Nigerian Minister Engages in Bilateral Talks with Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Brazil, and Jamaica
Marine and Blue Economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola participated in bilateral discussions with ministers and representatives from Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Brazil, and Jamaica, aiming to enhance Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy sector.
The discussions provided an opportunity for Minister Oyetola to express Nigeria’s strong interest in learning from the experiences and knowledge of these nations. He also met with representatives of Greece, Qatar, and Mexico at the ongoing 33rd General Assembly session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, UK.
During one meeting, Minister Oyetola engaged with the Brazilian Chief of the Navy’s General Staff, Adm José Augusto V. da Cunha de Menezes, to convey Nigeria’s desire to gain insights from the operations of the Brazilian coast guards. The minister shared plans to establish a similar setup in Nigeria to strengthen security within the maritime space and waterways.
Minister Oyetola also highlighted the ministry’s focus on sectors such as marine renewable energy, marine mining, subsea cabling and piping, marine genetics, and biotechnology to drive growth in the marine and blue economy.
The minister underscored the importance of enhancing the security architecture within the maritime space and proposed the establishment of coast guards to complement the existing security framework.
Additionally, Minister Oyetola stressed the significance of technology and innovation in revolutionizing Nigeria’s maritime sector. He emphasized the potential of advanced marine technologies, including innovations in maritime logistics and smart logistics solutions, to boost the efficiency and sustainability of maritime transport and port operations, making Nigerian ports more competitive globally.
During the discussions, Minister Oyetola engaged with the IMO’s new Vice President, who also serves as Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to the UK, as well as Saudi Arabia’s Minister in charge of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, Saleh bin Nasser AIJasser. As a result, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria have agreed to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to solidify collaboration and partnership in the maritime space.
The bilateral talks signify Nigeria’s proactive approach in seeking valuable insights and collaborations to propel the growth and development of its maritime and blue economy sector. These discussions demonstrate the country’s pursuit of strategic partnerships and the exchange of knowledge to elevate its maritime industry to new heights.
