The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola has stated that deep seabed
\nexploration and mining
\nhas the potential to contribute amply to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
\nMobereola spoke at a Two-day stakeholders’ sensitization workshop on the need to explore and exploit resources in Deep Seabed held in Abuja between 18th – 19th, 2024.
\nAccording to the Director General, the deep seabed mining would unlock new revenue streams, thereby contributing significantly to Nigeria\u2019s GDP, and creating thousands of jobs.
\nHe stressed that exploring deep seabed mining holds the key to new revenue streams\/economic benefits as investors gain access to unexploited mineral resources.
\nHe estimated that global demands for some of such minerals will rise as much as 400-600% in the coming decades as the world increases its reliance on wind and solar power, electric vehicle batteries and other zero-carbon technologies.
\n Mobereola maintained that deep seabed offers a unique opportunity for Nigeria to expand its maritime resources, align with the global shift towards sustainable development, and promote economic growth.<\/p>\n
He highlighted the benefits of deep seabed mining to include “Reduced Carbon Print \u2013 Decarbonization
\nTechnological innovation arising from the development of specialized equipment and techniques.
\n“Job creation: Employment opportunities in exploration, extraction and processing.
\nEconomic diversification.
\nSustainable resource management.
\n“Ocean based renewable energy integration.
\nResearch and Development.
\nEco \u2013 tourism and conservation.
\n“Reduced reliance on land based mining which will decrease environmental impact on land.”
\nHowever, Mobereola raised concerns that though noted the deep seabed mining offers significant economic opportunities, it is not without challenges especially as it concerns potential environmental impact and inadequate Regulatory framework.
\nThe NIMASA boss noted that for Nigeria to fully maximize and benefit from her deep seabed mining activities, there should be a robust legislation for seabed mining, stakeholders engagement and thorough environment impact assessments to minimize potential damage to the ecosystems.
\nHe assured that NIMASA will play a critical role by collaborating with relevant MDAs and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in providing the regulatory framework and establishing environmental protection guidelines for seabed mining.
\nHe added that the he Agency could also help develop training programs to grow local expertise in deep seabed mining technologies and operations, promote Research and Development in marine science and technology to enhance knowledge of deep-sea ecosystems and resource potential.
\n\u201cWe remain committed to ensuring that relevant legislative frameworks on the sustainable use of the Marine Environment and Safety standards are fully implemented.
\n\u201cIt is also crucial that the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 is amended to reflect relevant provisions of ISA\u2019s model of legislation on exploration and exploitation.
\n\u201cNigeria has long benefited from its offshore oil and gas resources.
\n\u201cAs we look to the future, deep sea mining presents a unique opportunity for Nigeria to diversify its economy and secure long-term economic growth. It is an integral part of the Blue Economy, promising technological advancement, resource security, and job creation. However, this potential can only be realized if we proactively address the associated environmental, technical, and regulatory challenges, \u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In his keynote address, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola remarked that Nigeria\u2019s extensive coastline and inland waterways make her an ideal player in the emerging deep-sea exploration sector.
\nThe minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Oloruntola Olufemi, said that the transition from a fossil fuel-based to a mineral-based economy also presents opportunities for Nigeria to leverage its marine resources, particularly wave and tide energy, to generate clean energy.
\nHe expressed optimism that effective utilization of these resources will substantially contribute to Nigeria\u2019s energy needs.
\n He noted that Nigeria\u2019s establishment of a full-fledged Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2023 demonstrates her commitment to diversifying the economy and capitalizing on the global surge in deep-sea exploration.
\nThe minister added that as a major oil-producing country with an extensive coastline and inland waterways, Nigeria cannot afford to lag in this new frontier.
\nOyetola stated that the workshop aimed to raise awareness among critical stakeholders about the importance of Deep Seabed exploration and exploitation, addressing environmental and social implications and ensuring effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects that may arise from deep seabed activities.
\nIn his own address, Director, Maritime Safety and Security, Bombata Babatunde, said the Ministry and NIMASA remains committed to promoting collaborative efforts with key industry players, driving innovation, and championing sustainability.
\n\u201cAs we convene here today, we acknowledge the relatively uncharted terrain of deep seabed activities. The workshop aims to illuminate the opportunities and importance of exploring Africa\u2019s continental shelf while ensuring responsible environmental management and adherence to regulatory frameworks, \u201che said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola has stated that deep seabed exploration and mining has the potential to contribute amply to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Mobereola spoke at a Two-day stakeholders’ sensitization workshop on the need to explore and exploit resources in Deep Seabed held […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6277,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-maritime-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/peoplesforumonline.com.ng\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/peoplesforumonline.com.ng\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/peoplesforumonline.com.ng\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peoplesforumonline.com.ng\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peoplesforumonline.com.ng\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6276"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/peoplesforumonline.com.ng\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6276\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6278,"href":"https:\/\/peoplesforumonline.com.ng\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6276\/revisions\/6278"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peoplesforumonline.com.ng\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/peoplesforumonline.com.ng\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peoplesforumonline.com.ng\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peoplesforumonline.com.ng\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}