Sambo says Buhari’s Deep Blue Project eliminates piracy in Gulf of Guinea

Sambo says: “Since the commissioning of the deep blue project by our President in June 2021, now over a year ago, not a single incident of piracy has been recorded in our maritime domain”

By Uzor Odigbo

Transport Minister Mu’azu Jaji Sambo has extolled President Muhammadu Buhari’s deep Blue Sea Project Security Agenda to effectively tackle piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

Sambo made this known in a 2-day 2022 International Nigeria Maritime Submit (NIMS) tagged achieving a sustainable approach to harnessing the blue economy.

He said: “It is my pleasure to inform His Excellency the Secretary-General, of the impressive landmark achievement in the area of anti-piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Since the commissioning of the deep blue project by our President in June 2021, now over a year ago, not a single incident of piracy has been recorded in our maritime domain.”

After extending President Buhari’s warm welcome to His Excellency Kitack Lim and his delegation, Sambo said the next 2-days would capture important questions, opportunities and challenges, including finance which is a critical driver for unlocking the potential of the blue economy in Africa and in particular Nigeria.

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The Transport Minister said, “Sustainable financing models are therefore important to build critical maritime assets such as shipyards and ports across the country.

“Similarly, the discussions within the global community on the need to reshape the way the shipping industry operates in the face of current and future challenges, ranging from a changing climate and the need for rapid decarbonisation by 2050 cannot be overemphasized”

According to him, Nigeria’s commitment to the sustainability of the blue economy is demonstrated by the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). insisting that an expanded Committee on Sustainable Blue Economy in Nigeria (ECSBEN) under the leadership of no less a person than the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is driving the implementation process and perfecting the agenda for a national strategy.

Sambo reiterated that “this agenda amongst others is focused on providing an assessment of the current realities, opportunities and challenges for economic diversification and the growth of a sustainable blue economy; including the identification and review of relevant policies and institutional/capacity-building mechanisms.

“This is in addition to the identification of regional and cross-border partnerships necessary for the implementation of the blue economy plan, the relevant sectors, actors and linkages, and the development of a national action plan with an implementation strategy for the Nigerian blue economy.”

The Minister noted that this summit is an important step in the continuing shift in strategic thinking about the blue economy. It will undoubtedly serve as a benchmark for stakeholders in Nigeria and beyond to further develop innovative strategies to sustainably harness the vast potentials of the blue economy. It is my hope that the deliberations at this event will lead to viable solutions for overcoming this challenge.