Ogheruona Tejiri, Warri
The Federal Government has been called upon to effectively understand as well manage various aspects of ocean sustainability with a view to achieve full benefits of the policy on Blue Economy and sustainable overall development.
This call was made by Chief Boro Matthew Opudu, Chairman, Delta State Waterways and Land Security Committee while playing host to participants of Senior Executive Course (Sec) 47, 2025 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru Jos in his office at Government House Annex, Edjeba, Warri, Delta State.
Chief Opudu said that one of the ways to achieve Blue Economy and Sustainable Development as being championed by the Federal Government is to pay attention to the ecosystem health to prevent pollution.
The Chairman of the Delta State Waterways and Land Security Committee described Blue Economy in Nigeria as the sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources for economic growth, job creation, and environmental sustainability, adding that it encompasses traditional sectors like fishing, tourism and marine transportation as well as emerging ones such as offshore renewable energy, aqua culture and marine biotechnology.
Chief Opudu stressed that since Blue Economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, Delta State should not be left behind in the scheme of things.
According to him, “Blue Economy in Nigeria holds a great promise in the state being one of the major pillars and hubs for its sustainable development of the country’s marine sector as it will not only lead to economic diversification beyond oil and gas but has the ability to create employment opportunities in various sectors thereby contributing billions of dollars to gross domestic products (GDP) of Nigeria.”
He pointed out that apart from insecurity in Nigeria, one of the key challenges in the realization of the blue economy and sustainable development in Delta State, was the absence of undeveloped and non-functional seas ports, a situation which, he noted frustrates the efforts of the state government at developing non-oil sector which is a way of diversification.
He added, “one of the key issues especially as it affects Delta State is the absence of functional sea ports in the state. Delta State has a good number of undeveloped and non-functional ports in Warri, Burutu, Sapele and Koko including the existence of many rivers..”
Chief Opudu said, it was the quest of the state government to arrest insecurity which is associated with kidnapping, armed robbery, pipelines vandalism and oil theft in the various communities and multinational companies hence, Delta State Waterways and Land Security Committee with community leaders, stakeholders and youths who are familiar with the terrain to alert the necessary security agencies to make the place safe for investors to come in, was set up.
He spoke further, “it is pertinent to state that in the midst of the issues and challenges, the Blue Economy in Nigeria holds a great promise with Delta State being one of the major pillars and hubs for its sustainable development in Nigeria.
“The Blue Economy has the capacity to unlock the vast potentials of Nigeria’s maritime sector; The Blue Economy will lead to economic diversification beyond oil and gas. It has the potential to create employment opportunities in various sectors and contribute billions of dollars to the GDP of Nigeria.”
Earlier in his address, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Adeleye Oyebade (Rtd,), The Team Lead (Senior Executive Course 47, NIPSS said the team were on the visit to have interaction with the state government through Waterways and Land Security Committee as regards Blue Economy, a new Ministry which is created by the Federal Government to see how best the economy can be diversified to do away with over dependent on crude oil in the country.
According to DIG Oyebade, the Federal Government is working to fashion out a modality on how best the coastal lines and all resources in the ecosystem can be effectively utilized to boost Nigeria’s economy.
According to him, ” The Blue Economy is a new area the Federal Government is looking into, trying to diversify the economy so that we don’t continue our over dependent on oil. Marine and Blue Economy Ministry has just been created by this present President Bola Tinubu’s government to work out.how best we can use our coast lines and all the resources there in.”
DIG Oyebade added that the aspects the Federal government was interested in looking at were issues, challenges and way forward on how best to explore and exploit the goodies inherent in the ocean and the opportunities therein to improve the economy of the nation.
He disclosed that the team will collate the results of the interaction, write its reports and present to the Federal Government of which, the state would be the beneficiary.
He expressed gratitude to the Delta State Government through the Committee for the warm reception just as he hoped that the exchange of ideas on the subject matter would yield fruitful results thereafter.
