Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has called on the media to play an active role in advancing Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy sector.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the League of Maritime Editors in Lagos, Oyetola emphasized the importance of media support in promoting the sector’s potential, driving public awareness, and holding stakeholders accountable as the government seeks to transform the industry into a major contributor to the nation’s economic growth.
The Minister who was represented by the Director, Maritime Services, Min of Marine and Blue Economy, Babatunde Sule highlighted the immense opportunities within the maritime industry, noting that with Nigeria’s rich coastline and strategic location, the country is well-positioned to become a hub for maritime activities in Africa.
He underscored the government’s commitment to enhancing port efficiency, improving infrastructure, boosting maritime security, and developing the workforce, all aimed at transforming the maritime sector into a major contributor to national prosperity.
“To achieve these goals, we need the media as a critical partner,” Oyetola stressed, recognizing the pivotal role that maritime journalists play in shaping public perception and raising awareness about the sector’s potential.
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He urged the media to continue showcasing the opportunities within the maritime space, highlighting successes, and holding both public and private stakeholders accountable.
The Minister commended the League of Maritime Editors for their ongoing efforts in bringing attention to the challenges and opportunities within the sector, noting that their contributions have significantly raised awareness about the blue economy’s possibilities.
“Your role in informing and educating the public will be key to unlocking the full potentials of the blue economy,” Oyetola noted.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barrister Pius Akutah reaffirmed its dedication to advancing the digitization of port processes and addressing key challenges in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The Executive Secretary who was represented by the Director of NSC, Rotimi.Anifowose highlighted the importance of the maritime industry in driving national economic growth, referencing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 8-point agenda, which includes a focus on improving infrastructure and transportation.
Akutah noted that the recent unbundling of the Federal Ministry of Transportation into two separate entities—the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy—demonstrates the government’s commitment to expanding the country’s revenue base and improving service delivery in the sector.
The Executive Secretary proudly announced that over 90% of port processes in Nigeria are now automated, a significant milestone that aligns with the NSC’s mandate as the nation’s port economic regulator.
He also pointed out that intra-African trade remains costly due to various bottlenecks, including poor infrastructure and cumbersome border procedures.
The NSC, he said, is actively addressing these issues through the establishment of Border Information Centres (BICs), Inland Dry Ports (IDPs), and Vehicle Transit Areas (VTAs), among other initiatives.
In closing, Akutah expressed the NSC’s ongoing commitment to collaborating with the League of Maritime Editors and other stakeholders to promote and enhance Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy sector. He officially declared the AGM and seminar open, wishing participants fruitful deliberations.
Speaking earlier in his address, the outgoing President of the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers, Chief Timothy Okorocha, called on CEOs of federal agencies in the maritime industry to improve their engagement with maritime media.
He expressed concern over what he described as a growing trend of maritime industry leaders neglecting to participate in media-organized events, despite the crucial role these events play in the industry.
Chief Okorocha highlighted the disparity in how some CEOs prioritize non-industry media while consistently failing to attend or support events organized by maritime journalists, whom he referred to as the “senior group” within the industry.
He criticized this behavior as arrogant and dismissive, noting that such attitudes undermine the importance of the maritime media in promoting and scrutinizing industry developments.
“Nothing is more demeaning than for a CEO to be in office for three straight years and refuse to show up at any event organized by media beat associations,” Okorocha stated.
He urged his colleagues in the media to refuse to accept this “subtle insult” in the future and called for a change in how maritime CEOs interact with the press.
Despite his criticisms, Chief Okorocha also acknowledged the positive example set by former Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barrister Hassan Bello.
He praised Bello for his consistent and genuine engagement with maritime journalists throughout his tenure, citing instances where Bello personally attended events organized by the media and supported the community during difficult times.
The AGM, which was attended by several high-profile industry stakeholders served as a platform for discussing the challenges and opportunities within Nigeria’s maritime sector.
