$800m for port rehabilitation ready soon – Oyetola

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, Thursday, disclosed that the sum of $800m needed for the rehabilitation of Nigerian ports will be ready.

The Minister spoke in Lagos when he commissioned a set of seven security patrol boat purchased by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to enhance safety and security of the country’s ports. 

The Minister said “I commend the management of the NPA for taking the initiative to strengthen safety in the maritime space.

Security is very important and we need to give it the kind of attention it deserves. We cannot be talking of trying to get the full potential of the Blue Economy without strengthening the security aspect of our ports.”

“I am delighted to be here and very much believe we are going to have more of these boats.

“It is deliberate on the part of Mr. President to have created the Marine and Blue Economy ministry. Blue economy has always been there, but not as structured as to generate the kind of revenue a maritime nation like Nigeria should be earning.

Also speaking during the patrol boats commissioning, the Managing Director of the NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko explained that the procurement of the seven Security Patrol Boats was preceded by a robust needs assessment process undertaken by a highly experienced team drawn from the agency’s Security and Marine Operations Divisions and the Vessel Management Department, who were painstaking and followed through with the product output specification including necessary sea trials.