Raise security investment, MOWCA urges African leaders

The Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa, Dr Paul Adalikwu, has encouraged African governments to invest more in promoting security and dredging of channels for ease of navigation.

He stated this while presenting preliminary remarks at the Africa Transport Forum organised by the Africa Development Bank in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, recently.

The event was themed, ‘The state of inland waterways transport in Africa: potential, opportunities & challenges’.

Adalikwu advocated a stronger public and private sector collaboration, to fully harness the gains of inland waterways.

“The move would also help to sustain the enabling environment for more legitimate trade, travels, tourism, research and exchange of cultural values among coast areas,” he remarked.

Adalikwu described the waterways as natural endowments critical for the economic, environmental, social, and general well-being of coastal communities.

He commended the African Development Bank for its interest in supporting the blue economy in the continent, stressing that it aligned with the Africa Union Agenda 2063.

He explained that the agenda sought an entrenched and flourishing culture of human rights, democracy, gender equality, inclusion and peace, prosperity, security and safety for all citizens.

According to Adalikwu, state and nonstate parties need to work closely in a sustainable manner that would ensure the suppression of crime in all maritime spaces on the continent for other lawful economic activities to thrive.

While commending some African leaders for their interest in the blue economy initiative, he mentioned that their financial capabilities were limited to achieving their goals.

He added that it necessitated the inclusion of private investors and multilateral organisations in their stakeholder interaction for a quicker and more professional approach to managing their waterways.

He said the Integrated High-Speed Train Network Programme of the African Union aimed at connecting all African capitals and commercial centres to facilitate the movement of goods.

Adalikwu added that the programme would also reduce transport costs with other benefits that needed the intermodal support of a sustainable water transportation system that would further strengthen the African Continental Free Trade Area.

He reiterated MOWCA’s commitment to work with AfDB and other organisations to promote viable commercial activities in all spheres of marine space.

Adalikwu also called for the removal of wrecks in most waterways that are capable of causing marine accidents.

According to the MOWCA boss, such wrecks could be recycled for economic benefits after removal to ensure the conservation of the marine ecosystem.