‘Nigeria needs $12bn to clean up Niger Delta for blue economy to thrive

An expert in the maritime industry has suggested that for the blue economy to thrive in the Niger Delta and Nigeria, about 12 billion dollars is needed for the cleanup of the oil pollution in the Niger Delta.

Silva Opuala-Charles, a professor, made the revelation at the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, 2025 Correspondent Week, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Blue Economy: Starting Steps for Rivers State,’ Opuala-Charles who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, maintained that the nation should think beyond oil and diversify, he however, regretted that diversification has not been achieved.

The expert warned that unless the Federal Government deliberately fund the cleanup in the Niger Delta which will take 12 billion dollars in the next 12 years, the enormous wealth expected to be created by the blue economy will not be actualised, noting that it is only aggressive clean up that can change the marine environment that harbours all the gains of the blue economy.

He explained that currently, the wealth of the blue economy has not been exploited due to constant environmental degradation and the destruction of the ecosystem by oil bunkering in large size thereby, creating underdevelopment, lack of jobs and not making enough money from people’s livelihoods in the blue economy.

Read also: How Rivers may seize lead role in Nigeria’s $200bn blue economy – expert at journalists’ forum 

“How do we stop the pollution in the Niger Delta, the gas flaring so that we can benefit from the blue economy?” he wondered.

The Professor further suggested that there are over 24 trillion-naira businesses in the blue economy such as eco-tourism, marine transportation, fishing, creation of livelihood, saying that there is marine resources for economic growth but is neglected.

“We must demand for penalty of oil pollution in the region,” he said.

Opuala-Charles expressed the optimism that the Rivers State government can launch a state Blue Economic Council that will involve critical stakeholders that will suggest ways to improve the sector, such stakeholders include experts, the academia, host communities, youths and the women.

In his presentation, the Guest Speaker, Ubong Essien delivering his keynote address, expressed shock that Nigeria is having sea-blindness, what he called “Nigeria’s Ocean Amnesia.”

Essien lamented that Nigeria’s obsession with oil has blinded “us to even greater wealth in the blue economy.”

In the case of Rivers State, he said it should be the Blue Economy headquarters since the state is home to mangroves, marine tech, fisheries, ports, pipelines, among other floating opportunities.

The Guest Speaker charged journalists to rescue the ugly situation by constantly reporting on the issue.

He stated that the Rivers State government must step in to observe a state-wide ocean literacy and blue economy policy, facilitate blue-friendly infrastructure, costal community empowerment , youth upskilling and entreprenuership and media-led public enlightenment.

He explained that ocean blindness can lead to poverty, while tasking Rivers State to see the economic potential in blue economy and leverage it to create human capital opportunities.

Earlier, Chamberlain Peterside, who chaired the occasion, thanked journalists for the idea on the blue economy.