The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola has stated that the South-South region occupies a central place in Nigeria’s quest to unlock the full potential of its marine and blue economy.
He maintained that the Federal Government is committed to driving maritime infrastructural development in the South-South to ensure that the region plays its rightful role in the nation’s economic growth.
The Special Adviser to the Minister, Dr. Bolaji Akinola Oyetola in a statement quoted Oyetola saying this in Abuja recently while receiving a delegation from the South South Development Commission (SSDC) led by its Managing Director, Ms. Usoro Akpabio.
According to the statement which was made available to Maritime Bits, the Minister described the region as an important component of Nigeria’s maritime future, given its long coastline, strategic seaports, and vast aquatic resources.
He noted that existing seaports in the region — Warri Port in Delta State, Rivers Port and Onne Port in Rivers State, and Calabar Port in Cross River State — would soon enjoy modernisation and upgrade under the Federal Government’s port modernisation programme.
He revealed that the government plans to dredge the ports to a minimum draft of 16 metres, a move that would enable them to accommodate larger vessels and increase their competitiveness in the Gulf of Guinea.
He explained that dredging the ports deeper would attract larger ships, lower cargo handling costs, and boost trade volumes, adding that bigger vessels would help reduce the cost of doing business while generating more revenue for the country.
He also disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy (FMMBE) is also working with state governments in the region to develop new deep seaports, including the Agge Deep Seaport in Bayelsa State, the Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State, the Bakassi Deep Seaport in Cross River State, and the Bonny Deep Seaport in Rivers State.
According to him, these projects would position Nigeria as a regional maritime hub and significantly enhance logistics efficiency, industrial growth and employment opportunities.
He maintained that the South-south geo-political zone is vital not only for shipping and port development but also for the growth of marine tourism.
He urged state governments in the region to take advantage of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to develop coastal tourism, noting that the initiative offers immense economic potential.
The minister explained that a well-developed marine tourism sector could generate sustainable income for coastal communities, create jobs for young people and women, and attract both local and international visitors to the region.
He pointed out that the establishment of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State, and the Nigeria Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko, Delta State, is a testament to the Federal Government’s recognition of the region’s strategic importance to the growth of the marine and blue economy. He said these institutions are playing critical roles in developing the human capital needed to support Nigeria’s expanding maritime industry.
He also assured that FMMBE is working tirelessly to close the gap in Nigeria’s fish production in order to conserve foreign exchange currently spent on fish importation even as he explained that the South-south region, being home to rich fishing grounds, will play a leading role in achieving national self-sufficiency in fish production and promoting aquaculture development.
The Minister called on Nigerians across all regions to continue supporting the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that he has a well-defined plan to develop the nation’s marine and blue economy through the recently approved national policy on marine and blue economy.
He explained that the policy provides a strategic framework for harnessing ocean and inland water resources sustainably, while promoting investment, job creation, environmental conservation and wealth generation.
The Managing Director of SSDC, Ms. Usoro Akpabio had earlier commended Oyetola for his leadership and focus in repositioning the maritime sector.
She said SSDC was ready to partner with FMMBE in the implementation of blue economy projects across the region, stating that a strong blue economy in the South-south geo-political zone will drive economic growth, strengthen regional integration, and improve livelihoods.
Akpabio proposed the establishment of a joint working team comprising officials of FMMBE and SSDC to deepen collaboration and ensure effective coordination of programmes in the region.
She was accompanied on the visit by three members of the SSDC Board — Engr. Chika Chinda, Rt. Hon Larry Odey and Hon Tabitha Salah.
