Members of the National Assembly have tasked the Minister of Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, on the need for Nigeria to tap into the $1.8 trillion potentials and to improve on revenue generation through the maritime industry.
The lawmakers gave the charge during the 2024 budget defence held at the instance of the Joint Committees on Ports & Harbours and other Standing Committees.
They expressed regrets over the report on the loss of over one trillion naira revenue to poor infrastructure in the maritime sector.
Senators and members of the House of Representatives at the session Wednesday frowned at the non-provision of funds in the 2024 budget proposal, and called for acquisition and installation of scanners at various ports as part ongoing efforts geared towards making the nation’s ports competitive.
During the scrutiny of the 2024 budget proposal, the lawmakers demanded for breakdown of the lump sum of one billion naira proposed for procurement of official vehicles for the minister, permanent secretary (2 Toyota Landcruisers), 7 Innoson Pickups for project vehicles and 7 units of 28 seater CNG buses for the new ministry.
They queried the ministry over the underutilisation of N130 million released for rehabilitation, utilisation and patronage of eastern ports (N10 million); monitoring for navigational channels, Calabar River Port (N15 million), Women empowerment on maritime related activities, world seafarers day and world women in maritime international day (N25 million), Coordination of process of establishing/designating a National Career (Shipping) – N20 million; International seabed Authority (ISA)/United Nations Convention on law of the sea (UNCLOS) and Development of Inland Dry Ports including Ministerial Standing Committee on delivery of Inland Dry Ports (N10 million), respectively.
Speaking earlier, Minister of Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola stated that the total capital appropriated for Marine related programmes in 2023 was N777 million, out of which N448,027,468 has been utilised as at the end of November, 2023.
