Oyetola vows to develop Nigeria’s blue economy

Adegboyega Oyetola, the country’s new Minister of maritime and Blue Economy, took office with a promise to strengthen the administration of the country’s maritime resources so that they are used effectively.

Oyetola made this announcement on his first day of work at the ministry in Abuja. He was overjoyed to have been given the opportunity to champion and chart a course for the development of maritime resources by Mr. President, and he called on the ministry’s leadership to help him fulfill his ministerial mandate.

Nigeria, Oyetola remarked, can’t help but be a major player in the blue economy, which is worth an estimated $3 trillion worldwide.

He also emphasized the importance of effectively tapping into the blue economy, as it has the potential to generate substantial money and create employment opportunities for the unemployed.

Oyetola said, “We must come up with practicable ways of ensuring that our inland rivers and waterways are properly utilised, both in terms of cargo shipment and passenger transportation, and this can be done by embarking on a holistic dredging campaign for most of our strategically important waterways so as to make them navigable for the passage of goods and people.”

In her opening remarks, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, expressed confidence that she and the minister would be able to work together effectively to advance Nigeria’s blue economy.

We have done a bit in terms of the blue economy in the country before now,” the Permanent Secretary said, reflecting on previous initiatives. Now that we have a dedicated ministry to the blue economy, we’re hoping for big things: “There’s a committee on the blue economy headed by the former vice president, and there’s an expanded committee that brings in everyone that’s within the waters.