Emmanuel OchayiNigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, revealed on Friday that the Nigerian Ports Authority is set to embark on a transformative journey towards full automation and cargo tracking.
The move, aimed at enhancing efficiency and boosting the ease of doing business across Nigeria’s ports, was disclosed during a visit by sustainability expert Professor Gunter Pauli, who is exploring collaborative opportunities in the country.
Speaking passionately about the impending revolution, Minister Oyetola stated, “Again, we are going to be talking about automation of ports to make them more efficient. I would like to tell you that in another two years, it will all change. We are bringing in automation and cargo tracking as we are working on that for implementation.”
The minister’s vision aligns with the federal government’s desire to harness the vast resources of the ocean sector for rapid economic growth, job creation, and ecological preservation.
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Oyetola emphasized the government’s commitment to fostering Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to drive progress, stating, “Seventy percent of the resources that are available actually come from the ocean, and we have it in abundance here. I believe in the Public Private Partnership arrangement. The government will create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and our concept in dealing with these is purely in PPP, and I see quite a lot of opportunities there.”
Minister Oyetola also highlighted the remarkable security achievements in Nigerian waters, noting, “We have sufficient control of our ocean in terms of security and there has been nothing like piracy in our ocean. So, the fear of investors about the safety of their investments is out of it now.”
This assurance is expected to encourage local and foreign investors to take advantage of the burgeoning opportunities and collaborate with the newly established Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, a clear sign of the government’s commitment to diversify the nation’s economy away from its reliance on the oil industry.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Henshaw Ogubike, it was revealed that Professor Gunter Pauli’s visit was facilitated by Premium Blue Economy Innovation and Investment, his partners in Nigeria.
Speaking about his visit, Pauli expressed his team’s eagerness to collaborate with the ministry on commercial and technological innovations, which would result in job creation and a wealth of opportunities for Nigerian youths.
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