Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has said that adopting the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model is essential for the infrastructural development of Nigeria’s maritime sector. The Director General, who made this statement while hosting Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), emphasised the importance of the Commission’s increased involvement in attracting private investors to develop infrastructural capacity in Nigeria’s maritime sector. Accordingly, Mobereola said; “We appreciate the Management of the ICRC for being responsive. However, you know that the maritime sector is capital intensive and government funds cannot solely put in place the required infrastructure. We need the ICRC to develop PPP based business models that will be attractive to the private sector both from within and outside the country. There is the need to streamline processes by the use of technology, as we will continue to count on the support of ICRC to help drive the Agency’s PPP projects for effective and efficient service delivery to our stakeholders”.
Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, who supported the NIMASA DG’s position, underscored the significance of the maritime sector to Nigeria’s economy. He noted that the PPP model would facilitate increased funding and expertise from the private sector, thereby accelerating the growth and development of the Nigerian maritime sector. Additionally, he stated that the ICRC is prepared to engage with the Agency on its projects and ensure timely execution. “There is no time to waste; our country needs lots of funding for infrastructure and we need to create an enabling environment for activities to thrive. First, is service delivery, not revenue generation, and people will be willing to pay if they get the right services”, the ICRC boss noted. The PPP model has proven to be the most viable approach worldwide for driving government policies that promote development and economic growth. As a regulatory agency and Nigeria’s Maritime Administration, NIMASA has consistently embraced collaboration and partnership through the PPP initiative to ensure the growth and development of the maritime sector.
