Lagos, – The Managing Director of NPA, Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero, has advised Nigerian maritime practitioners to use maritime resources to develop the economy.
Bayero gave the advice on Wednesday on the sideline of a three-day Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) in Lagos.
He said that nations like Egypt, Singapore and Indonesia had developed their maritime endowments to the advantage of their economies.
The NPA chief said maritime practitioners should play leading role as catalysts to the development of the economy.
He, however, said the downward trend in global oil price had posed a challenge to national development.
Bayero urged Nigerians to take full advantage of the abundant maritime endowments and growth opportunities in the maritime sector.
“There is no gain saying that most great nations of the world delivered their greatness from the endowments.
“Early civilisation of states like Egypt derived her prowess and globally-acclaimed wealth and prosperity from the blessings of the Great Nile River.
“The tradition has been sustaining Egypt till date as one of the greatest maritime nations of the world.
“Singapore is known as solely reliant on her maritime endowments which have been developed to the extent that the country is reputed to be the world’s bunkering destination,‘’ the NPA chief said.
He said that Indonesia was reputed for her high production of seafarers who were all over the world manning vessels of different configurations and sizes.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
The NPA chief saluted the resilience of the organisers of NIMAREX for sustaining the standard and quality of the conference over the years.
He said this was evident from the quality and contents of the current exhibition.
Bayero expressed optimism that the conference would be able to prescribe an agenda to pave ways for exploration of growth opportunities in the maritime sector. (NAN)