Insecurity, bane of Africa’s maritime development —AMJA

President of African Maritime Journalists Association (AMJA), Mr Sesan Onileimo has asked African leaders to check the rising maritime insecurity if they intend to boost the continent’s economy.

Delivering a speech shortly after the Executive Committee of the association was inaugurated, he urged African leaders to work together to check the excesses of sea pirates and secure their waterways.

The pioneer president of the association said it was not by chance that 38 out of the 54 African countries were coastal states.

“This is a calculated plan by nature to make the region a blue economy that can trigger economic advancement in other sectors.

“There is vast endowment in aquatic and non-aquatic resources, including oceans, seas, coasts, lakes and underground waters.

“The rising insecurity in the rich Gulf of Guinea is scaring and can spur investor’s boycott of the region.

“Intra sub-regional trade is doing well to drive the cost of moving goods from one country to another in the North Africa.

“It will better if such trend is broadened in other African States,’’ Onileimo said.