Having made history as the first among Nigeria’s littoral states to create a Marine and Blue Economy Ministry, Bayelsa State again recorded another first when last week it rolled out a draft policy on how to navigate through the stormy waters of her potentially prosperous Marine and Blue Economy. It was not particularly an easy assignment for the technical working group which came out with the draft policy due to the inexplicable fact that even at the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, such a document was not available as a reference point.
Another contentious issue was how to navigate through a legal and policy framework for Bayelsa State without infringing on federal maritime laws majority of which fall under the Exclusive Legislative List. About 20 experts from the academia, maritime lawyers, the Nigerian Shippers Council, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Ports Authority and National Inland Waterways Authority, among others participated in the week long exercise. With a vision “to be the leading State in Nigeria in enhancing the Marine and Blue Economy potentials for shared prosperity, inclusive growth and sustainable development”, the over 40-page document identified short, medium and long term goals the state intends to achieve, with emphasis on collaboration with relevant local and international agencies.
The high points of what the state intends to achieve as highlighted in the policy document include the construction of the Agge Deep Seaport, fisheries, renewable energy, eco-tourism and capacity building. According to the draft policy which is subject to the ratification of the Bayelsa State Executive Council, the State plans to train at least 100 seaferers, 100 welders, 100 divers annually in the next 10 years. This, according to the document, the State intends to achieve by adopting a Marshall Plan developed alobg the line of the Phillipines model. The Phillipines is currently the world’s leading provider of seaferers.
Dr. Faith Zibs Godwin, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, who spoke at the closing of the session was full of praise for the resource persons and their commitment to providing a policy framework that would form the basis for the take off of the new Ministry. She explained that as ambitious as the draft policy seemed, it was achievable as she is encouraged by the commitment of Governor Douye Diri to turn Bayelsa into a Marine and Blue Economy hub in Niger Delta, leveraging on the abundant opportunities in the sector, given Bayelsa’s position as having the longest coastline in Nigeria.
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*ANLCA BoT Elections and Matters Arising* The upcoming election into the nine-man Board of Trustees of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents is increasingly getting wide media attention, unprecedented in the 70 years history of the body. This is perhaps the most contentious election in the history of the Association. With a stupendous N1.2 million fee for obtaining the form, there is no doubt that the stakes are very high.
But stakeholders are curious about what the eventual winners are likely to benefit from a job with no statutory benefits. Or are we too blind to see the milk and honey which lie ahead of the prospective BoT members? Trust Nigerians, contestants are already making all manner of promises. Some are realistic, while some others are esoteric and laughable.
With the elections holding simultaneously in the various zones in a couple of days, I won’t be surprised if some of aspirants promise to sink boreholes or build barracks and hospitals for Customs officers. I wish the contestants the best of luck.