October 16, (THEWILL) – The Rivers State Government, led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS, in collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service, hosted key players in the business and investment industry on the benefits of the resources of the Blue Economy.
The One Day Workshop, which was organised by the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Rivers State Government with the theme, “The Coastal State of Rivers and the benefits of the Blue Economy: Stakeholders Perspective”, is expected to come up with a white paper to help both the Rivers State and the Federal Government of Nigeria to harness and benefit from this great potential hidden in the deep sea and Oceans as a contribution to the development of government policy on the Marine and Blue Economy in Nigeria.
According to the contribution from key industry players present, the development of government policy on the Marine and Blue Economy in Nigeria, with the support of all relevant agencies and states in Nigeria, Rivers State Government is taking the lead in partnering with the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The Acting Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Caroline Wuraola Adepoju, who was present at the One-day workshop in the Company of the Governor of River State, ably represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, commended the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which led to the approved creation of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry to expand and diversify the economy of Nigeria from Oil and Gas to the resources of the sea and the ocean around the Nigerian coastal water states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Lagos, Anambra, Cross River and Akwa Ibom and on the Northern Shore of the country around the Lake Chad Basin, Kebbi and Niger States.
Among those present at the occasion are the former Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Dr David Shikfu Paraddang mni, who was also a resource person, Dr Emi Membere-Otaji, Chairman of Elshcon Group and 2nd National Deputy President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Shippers Council represented by Mr Glory Onojedoa, Mr Michael Adamu of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and Mr Yusuf Barde, Zonal Coordinator, NIMASA South-South, Dr Soky Amachree, MD Sigma Nigeria limited, amongst others.
Also present are Captains of Industries including Chief Nabil Saleh of M.Saleh Group, Mr Charles Solomon of Hotel presidential, Mr Olusoji Apampa, CEO of the Convention on Business Integrity representing Maritime Anti-Corruption Network and more than Fifty Marine Services and Shippers agencies, Oil and Gas industries operating within Rivers and those with Head Offices in Lagos.
The participants commended the Comptroller of Immigration in charge of Rivers State Command and his team, for organising the timely workshop, to serve as a veritable platform for stakeholders to critically examine the multifaceted benefits of the Blue Economy to Rivers State and Nigeria at large.
According to them, “This initiative is a strategic step in the right direction, as it further affirms the very important role of the Nigeria Immigration Service in the Migration and Development mantra, aside its traditional role as a frontline border agency, with specific mandate within Nigeria’s security milieu.”
Speaking, Comptroller General James Sunday restated the commitment of the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Rivers State Government to come up with a white paper to help both the State and the Federal Government to harness and benefit from this great potential hidden in the deep sea and oceans, as a contribution to the development of government policy on the Marine and Blue Economy in Nigeria with the support of all relevant agencies.
