During the celebration of this administration’s one year in office, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, stated that his ministry raised Marine revenue by 92 per cent. The minister, who was the immediate past governor of Osun State, specifically disclosed that two key agencies of the ministry, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were responsible for the great feat.
Oyetola revealed that the earnings of the NPA and NIMASA grew from N126 billion in the first quarter of last year to N242 billion in the first quarter of this year. In fact, the four agencies in his ministry, NPA, NIMASA, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) performed very well. The minister attributed the growth in revenue to the reforms initiated by the ministry and the deployment of modern technology. The development of Marine and Blue Economy is one of the key priorities of the Tinubu administration. Tinubu believes that improving the business environment through some initiatives on ease of doing business will attract local and foreign investments.
Therefore, the recent recognition of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy along with the agencies under it as the overall best performing ministry in the Ease of Doing Business ranking by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) is a great achievement. The Special Adviser to the President on PEBEC, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, lauded Oyetola for the sterling performance of his ministry at the recent Town Hall meeting in Abuja, which was chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Oduwole also honoured the NPA, NIMASA, NEXIM Bank, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) and others that achieved 100 per cent benchmark. According to Oduwole, the Town Hall meeting was organized to receive an update on Regulatory Reform Accelerator (RRA) in line with President Tinubu’s eight-point agenda and prioritising business climate reforms.
In his remarks, Shettima likened the Town Hall meeting as a rescue mission for a country that has saddled its citizens with “the critical role of creating an environment where every idea can germinate into an enduring business.” He also stated: “Our success is not merely a matter of policy but is measured by its impact, from the small-time trader in Kafanchan to the large corporation on Lagos Island. Today, I feel the pulse of our collective desire to make this objective a reality.”
To Adegboyega Oyetola, the honour of being adjudged the best overall ministry in the Ease of Doing Business ranking by the PEBEC is an indication that he is doing very well. It is also a call to do more. We urge the minister and the agencies under his ministry to do more and remain focused. The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy should lead the crusade to ensure that Nigeria’s global rating on the Ease of Doing Business is greatly improved. We urge other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to emulate the shining example of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
No doubt, Oyetola is poised to ensure that Nigeria records remarkable improvement in the global Ease of Doing Business index. Oyetola was initially appointed the Minister of Transportation by President Tinubu on August 16, 2023. However, he was later deployed four days later to the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Since then, he has increased the earnings of the ministry. The minister should also accelerate the rehabilitation and modernisation of Onne, Delta and Calabar ports. Apart from creating thousands of jobs, the modernisation of these ports will decongest the Lagos ports, generate additional revenues and ensure timely clearance of goods. Since assumption of office, Oyetola has developed guidelines for the implementation of Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC) Convention in Nigeria. He has also finalised and gazetted the Inland Waterways Transportation Regulation (2023) for safety on the inland waterways.
His tenure has equally witnessed the implementation of Nigerian Ports Process Manual (NPPM) on Joint Boarding of Vessel, Joint Cargo Examination and Operation Free-the-Corridor Programme. He has developed a comprehensive four-year Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Implementation Plan to guide the ministry and its agencies.
He has also adopted the National Joint Industrial Collective (NJIC) Bargaining Agreement on conditions of Service for Nigerian Seafarers in Coastal Sector 2023. The minister has carried out Joint international compliance inspections with American and EU scientists on Nigerian fishing companies and vessels on TED/BRD. Above all, let the PEBEC ensure that its rating reflects the real interface between the Nigerian public and the MDAs. To enhance the quality of its rating, the PEBEC must consider the input of the public.