Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, on Thursday led a high-powered stakeholders’ forum at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, to chart a unified course for the implementation of Nigeria’s newly approved National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy.
Held under the theme “Strengthening Collaboration for Effective Implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy”, the forum brought together leaders from government, industry, civil society, academia, and maritime regulatory agencies to forge a unified, action-oriented roadmap for marine sector transformation.
In his keynote address, Minister Oyetola described the creation of the Ministry as one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s boldest reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He said the Federal Executive Council’s recent approval of the National Policy was a landmark step toward unlocking opportunities across the maritime value chain—from port infrastructure and maritime security to coastal tourism, renewable energy, and climate resilience.
“This forum is not ceremonial,” Oyetola declared. “It is a working session to develop clear institutional responsibilities, measurable deliverables, and accountability mechanisms.”
He emphasized that citizen engagement, inter-agency coordination, and capacity building are critical to the success of the policy. Citing global best practices, the Minister said inclusive policymaking is vital in complex and interconnected sectors like the blue economy.
Oyetola highlighted the Ministry’s key achievements since its creation, including a 75% performance score in 2024 as rated by the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU) in the Presidency—ranking it among the top-performing ministries nationwide.
Providing updates on infrastructure reforms, he disclosed that the Federal Government has commenced the reconstruction of Apapa and Tin Can Ports under the Western Port Rehabilitation Programme, while procurement processes are underway for the Eastern Ports. He also revealed ongoing digital transformations such as the Port Community System, an electronic call-up platform, and a unified One-Stop-Shop for port clearance to ease congestion and boost investor confidence.
On maritime logistics, Oyetola reiterated the government’s commitment to reviving a National Shipping Carrier via a public-private partnership model. He added that NIMASA has begun groundwork for the transparent disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), which aims to strengthen indigenous shipping capacity.
The Minister also outlined digitalisation initiatives across the sector that have improved revenue and operational efficiency, citing increased investment in bonded terminals, dry ports, and inland logistics corridors.
In the area of regional cooperation, Nigeria is taking the lead in operationalising the Regional Maritime Development Bank under the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), with its headquarters to be established in Abuja.
Oyetola spotlighted strides in inland waterways development, revealing that over 42,000 safety jackets have been distributed and that ferries and patrol boats have been deployed to enhance passenger safety. These efforts, he said, have led to a significant drop in boat mishaps and renewed public confidence in water travel.
On fisheries and aquaculture, he said the recent transfer of the Department of Fisheries to the Ministry has reignited reforms in licensing, terminal revitalization, and aquaculture investment.
Touching on maritime security, he noted Nigeria’s continued success under the Deep Blue Project, with zero piracy incidents recorded for three consecutive years. He also revealed that Nigeria’s bid to host the African Union’s Combined Maritime Task Force in Lagos has received official endorsement.
Nigeria, he added, has launched its campaign for a Category “C” seat on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council—a move that underscores the country’s growing influence in global maritime governance.
Minister Oyetola closed by urging stakeholders to embrace innovation, investment, and policy coherence to drive the successful rollout of the national policy.
“This is a collective journey,” he said. “We must all bring our expertise and commitment to the table.”
Earlier, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Michael Oloruntola, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to inclusive governance and revealed that quarterly stakeholder engagements are now mandatory under the CRDCU directive to ensure transparency and shared ownership.
The forum witnessed wide participation from across the maritime landscape, including heads of agencies, shipowners, freight forwarders, truckers, women’s groups, academics, and representatives from the Nigerian Navy, Customs, and other regulatory institutions.
Through plenary discussions and breakout sessions, participants co-created a strong foundation for delivering on Nigeria’s marine and blue economy aspirations.
