Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has urged African countries to shift focus from policy declarations to concrete action in developing the maritime and blue economy sector.
Peterside made the call on Thursday in Lagos while delivering a keynote address at the 8th Women in Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Africa Regional Conference.
The conference brought together maritime stakeholders, policymakers, and industry leaders under the theme: “From Policy to Implementation: Women Advancing Africa’s Blue Economy through Sustainable Shipping, Trade and Energy Innovation.”
The former NIMASA boss said Africa is not lacking in maritime policies or international agreements, but continues to struggle with implementation.
He noted that the real challenge lies in translating signed commitments into functional ports, efficient logistics systems, and measurable economic outcomes.
“Africa is not short of policies, regulations or declarations,” Peterside said.
“The real deficit lies in the gap between ratification and real results.”
Peterside urged African governments to prioritise investments in port infrastructure, shipping capacity, and trade facilitation systems to unlock the continent’s blue economy potential.
He also recommended regular audits of existing maritime policies and international conventions to identify implementation gaps.
According to him, governments should measure success not by policy announcements, but by outcomes such as job creation, reduced freight costs, and increased intra-African trade.
He highlighted the need for digital and green port systems, citing examples such as Tangier Med Port in Morocco and Walvis Bay Port in Namibia, where automation has reduced cargo delays.
Peterside also advocated the development of regional maritime corridors to strengthen trade integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
He warned that inefficiencies in African shipping routes—often requiring goods to transit through Europe—continue to increase costs and delay delivery.
The former DG called for the establishment of dedicated maritime financing structures within development finance institutions to support infrastructure expansion and indigenous shipping growth.
He cautioned that without strong political commitment, funding mechanisms, and institutional capacity, proposals such as a continental maritime bank would remain unrealised.
Peterside stressed that Africa must prepare for global decarbonisation and net-zero emission standards, which will reshape shipping, insurance, and trade costs.
He urged investment in cleaner vessels, port modernisation, and seafarer training to remain competitive in global maritime trade.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s progress in adopting international maritime conventions and policies, Peterside noted that enforcement remains a major challenge.
He added that improving implementation of frameworks such as the Cabotage regime could strengthen local shipping capacity and reduce reliance on foreign operators.
