The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said adopting the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model is the way forward for the development of infrastructure in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Mebereola said this while welcoming Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to the NIMASA headquarters office in Lagos.
He emphasized the importance of the Commission’s increased involvement in attracting private investors to develop infrastructural capacity in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
In a press statement issued by the Assistant Director, Public Relations, NIMASA, Osagie Edwards, on the visit, the NIMASA DG appreciated the management of the ICRC for being responsive, noting that as a capital intensive sector, government funding alone cannot put in place the required infrastructure in the sector.
He said, “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.”
While supporting Mobereola on his position, Ewalefoh, underscored the significance of the maritime sector to Nigeria’s economy, noting 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.
He said ICRC was prepared to engage with NIMASA 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.
