NPMBE: Enumerating Benefits of Oyetola's planned policy to overhaul Nigeria's maritime sector. By Jimoh Olorede

The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, is utilizing his vantage to develop, through the validation of other relevant stakeholders in his ministry, a National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy (NPMBE) with a view to overhauling the nation's maritime sector.

Speaking during the week at a two-day technical validation workshop in Lagos on the draft policy, Oyetola described the framework as encompassing, adding it would tackle challenges and unlock vast potential. “This nine-part document presents a detailed overview of Nigeria’s marine resources and outlines objectives, legal frameworks and actionable strategies,” the Minister was reported to have said.

The new national policy is expected to bring numerous benefits to the country. One of these is economic benefit as, according to the Minister, the policy aims to create a sustainable pathway for economic growth in fisheries, aquaculture, renewable energy, tourism, and seabed mining while ensuring environmental sustainability. This will lead to increased revenue generation, job creation, and stimulation of local economies.

Another benefit of the planned policy is environmental sustainability. The policy will promote this by "addressing challenges such as environmental degradation and illegal activities like Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing." This will help conserve Nigeria's marine resources for future generations.

Further more, the policy seeks to enhance maritime security through the implementation of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also known as the Deep Blue Project. This will help check piracy and armed robbery in Nigeria's waters.

The policy's focus on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture will help increase food security in  the country. This is particularly important given the country's growing population and the need to reduce dependence on imported food.

Another uniqueness of the planned policy is diversification of the nation's economy by developing the marine and blue economy sector. This will help reduce the country's dependence on oil and create new opportunities for economic growth.

Also, the policy's alignment with international best practices will help Nigeria gain recognition and cooperation from the international community. This could lead to increased investment, technology transfer, and partnerships in the marine and blue economy sector.

The key stakeholders at the national policy validation workshop in Lagos were the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Olufemi Oloruntola, the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, an associate of the Minister, Dr. Charles Akinola, and the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, with his Executive Director (Operations), Engr. Olalekan Badmus.

Others were the Managing Director, Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC), Akutah Pius Ukeyima, the ministry's Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Wellington Omoragbon, and the Director, Maritime Safety and Security, Babatunde Bombata, among notable others. 

By  Olorede Jimoh Olatunji