MOWCA - MARITIME ORGANIZATION OF WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

LE SG L’OMAOC ADRESSE SES CONDOLÉANCES SUITE À DES ACCIDENTS DE BATEAU EN AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST ET CENTRALE Dr Paul Adalikwu, Secrétaire Général de l’OMAOC, compatit avec le Nigeria et la RD Congo suite aux accidents de bateaux https://lnkd.in/d-xW_wjU

MOWCA SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH NIGERIA’S FINANCE MINISTER, RECEIVES FURTHER ASSURANCE ON MARITIME BANK ESTABLISHMENT October 9, 2024 Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) is looking to enhance maritime investment, entrepreneurship, and job creation, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s economic growth agenda. Secretary-General of MOWCA, Dr. Paul Adalikwu disclosed this recently when he met with Nigeria’s Finance Minister Wale Edun to discuss the establishment of the Regional Maritime Development Bank (RMDB). During the meeting, Dr. Adalikwu highlighted the RMDB’s potential to address financing challenges in Nigeria’s maritime sector and other MOWCA member states. The bank is expected to facilitate maritime infrastructure development, including vessel procurement, jetty construction, and port facility enhancements, along with technical assistance for capacity building. Dr. Adalikwu also presented various financing models tailored for the maritime sector, which could expedite Nigeria’s economic objectives. He expressed gratitude for the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and urged for a strong partnership between Nigeria and MOWCA, emphasizing the potential for significant economic benefits. Minister Edun responded enthusiastically, praising Dr. Adalikwu’s efforts to enhance MOWCA’s impact. He recognized the RMDB as a specialized entity designed to meet the financial needs of the marine and blue economy sector and assured Dr. Adalikwu of the federal government’s support for the bank’s establishment. The key objectives of the RMDB include enhancing maritime investment, entrepreneurship, and job creation. The bank will address financing challenges in the maritime sector, facilitating infrastructure development and technical assistance. A strong partnership between Nigeria and MOWCA is also crucial for maximizing economic benefits. This development is expected to boost Nigeria’s maritime sector and contribute to the country’s economic growth. With the federal government’s support, the RMDB is poised to become a vital instrument in achieving President Tinubu’s economic agenda. The meeting demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that drive economic growth and development. The establishment of the RMDB is a significant step towards unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s maritime sector. https://lnkd.in/esYhF3tE

ADALIKWU, MOWCA SG COMMISERATES WITH NIGERIA, DRC OVER BOAT ACCIDENTS Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa, Dr Paul Adalikwu has commiserated with the governments of Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo on the recent boat accidents that reportedly caused the death of over 110 persons. Adalikwu expressed the sympathies of the MOWCA Secretariat to the West and Central African countries whom he described as strategic partners in the organisation’s move for a safer and cost-effective maritime transportation in the sub region. The MOWCA SG urged all state and non-state actors to acquaint themselves with Safety of Lives at Sea (SOLAS) procedures even when traveling within inland waterways especially chapters 3 and 4 which deal with provision of life saving appliances and radio communication gadgets. He restated MOWCA’s commitment to safety of navigation on inland waterways across the region which necessitated its first workshop for ferry operators held in Libreville, Gabon from July 15 -18 , 2024. According to him, the workshop was done in collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Maritime Rescue Foundation (IMRF) to promote safe practices and prevent loss of lives. The MOWCA SG said the Organisation will continue partnering with member countries to promote safe practices and provide technical support for countries to harness their potentials for fisheries, transportation, hydropower, agriculture, tourism and other benefits in the value chain of marine endowment. Dr Adalikwu urged member states to tighten regulations in areas of water craft worthiness, prevention of overloading, avoiding night travels where there are no navigational aids and insistence on fitting of safety wears like functioning life jackets allotted to each passenger based on ferries carriage capacity. He directed that the MOWCA flag be flown at half-mast for a week in honour of the deceased passengers and crew members. At least 78 people have drowned and many more are missing after a boat belived to be carrying 278 passengers capsized on Thursday October 3,2024, just a few hundred metres from the shore of Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The accident happened just as the vessel, MV Merdy, was about to dock at the port of Kituku, just outside the city of Goma, after crossing the lake from the town of Minova. In Nigeria, On October 1, 2024 a boat conveying over 300 passengers to Gbajibo for a religious activity capsized in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State where no fewer than 41 persons reportedly lost their lives. https://lnkd.in/ex9Kmymq

Insightful discussion…please take a listen!

Welcome to the new month! I am excited to share the latest episode of AfriCan Geopardy. Here, we discussed "The Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa Strategic Role in Advancing Maritime Security" with Dr. Paul Adalikwu, the Secretary General of MOWCA - MARITIME ORGANIZATION OF WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA. You've got to listen to this episode to learn about MOWCA's strategic role in addressing threats to navigation safety and security in West and Central Africa, its ambitious vision to become a continental organisation, and its plans for a regional bank to overcome the financial constraints limiting regional maritime institutions' effectiveness. It was a privilege to record this episode with you, Dr. Paul Adalikwu. Thank you for generously sharing your time and expertise. To our listeners, thank you for tuning in and sharing. #MOWCA #Safetyofnavigation #AfriCan! https://lnkd.in/eV4sJdqU

H.E. DR. PAUL ADALIKWU, SG MOWCA DELIVERING A SPEECH ON PUBLIC, PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP NECESSARY TO UNLOCK BENEFITS OF INLAND WATERWAYS Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa, Dr. Paul Adalikwu has advocated for stronger public and private sector collaboration to fully harness the gains of inland waterways. Adalikwu who said this while presenting preliminary remarks at the recently organised Africa Transport Forum put together by the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, described the waterways as natural endowments critical for economic, environmental, social and general wellbeing of coastal communities. Speaking on the theme of the event “The State of Inland Waterways Transport in Africa: Potential, Opportunities & Challenges”, the MOWCA SG urged African governments to invest more in promoting security and dredging of channels for ease of navigation to sustain enabling environment for more legitimate trade, travels, tourism, research and exchange of cultural values among coast areas. The SG commended the AfDB for it’s interest in supporting a verile blue economy in the continent saying it aligns with the Africa Union Agenda 2063 which seeks an entrenched and flourishing culture of human rights, democracy, gender equality, inclusion and peace; Prosperity, security and safety for all citizens; and Mechanisms to promote and defend the continent’s collective security and interests. According to him, state and non state parties need to work more closely in a sustainable manner that wil ensure suppression of crime in all maritime spaces on the continent for other lawful economic activities like fishing, tourism, underwater mining to thrive. While commending some African leaders for their interest in the blue economy initiative, he identified that their financial capabilities were limited to achieve their goals which necessitates inclusion of private investors and multilateral organisations in their stakeholder interaction for quicker and more professional approach in managing their waterways. He said the Integrated High Speed Train Network programme of the AU which aims at connecting all African capitals and commercial centres to facilitate movement of goods, reduce transport costs with other benefits need the intermodal support of sustainable water transportation system that will further strengthen the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA). He reiterated MOWCA’s commitment to work with AfDB and other organisations in promoting viable commercial activities at all spheres of the marine space while recalling that MOWCA held a workshop from July 15 to July 18,2024 that drew participants from nine countries and had resource persons from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF)... Please click on the link below to continue reading https://lnkd.in/eaVVQnDH

Last week, I had the privilege of presenting preliminary remarks at the Africa Transport Forum organized by the Africa Development Bank in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on “The State of Inland Waterways Transport in Africa: Potential, Opportunities & Challenges”. Public ,Private Partnership Necessary to Unlock Benefits of Inland Waterways, Says Adalikwu https://lnkd.in/dQjauUHS

MOWCA joins the IMO and the rest of the world in celebrating this year’s World Maritime Day!

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