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Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola on Tuesday said President Bola Tinubu is committed in harnessing the ocean and Blue economy resources for Nigeria’s sustainability and growth.
Oyetola said this in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capita while speaking at the 1st Annual International Conference and Trade Exhibition on Marine and Blue Economy.
Represented by the Director of Conservation, Innovation and Technology of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Husaini the Minister said he was pleased to address the gathering at a time when the global community was rethinking relationship with the ocean and maritime resources.
He said: “The theme of the conference “Sustainable Blue Economy: Advancing Safety, Economic and Social Resilience in the Coastal Ecosystem” is both timely and strategic. It captures the essence of our mandate as a nation newly committed to unlocking the potential of the Maritime domain for sustainable national growth.
“Nigeria is blessed with a coastline of about 853 kilometers and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over 200 nautical miles, rich in biodiversity, fisheries, hydrocarbon and Maritime routes.
“For decades, the immense opportunities within our marine and blue economy have remained largely untapped due to structural inefficiency, fragmented governance, inadequate infrastructure and limited human capacity.
“Globally, the Blue Economy is estimated at over $2.5 trillion annually, yet, Africa contribute less than five percent and Nigeria’s share remains minimal, not due to lack of potential, but due to insufficient strategies and sustainable frame work”.
He added: “We’re determined to change this by aligning our policies and operations with international best practices while promoting inclusive and sustainable growth.
“The Ministry recognises that while Nigeria’s marine and coastal resources are abundant, several operational policy gap must be addressed to fully harnessed their potential and achieve a resilient and sustainable blue economy.
“If this gap is not tackled, it will limit our ability to enhance safety, drive economic growth and strengthen social resilience in coastal Communities”.
He highlighted some of the critical areas which include, Infrastructural and technology deficit, saying that many of the nation’s sea ports, jetties and coastal facilities are outdated.
The minister also noted that there were Maritime security and governance, environmental degradation and coastal vulnerability, skills and human capacity gap, describing the challenges as real and that they also present opportunity for innovation and investment.
He noted: “The emerging areas the Ministry is actively promoting include, Blue infrastructure financing, Marine renewable Energy, sustainable fisheries and Aquaculture, Coastal Tourism and Heritage preservation, Marine and Data Innovation platform, etc”.
In his address, the chairman of the occasion, Hon. Ndutimi Komonibo said, the conversation around Niger Delta has been framed by challenges which includes environmental degradation, Underdevelopment, and lost opportunities, saying today the conference affords participants an opportunity to rewrite the narrative.
Komonibo, a pioneer member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, The Tide learnt is also the current president, Coalition of South-South Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture ( COSSCCIMA).
He stressed that Blue Economy offers the country a new Frontier rooted not in extractive oil dependence, but in innovation, sustainability, Maritime entrepreneurship, ocean governance, fisheries, logistics, tourism, coastal infrastructure, renewable energy, and climate change.
He said: “The blue economy is not government agenda alone, it is an economic agenda that requires coordinated private -sector Leadership.We’re ready to strengthen port competitiveness, to promote intra-regional trade, to unlock Maritime job creation, to champion innovation and skills development, to partner with academia for curriculum upgrades and to work with security agencies to enhance Maritime safety”.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of Niger Delta University(NDU), Prof. Allen Agih said the conference was actually long overdue, saying Nigeria and the Niger Delta region has abundant Marine resources.
He said: “Talking about the blue economy, is not more than the ocean and the rivers that we have. The blue economy concept is not something that is alien to us, it’s just about the ocean abundant resources. And this has been given to us from the beginning of time, but we only use it for drinking, washing of clothes and other menial things. But the concept of the blue economy is actually about the blue gold in the world.
“As a university, we’re in the heart of the Niger Delta and with the Institute of Maritime Study, we’re to partner relevant agencies to harness the resources in our ocean and rivers and by doing so, we would be able to develop the economy of the Niger Delta region and the economy of the country. Our Youths will have some skills that will provide them with good jobs”.
National Wire gathered that the 1st International Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition on Marine and Blue Economy was organized by the Institute of Maritime Study Niger Delta University, Bayelsa state.
