Economy
MINISTER of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, has urged state governments to implement the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy to unlock jobs, attract investment and drive sustainable economic growth.
Oyetola made the call at the Second Quarter 2026 Citizens and Stakeholders’ Engagement organised by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in collaboration with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in Lagos.
The event has the theme: “From Policy to Action: Mobilising Sub-Nationals for Effective Implementation of Nigeria’s National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy”.
It brought together regulators, state governments, private sector operators, development partners, coastal communities, academics, civil society organisations and the media.
The minister said effective implementation of the policy required strong collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, local communities, investors and development partners.
“The policy will achieve its full promise only when every tier of government embraces it as a shared development agenda,” he said.
According to him, many of the marine resources are located within states and local communities, making sub-national governments central to the policy’s success.
He identified rivers, coastlines, inland waterways, fisheries, tourism corridors and maritime industries as strategic assets capable of stimulating economic development across the country.
Oyetola said the ministry had embarked on reforms to strengthen maritime institutions, attract investment, improve safety and deepen international partnerships, adding that the initiatives were already yielding positive results.
He cited the 2025 Container Port Performance Index, which ranked Tin Can Island Port as the world’s 10th most improved port and Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, as the 12th most improved.
According to him, the rankings reflect gains in port efficiency, vessel turnaround time and cargo handling, which have contributed to Nigeria’s trade surplus since 2024.
The minister also urged state governments to work more closely with the ministry to improve safety on inland waterways.
He called on states to phase out unsafe wooden passenger boats and replace them with safer fibre boats to reduce accidents.
“Every avoidable loss of life on our waterways is one too many,” he said.
Oyetola further urged coastal states to align their development plans with the national policy and create an enabling environment for responsible private investment.
He also encouraged investors to tap opportunities in ports, fisheries, shipping, tourism, renewable energy and other maritime services.
The minister reaffirmed the commitment of the ministry to providing the leadership needed to translate the policy into tangible economic and social benefits for Nigerians.
F.O
Tags: Implementation nationwide National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy Oyetola Seeks support for Blue Economy