By Uzor Odigbo
Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa, (MOWCA) Dr. Paul Adalikwu has advocated for stronger public and private sector collaboration.
Adalikwu who said this while presenting preliminary remarks at the recently organised Africa Transport Forum put together by the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, described the waterways as natural endowments critical for the economic, environmental, social and general wellbeing of coastal communities
Speaking on the theme of the event “The State of Inland Waterways Transport in Africa: Potential, Opportunities & Challenges”, the MOWCA SG urged African governments to invest more in promoting security and dredging of channels for ease of navigation to sustain enabling environment for more legitimate trade, travels, tourism, research and exchange of cultural values among coast areas.
The SG commended the AfDB for it’s interest in supporting a verile blue economy in the continent saying it aligns with the Africa Union Agenda 2063 which seeks an entrenched and flourishing culture of human rights, democracy, gender equality, inclusion and peace; Prosperity, security and safety for all citizens; and Mechanisms to promote and defend the continent’s collective security and interests.
According to him, state and non state parties need to work more closely in a sustainable manner that wil ensure suppression of crime in all maritime spaces on the continent for other lawful economic activities like fishing, tourism, underwater mining to thrive.
While commending some African leaders for their interest in the blue economy initiative, he identified that their financial capabilities were limited to achieve their goals which necessitates inclusion of private investors and multilateral organisations in their stakeholder interaction for quicker and more professional approach in managing their waterways.
He said the Integrated High Speed Train Network programme of the AU which aims at connecting all African capitals and commercial centres to facilitate movement of goods, reduce transport costs with other benefits need the intermodal support of sustainable water transportation system that will further strengthen the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA)
He reiterated MOWCA’s commitment to work with AfDB and other organisations in promoting viable commercial activities at all spheres of the marine space while recalling that MOWCA held a workshop from July 15 to July 18,2024 that drew participants from nine countries and had resource persons from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF)
Adalikwu also called for removal of wrecks in most waterways capable of causing marine accidents. According to him,such wrecks could be recycled for economic benefits after removal to ensure conservation of the marine ecosystem.