kristof Waterschoot (left), and Director at Port of Antwerp International, Mr. Mario Lievens
Nigeria has alerted Belgian investors to the huge opportunities in its wreck removal and recycling area, asking them to take advantage of the Federal Government’s planned coordination of the area through the proposed National Maritime Transport Policy (NMTP).
The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, spoke during a meeting with a Belgian delegation at the Nigerian Belgian Chamber of Commerce, Onikan, Lagos.
Commending Belgium’s long-standing diplomatic and economic relationship with Nigeria, he said the development of maritime infrastructure was part of the Federal Government’s economic diversification drive.
“The National Maritime Transport Policy, which is being developed, is part of a wider agenda purposed to build alternatives to oil,” a statement by the NIMASA Head of Corporate Communications, Philip Kyanet, cited him to say.
“The maritime sector is consciously being opened for investment by local and foreign investors to build a sustainable blue economy. One area I would like the Belgian private sector to come in is wreck removal and wreck recycling.
“There is a huge investment opportunity there, and also a big room for collaboration. This is more so as the Federal Government is planning a coordinated policy on wreck removal.”
Jamoh also sought Belgium’s partnership in the sea-time training of Nigerian seafarers and in port safety and security.
On their part, the officials, including the Managing Director of APEC-Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Centre and Port of Antwerp International, Mr. Kristof Waterschoot, and Director at Port of Antwerp International, Mr. Mario Lievens, have disclosed interest in the planned transport policy.
According to them, they came to discuss projects of interest, including inland ports, and to also strengthen the relationship between the Port of Antwerp and NIMASA, particularly in the areas of training, technical support and cooperation.
Waterschoot, who said they “believe in Nigeria,” disclosed that they were monitoring the proposed transport policy to see how Belgium could come in with investments, adding that though the business climate in Nigeria could be difficult, every country has its peculiar difficulties.
The Port of Antwerp International is a subsidiary of Port of Antwerp, Europe’s second largest port – after Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. It was established to expand the activities of the Port of Antwerp beyond Europe through consultancy, management solutions, investment projects and training.
