The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Saturday called for development of a national policy on waste management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, made the appeal at NIMASA\u2019s special day at the ongoing 2021 Lagos International Trade Fair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fair organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry had the generic theme: \u2018\u2018Connecting Businesses, Creating Value\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jamoh who spoke on the topic: \u201cBlue Economy Potential of Lagos State\u201d, said that the policy would ensure that the country would harness its blue economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was represented by Dr Momoh Alhassan, Assistant Director, Shipping Promotions, NIMASA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jamoh said that the policy should also look at waste as wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said that Lagos State maritime regulatory agencies must pay attention to waste management if the blue economy potential of the country\u2019s waters must be properly harnessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cImproving marine litter management will therefore also require improving systems for solid waste collection, transport, recycling, re-use and final disposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRecycling must be encouraged to reduce dumping of plastics all over; disposal of hazardous chemical waste related to agriculture and manufacturing poses another challenge as some coastal communities lack adequate facilities for storage and disposal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said that the impacts of marine litter included entanglement of and ingestion by marine animals, which had been identified as a global problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOverall, marine litter affects economies, ecosystems, animal welfare and human health worldwide,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jamoh said that, as regards renewable energy, Lagos as a litoral state could tap from the value of water to generate power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLagos state with its huge population is dealing with energy issues due to huge demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe state must begin to explore other newer and cheaper energy sources to meet the needs of its teeming population,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He listed some of the challenges of the blue economy to include climate change, marine pollution, under Investment and lack of maritime education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He recommended that maritime education should be given priority attention, and called for proper harnessing of maritime tourism which, he said, could proffer great opportunities for Lagos State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mrs Toki Mabogunje, President of LCCI, noted that maritime sector was very important as there was no trade without maritime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She added that with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, it would be necessary to address all hiccups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe chamber recognises the importance of the maritime sector and the important role that NIMASA plays as a regulator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn recognition of that very important role of the maritime sector, this year, we inaugurated our maritime sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis maritime sector brings all the actors to play \u2013 ship owners, sea fairers \u2013 all of them, all in a bid to speak with one voice,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Saturday called for development of a national policy on waste management. The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, made the appeal at NIMASA\u2019s special day at the ongoing 2021 Lagos International Trade Fair. The fair organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry had the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6260,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[949],"tags":[198],"class_list":["post-38062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","tag-nimasa","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"yoast_head":"\n