TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari says his government is reforming the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as a facilitator of the country’s economic prosperity.

Buhari said this at the unveiling of the new NIMASA logo at the ongoing 3rd Conference of the Association of Heads of African Maritime Administration (AAMA) currently taking place in Abuja.

The event drew stakeholders from 34 African countries and other notable global maritme stakeholders.

Buhari, who was represented by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said his administration was making it easier to do business in the country.

He urged leaders of African maritime administration to continue to collaborate and develop the human and institutional capacities required to respond appropriately to challenges facing African maritime sector.

“We are reforming NIMASA so that it can play its expected role as a facilitator of economic prosperity,” he said.

“We are paying significant attention to making it easier to do business and one of our immediate priorities in this regard, is the entry and exit of goods especially in our sea ports.

“The measures that we are putting in place are designed to improve the efficiency of our ports and to enable quick turnaround time of vessels. Technology is also being deployed to make our port operations more transparent and effective in support of economic growth.

“For any one following the development of the African maritime sector, there can be no question that more than ever before, our countries are beginning to accord the sector the importance that it deserves.”