The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has urged the Chinese Government to collaborate with the Nigerian maritime sector for economic growth.
This is contained in a statement by the Head of Corporate Communication of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, on Friday in Lagos.
The statement said that the director-general received the Acting Chinese Consul-General, Mr. Li Yong, who paid a courtesy visit to the agency
According to him, the Nigerian maritime Sector holds the key to unlocking the opportunities of the sector in the whole of Africa because of our strategic location, population and volume of trade.
“Therefore, if anyone wants to do business in Africa, Nigeria is the place of choice,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Peterside as saying.
The director-general also stated that the Agency was willing to partner with the Chinese Maritime Administration in the areas of ship breaking and recycling, on-board training for cadets as well as technical support.
He said that collaboration with various stakeholders across the globe was fundamental to unlocking the maritime opportunities in Nigeria.
Peterside said that cooperation among the Global South countries was the way to drive emerging economies to the height of development.
He commended the Chinese Government for its willingness to strengthen the Nigerian-China relationship as evident in the major developmental projects across the country.
In his response, Yong said that he was happy with the China-Nigerian relationship, adding that the Chinese Central Government was willing to partner with Nigeria in the areas of technological advancement and information sharing.
The Chinese envoy also expressed his government’s determination to support Nigeria in the fight against piracy and other criminal activities at sea. (NAN)