African Integrity Magazine – Nigeria, Poland To Partner In Maritime, Shipyard Development

Nigeria, Poland To Partner In Maritime, Shipyard Development

Nov 19, 2014 Samuel Business News 0

The Minister of Transport Idris Umar, recently expressed Federal Government’s willingness to partner Poland in maritime development in order to boost the industry in Nigeria.

Umar made this known in Abuja when the Polish Deputy Minister of Economy, Andrzej Dycha, accompanied with some Polish entrepreneurs, visited him.

He said Nigeria has a lot of maritime opportunities for investors, especially in the ongoing development of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA) shipyard and dockyard facility.

It was recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the dockyard and shipyard, and the inauguration of Nigeria Maritime University in May.

The university and shipyard which are expected to build and maintain vessels when completed and operational are located in Okerenkoko, Warri South Local Government Area in Delta.

According to Umar, the agency is currently building shipyard and dockyard in Delta; and will like to partner Poland, given the opportunities that it has expertise in technical partners and private investors in shipyard infrastructural development”, he said.

He disclosed that discussion on development of the maritime sector would commence between both countries soon, adding that the Federal Government had executed many rail line projects.

In his words a total of 3,505 kilometers of narrow gauge system is at hand and are equally developing the standard gauge system.

Earlier, Dycha said that the position of Nigeria in Africa with regard to economy and potential, prompted the visit of the delegation to Nigeria.

He said that Poland would cooperate with Nigeria in developing the shipyard and other maritime facilities in the country.

The Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Przemyslaw Niesiolowski, who led the delegation, said that his country was also interested in maritime education.

According to him, Poland has some expertise and technical know-how on railway development and planning of transportation network and infrastructure.