By Alex Akao
On August 21, 2023, when President Bola Tinubu carved out an autonomous Marine and Blue Economy Ministry from the parent Transportation Ministry, the ovation was overwhelming.
Experts in the field and other stakeholders saw the move as most fitting, the realization of a long-standing concern based on experience in other climes .
For the records, agitations for a separate maritime ministry had lingered, with those who should know postulating that that was the best way Nigeria can truly position herself to exploit and fully harness the huge natural resources in the maritime sector whose value and contributions to the national till far outweigh whatever oil and gas is contributing presently.
Besides, with the declining relevance of oil and gas as the country’s major revenue earner, it is argued, marine resources easily come in as a reliable replacement.
The new creation, Nigerians have been told, will guarantee an efficient and sustainable exploitation of ocean and marine resources for economic growth to improve livelihoods and create jobs while preserving the health and natural status of the marine and ecosystems.
It encompasses a wide range of environmental, socio-economic and institutional objectives into the use of marine resources. These include tapping into a wide range of sectors and resources embedded in oceans, seas, coasts and waterways.
The ocean economy supports 90% of global trade and provides millions of jobs in the areas of shipping, tourism and offshore energy valued at US$24 trillion. Marine fisheries and reefs, sea grass mangroves are worth US$69 trillion; trade and transport comes up to US$5.2 trillion even as coastal productivity and carbon absorption is valued at US$12.1trillion.
It has been argued that for Nigeria, establishing a separate Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is strategic. It positions her to tap into her rich marine resources, an element of the national economic framework.
The country’s coastline from the southern flank bordering the Atlantic Ocean spans over 420 nautical miles and an extensive economic exclusive economic zone of over 200 miles. Nigeria’s maritime interests which extend to the Gulf of Guinea roughly covers an area of about 574,800 sq nautical miles with a 2,874 nautical coastline.
This affords her huge marine resources which can be dutifully exploited for job creation, thus transforming her to a global leader in sustainable marine activities. Norway is an example of how this transformation has been done successfully.
For Nigeria, the new ministry, if well run, has the capacity to generate more than US$1.5 trillion annually as well as provide over 30 million jobs to the teeming youths.
Beyond that, if better focus and proper strategies are put in place to effectively harness the fishing resources in Nigeria’s vast coastline alone, which includes curbing illegal fishing and poaching by unauthorized foreign fishing companies, the country stands to have more than enough fishing resources for local consumption while supplying a vital source of protein to over 3 billion people globally.
The quantum of contribution to the national purse remains to be imagined!
But seven solid months after creating the new Marine and Blue Economy Ministry, to the Federal Government is yet to chart relevant action plans and noticeable policy directions to drive the dream. This calls for concern!
Is it that seven months on, the brilliant idea of a new Marine and Blue Economy has become part of the usually unfulfilled political promises which, to the ordinary folk, remains the bane of the country’s brand of democracy?
Even though expecting a complete transformation within so short a time is not feasible, when will the initial signs of a new beginning begin to manifest? When will the roadmap towards achieving desired ends be made available?
The onus of providing needed explanations lies with the authorities who saw the need to carve out the separate ministry.
Putting the ideas into visible and concrete action plans must take off. It is the considered opinion of MARAN Newspaper that to achieve this, experts who have sustained the dream for a long time be engaged forthwith to chart the way forward. Nigerians cannot afford to wait any longer!
