The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dayo Mobereola has assured the international community of the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Atlantic Region which should be explored in a sustainable manner for the benefits of all countries.
Mobereola who stated this during his presentation at the partnership for Atlantic Co-operation summit, a sideline session at the on-going 2024 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States of America (USA) maintained this was the way to go.
The summit which was attended by several member nations of the UN was chaired by the USA Secretary of State, Mr. Anthony Blinken.
According to the NIMASA helmsman who was attending the summit for the first time as the Director General of the Federal Government parasatal, Nigeria’s participation in the Atlantic Co-operation has had a transformative effect on how our government is contributing to shaping acceptable global policies and agendas for a more secure, sustainable and prosperous Atlantic region. We recently organised an international workshop on deep sea-bed activities, where our government reaffirms commitment to develop a legal and regulatory framework for deep-sea mining, driving sustainable economic growth.
Continuing, Mobereola said: “Nigeria is also working closely with critical developmental partners such as the United States of America, the European Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the United Nations to protect our coastline and ensure the safe passage of goods and people, promoting regional economic integration”.
In a statement signed by NIMASA Assistant Director, Public Relations, Mr. Edward Osagie and made available to Maritime Bits stated that Mobereola also engaged participants on Nigeria’s unique perspectives on funding, governance complexity, and technological advancement amongst other issues with an assurance that Nigeria under the current administration is focused on developing a virile marine and blue economy industry.
On his part, Blinken noted that the Atlantic Ocean is vital to every nation of the world, stating that all countries bothering the ocean have direct stake in this joint venture.
His words: “Together, we’re fostering greater connections and coordination between our governments, between our civil societies, our private sectors, our scientific communities – laying the groundwork to find and to share solutions to these joint challenges. We’re helping one another harness new technologies to address common threats”.
Maritime Bits checks revealed that since its launch, the Atlantic Partnership has grown to 42 members, representing more than 75 percent of the Atlantic coastline.
Countries from Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and the Caribbean participated at the session to address shared challenges, promote common solutions, and advance collective principles.
They also endorsed a declaration on Atlantic Co-operation promising engagement on the basis of international law, existing national and international legal frameworks, mutual collaboration, and respect for differences in capacity and political perspective, and acknowledging the special role and primary interest of Atlantic states in the Atlantic.
