Democracy requires strong economy – NIMASA DG
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, has stated that a stable democracy based on a credible election requires an equally strong economy to thrive.
In his goodwill message to the just concluded 10th All Nigerian Editors Conference in Katsina State at the weekend, Mr. Akpobolokemi expressed optimism that the Nigerian economy was growing in leaps and bounds as demonstrated by increasing volume of trade and foreign direct investment.
He said it would experience further growth given the consciousness of government to further strengthen the country’s democracy.
The Director General, who was represented by the Deputy Director/Head of Public Relations, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, said the theme of the conference – Credible Elections and Good Governance, the Role of the Editor – was quite apt at a time when Nigeria was putting finishing touches to the next general elections.
Mr. Akpobolokemi said Nigerians have reasons to be optimistic about the future as the economy had been acknowledged to be on track to become one of the 20 largest economies in the world by 2020.
He said Nigeria had been classified among MINT countries projected to be future economic leaders, which included Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey.
“In 2000, Nigeria was ranked 52nd in the world in terms of Gross Domestic Product at purchasing power parity. But the country’s ranking improved to 40th in 2005 and 26th in 2014, making it the largest within Africa.
“Nigeria is recognised as an emerging market with expanding financial service, communications, and entertainment sectors.
“Its re-emergent manufacturing sector is the third-largest on the continent, and produces a larg proportion of goods and services for the West African sub-region. This is why we, at NIMASA, play a key role in ensuring that international and local operators have absolute confidence in the Nigerian maritime environment,” he stated.
He assured that NIMASA would continue to deliver on its own mandate and explained that the recent Memorandum of Understanding the Agency signed with the Nigerian Air Force to complement that with the Nigerian Navy was a way of further safeguarding the country’s maritime domain.
In his goodwill message to the just concluded 10th All Nigerian Editors Conference in Katsina State at the weekend, Mr. Akpobolokemi expressed optimism that the Nigerian economy was growing in leaps and bounds as demonstrated by increasing volume of trade and foreign direct investment.
He said it would experience further growth given the consciousness of government to further strengthen the country’s democracy.
The Director General, who was represented by the Deputy Director/Head of Public Relations, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, said the theme of the conference – Credible Elections and Good Governance, the Role of the Editor – was quite apt at a time when Nigeria was putting finishing touches to the next general elections.
Mr. Akpobolokemi said Nigerians have reasons to be optimistic about the future as the economy had been acknowledged to be on track to become one of the 20 largest economies in the world by 2020.
He said Nigeria had been classified among MINT countries projected to be future economic leaders, which included Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey.
“In 2000, Nigeria was ranked 52nd in the world in terms of Gross Domestic Product at purchasing power parity. But the country’s ranking improved to 40th in 2005 and 26th in 2014, making it the largest within Africa.
“Nigeria is recognised as an emerging market with expanding financial service, communications, and entertainment sectors.
“Its re-emergent manufacturing sector is the third-largest on the continent, and produces a larg proportion of goods and services for the West African sub-region. This is why we, at NIMASA, play a key role in ensuring that international and local operators have absolute confidence in the Nigerian maritime environment,” he stated.
He assured that NIMASA would continue to deliver on its own mandate and explained that the recent Memorandum of Understanding the Agency signed with the Nigerian Air Force to complement that with the Nigerian Navy was a way of further safeguarding the country’s maritime domain.
Post a Comment