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Says ministry to revive critical fishing terminals
By Steve Agbota
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Thursday announced that Nigeria has maintained zero piracy incidents in its territorial waters for three consecutive years.
The minister disclosed this at a one-day citizens/stakeholders’ engagement titled “Strengthening Collaboration for Effective Implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy”, held in Lagos, stating that the zero piracy incidents over the last three years were achieved through the Deep Blue Project.
“Maritime security remains central to our mandate. Through the Deep Blue Project, Nigeria has maintained zero piracy incidents in its territorial waters for three consecutive years.
“This achievement has earned us commendation from the international community and contributed to regional maritime stability. We are also proud that Nigeria’s offer to host the African Union Combined Maritime Task Force in Lagos has received endorsement from the AU Peace and Security Council,” he added.
He revealed that the ministry has concluded plans to revive critical fishing terminals, automate licensing systems, and incentivise responsible private investments in both artisanal and commercial aquaculture.
“Following the formal transfer of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to our ministry, we are repositioning the sector as a key contributor to food security and rural livelihoods. Ongoing efforts include reviving critical fishing terminals, automating licensing systems, and incentivising responsible private investments in both artisanal and commercial aquaculture,” he added.
He stated that the approval of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) marks a critical turning point, providing a comprehensive framework to unlock value across the nation’s marine ecosystems.
He said further that the National Policy on Blue Economy encompasses port infrastructure, maritime security, aquaculture, ocean governance, marine biotechnology, renewable energy, coastal tourism, and climate resilience.
“The approval of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy by the FEC marks a critical turning point, providing a comprehensive framework to unlock value across our marine ecosystems. This Policy encompasses port infrastructure, maritime security, aquaculture, ocean governance, marine biotechnology, renewable energy, coastal tourism, and climate resilience.
“Our gathering today is not ceremonial. It is a working forum designed to develop a strategic roadmap for implementation. We are here to design actionable frameworks, set implementation priorities, and assign clear institutional responsibilities. In doing so, we must focus on improving coordination, ensuring accountability, and building capacity at all levels,” he stated.
He said that the ministry, in collaboration with its agencies, has remained committed to the effective implementation of the ministerial deliverables assigned to it.
“I am pleased to report that the evaluation conducted by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, through the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU), confirmed that the Ministry achieved a 75 per cent performance score at the end of 2024, despite various institutional and operational challenges. This impressive achievement places the ministry among the top-performing MDAs in the federation.
“I commend the efforts of the Delivery Task Teams across the ministry and its agencies. I urge them to remain focused and continue to pursue excellence in the discharge of their responsibilities. Let me state that the effective rollout of this policy must be cross-sectoral, collaborative, and data-driven.
“Global trends have shown that effective citizen engagement and shared ownership of public policies yield better development outcomes. In a world facing complex, interconnected challenges, the voices of citizens and stakeholders are essential for driving innovation, ensuring transparency, and enhancing the legitimacy of government action,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Nigeria Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), Bolaji Sunmola, applauded the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy.
According to him, the National Policy is a transformative blueprint, promising a future where maritime assets become pivotal to job creation, inclusive growth, and sustainable development.
“We must intensify our commitment to local content enforcement, as the nation’s ports must now prioritise indigenous participation in shipping, terminal operations, and maritime services. National/indigenous companies must not just be present—they must be protected and empowered to lead.
“We must ensure that upgraded/modernised infrastructure is smart, green, and accessible. We also need to ensure that our inland connectivity—by rail, water, and road—is seamless to avoid the congestion trap of the past,” he stated.