When in 2023, President Bola Tinubu created the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the aim was to harness the potential of the ocean economy and ensure that Nigeria tapped the opportunities in the blue economy valued at $296 billion.
Then, President Tinubu went ahead in August last year to move Adegboyega Oyetola to head the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. Oyetola was initially appointed minister of transportation by President Tinubu on 16 August 2023 but was redeployed four days later.
Upon assumption, Oyetola ensured that the agencies in the ministry initiated reforms that involved the deployment of modern technology and enhanced ease of doing business at the port.
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The essence of this was seen in the earnings of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), which grew from N126 billion in the first quarter of last year to N242 billion in the first quarter of this year.
Recently, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), adjudged the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy along with its agencies as the overall best-performing ministry in the Ease of Doing Business ranking.
First, PEBEC gave a 100 percent performance score to NPA and acknowledged it as ‘The Most Committed’ agency with the highest number of reforms.
The Council said the NPA embarked on 63 reforms, which doubled the average number of activities embarked on by other MDAs leading to the achievement of a 100 percent feat. The reforms improved the overall effectiveness of the ports.
“We want to commend NIMASA and Adegboyega Oyetola, minister of Marine and Blue Economy, for his commitment to ensuring that all the agencies under the Ministry improve their service delivery consistently,” said Jumoke Oduwole, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on ease of doing business, during the award in Abuja.
NIMASA under Oyetola was given the best Agency of Government in exemplary teamwork, quality service delivery, and consistency.
With a coastline of 853 kilometres bordering the Atlantic Ocean in the Gulf of Guinea and a maritime area of 46,000 square kilometres, Nigeria has significant and diverse marine resources.
The country has an exclusive economic zone of over 200 nautical miles that was recently extended by 16, 300 square kilometres, an ocean space that is about five times the size of Lagos State.
Nigeria also has vast inland waterways resources estimated at 10,000 km, capable of supporting a vibrant intra-regional trade. The country is also blessed with strategic navigational routes linking Africa with North and South America, Europe, and Asia, making the maritime sector a major driver of our country’s economy.
This explains the reasons behind the creation of the Ministry which would ensure that the country benefits from the blue economy.
On the port side, Oyetola has also started to source funds for the rehabilitation and modernisation of Apapa, Tin-Can, Onne, Delta and Calabar ports.
The NPA has negotiated a $700 million facility from Citibank to be funded by the UK Export Finance (UKEF) for the upgrade of Apapa and Tin-Can Ports.
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This will enhance the port infrastructure, create thousands of jobs, decongest the Lagos ports, generate additional revenues and ensure timely clearance of goods.
As a minister, Oyetola developed guidelines for the implementation of the Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC) Convention in Nigeria and gazetted the Inland Waterways Transportation Regulation (2023) for safety on the inland waterways.
His administration is overseeing the implementation of the Nigerian Ports Process Manual (NPPM) on joint boarding of vessels; joint cargo examination and operation free the port corridor programme.
He developed a comprehensive four-year Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Implementation Plan to guide the ministry and its agencies.
The Ministry is perfecting plans to unveil a Marine and Blue Economy National policy to enable the development of the new ministry.
According to Oyetola, one major challenge confronting the sector is the absence of a national policy to set the tone and unlock the potential of the maritime sector which is a vital component of our national economy.
He said the Ministry is developing a dynamic national policy framework for the marine and blue economy, which is expected to roll out before the end of 2024.
The minister said recently in Lagos that the ministry has set a target to create job opportunities in the marine and blue economy for the teaming youths in Nigeria.
“In this regard, we are putting in place measures to enhance job creation for the youth in the sector. We will facilitate specialised training programmes and certifications by the private sector to equip youths with the necessary skills for maritime careers.
“We are facilitating the establishment of exchange programmes between Nigerian universities and international maritime institutes to expose Nigerian students to global best practices and advanced technologies. We partner with international maritime organisations and educational institutions to facilitate knowledge transfer and capacity building.
“We are encouraging private sector companies operating in the maritime sector to offer internships and apprenticeship programmes that provide hands-on experience for students and provide scholarships for students pursuing maritime studies to ensure access to quality education and training,” Oyetola added.
