Marine engineers, surveyors are heart of shipping- Minister .Says FG will continue to build capacity in maritime sector

Marine engineers, surveyors are heart of shipping-  Minister

.Says FG will continue to build capacity in maritime sector

By Udeme Clement

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has said that  President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is committed to building capacity for all segments of Transport sector, in order to enhance  economic growth

Speaking at the 2^nd Nigerian Maritime Technical Summit, organised by the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors ,AMES, with the theme, ‘Ship Operations in Nigeria: Policy, Technical, Financial Challenges and Solution’, held in Lagos. The Minister said government is committed to creating policies that would enhance the growth of the entire transport sector.

The Minister who was represented by the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ,NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, explained that Marine Engineers and Surveyors are critical to the growth of the maritime sector, adding that they play major roles from  building of the Ships through the entire lifespan of the vessel.

According to the Minister “Marine Engineers and Surveyors are at the very heart of shipping, the life of a ship begins on the table of marine engineers and  surveyors. They continue to play a role on the ship through the entire life span of the vessel”.

“Shipping stands on a tripod of funding, right policies and proper technical direction and government is doing everything within its powers to ensure that the maritime industry thrives. Government has taken a bold step to audit all agencies under the transport sector, in order to strengthen them to perform optimally”.

“Efforts are in top gear to resuscitate National Fleet.  The committee made up of largely stakeholders in the industry will soon submit its report and recommendations for the setting up of a National Fleet.

He  commended AMES for championing the reforms in the sector, stating that government has continually relied on the Association’s counsel to move the maritime sector forward. He charged industry players to continue to patronise AMES, stating that the Association has the best hands in the continent.

In his remarks, the President of AMES, Engr. Charles Uwadia said that he was moved by the effort of government to revamp the maritime sector. He pledged that AMES would continue to work with government, in order to ensure that the sector reaches its full potentials, to the benefit of Nigeria’s economy.