Blue Economy

Ilorin, Feb. 7, 2024: Prof. Wahab Egbewole, the Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin (Unilorin), has pledged to partner relevant bodies to promote Blue Economy study and utilisation of its potential in the university.

The blue economy is a term in economics relating to the exploitation, preservation and regeneration of the marine environment.

Egbewole made the commitment on Tuesday in Ilorin while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Blue Economy with Premium Blue Economy Innovation and Investments Limited and the Porrima Foundation, Gryon, Switzerland.

He expressed his readiness to transform Unilorin into a hub for Blue Economy training in Nigeria in order to contribute its quota to the emerging field.

He hinted the possibility of partnering with universities outside Nigeria for research exchange as well as the exchange of staff and students.

Egbewole added that this global perspective aligns with Unilorin’s commitment to providing a comprehensive and enriching educational experience for its community.

“The joint initiative between the University of Ilorin and its international partners signifies a crucial step towards advancing research, innovation and practical applications in the realm of Blue Economy,” he said.

The vice chancellor stated that this would position the institution as a catalyst for sustainable economic development in Nigeria.

“Blue Economy is something that is emerging, but we want to be part of it and we believe there is no harm in exploring and exploiting.

“We believe it is our resolve that this is something that is doable, and we are ready to give it all that it takes, especially since it does not require us to put any money on the table,” he said.

Egbewole explained that Unilorin would leverage its expertise, generating ideas that could be translated into tangible economic gains.

Chief Tajudeen Karim, who spoke on behalf of Premium Blue Economy Innovation and Investments Ltd, and the Porrima Foundation, said the MoU has heralded a transformative partnership aimed at propelling Unilorin into the forefront of the growing Blue Economy sector.

He acknowledged the commendable efforts of the Federal Government in establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

According to him, this signals a crucial awakening to the vast potential within the marine and emerging Blue Economy sector.

He said that the partnership would involve training of students from Unilorin, both locally and internationally, engaging in tangible economic activities, such as utilising resources like sugarcane, manures and animal waste.

Karim added that in few weeks, the collaboration would extend beyond academic activities to encompass the business aspect of the initiative.

He expressed the hope that Unilorin would establish a dedicated department whose focus would be marine and Blue Economy.

Lagos, Nov. 23, 2023: The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has charged heads of agencies within the ministry to work assiduously to realise their deliverables as captured in the Performance Bond signed by him with President Bola Tinubu.

Oyetola said this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

He noted that the execution of the performance bond, in addition to the completion of key projects within the ministry, would position Nigeria as one of the maritime nations in the world.

The minister also urged maritime agency heads to make Nigeria a premier maritime nation.

He said this would be achieved by utilising the potential of the county’s blue economy to diversify revenue, assure sustainable development, and cultivate environmental stewardship.

He spoke at the maiden edition of the Ministerial retreat, organised for the Ministry and agencies under it, to cascade the directive of the President on set targets and goals of the ministry.

According to Oyetola, the retreat provides the space to evaluate, prioritise, and forge practical resolutions for improvement, which will help cascade the signed bond to Ministry’s Directors and Chief Executive Officers of the ministry’s agencies.

“The maritime sector stands as a reservoir of immense potential, not only for economic growth but also for diversifying our revenue source and generating abundant employment opportunities for Nigerians.

“I am convinced we have what it takes to deliver on our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). We are, therefore, gathered here to brainstorm on how to deliver on the KPIs.

“For instance, three months ago, I was told that the Funtua Inland Dry Port was at 80 percent completion stage. Considering that we are expected to deliver this particular project in the first quarter of next year, it will be interesting to hear from the Nigerian Shippers Council how this can be achieved in record time,” he said.

The minister also shared the ministry’s mandate, vision and mission with workers in the ministry and staff of agencies within it, noting that it was imperative for them to understand and work towards achieving the goals of the ministry.

“Our mandate is to institutionalise Blue Economy as an important pillar for economic sustenance and growth diversification having due regards to the ecosystem.

“The ministry’s vision is to to position Nigeria as a premier maritime nation by utilising the potential of its blue economy to diversify revenue, assure sustainable development, and cultivate environmental stewardship.

“While the mission is to formulate and implement policies, programmes, and initiatives that will facilitate the development of an inclusive maritime and blue economy (Ecosystem), driven by an operating environment that meets global best standards.

“We have a solid team of resource persons and facilitators who will demystify the importance of the mandate, vision and mission to develop the goals and road map for the ministry.

“This is with a view to achieving the performance bond and other numerous projects, programmes and initiatives that will position Nigeria among the top earning nations in the Marine and Blue Economy sector,” he said

On her part, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry , Dr Magdalene Ajani, said the retreat was designed to provide a veritable platform for the top management officials of the ministry and its agencies to cross-fertilise ideas.

According to her, these ideas will galvanise the marine sector to meet the set goals and objectives of the ministry.

“It is worthy to note that the minister has signed a Performance Bond with Mr President, which will serve as a scorecard for the ministry.

“This bond comes with its initiatives, deliverables, Key Performance Indicators, timelines, and target, which the sector must unconditionally achieve,” she said.

Lagos, Nov. 19, 2023: Mrs Ezinne Azunna, the Programme Director, African Maritime Art Exhibition (AMAE), says the exhibition will through arts expose the opportunities inherent in the blue economy

Azunna said this in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

She said the agenda, policies and causes of the Blue Economy- the core of international trade and support system for human existence- could be pushed into the consciousness of the society through art.

Azunna noted that AMAE was conceptualised in 2022 to tell the stories of the industry through art.

“Although marine/maritime art is new in Africa, it has thrived in the western world as a tool for furthering causes and the awareness of opportunities in the industry.

“AMAE is the singular art exhibition in Africa built around the portraiture of activities and causes around the Marine and Blue Economy using aesthetic and semiotic elements.

“The worth of the Blue Economy in Nigeria is estimated to be about $296 billion and to provide opportunity for at least 100 different careers.

“Africa currently generates about $300 billion for the industry, supporting nearly 50 million jobs. These numbers are projected to continue to rise year in, year out,” she said.

Azunna said the art exhibition would feature five remarkable artists and would formally open with private viewing for special guests.

She noted that some of the highlights of the exhibition include ‘a Participatory/Interactive Art’ and ‘the Blue Economy in Art for schools and Children’.

She added that the Federal Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola and former Federal Minister of Interior, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, would serve as Special Guest of Honour and Chairman respectively, at this year’s edition of AMAE.

“The event opens on Nov. 24 to 25 at the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, with the theme: ‘Convergence – ‘Maritime Meets ICT’.

“The UK Government Country Lead & Programme Adviser and Global Digital Access Programme in Nigeria, Mr Idongesit Udoh, is the Guest Speaker, focusing on the topic: “ICT Disruptions for the Sustainability of the Blue Economy.”

“This will be followed by panel discussion by industry experts. The exhibition will be curated by Seidougha Linus Eyimiegha, a seasoned artist and curator,” she said.

Azunna listed other prominent personalities expected at the event as: Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority; Dr Bashir Jamoh, Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency; Dr Sule Abiodun, Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography & Marine Research.

Others are Mr Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service; Mr Charles Ebuebu, Director General, National Broadcasting Commission; Mr Munirudeen Oyebamiji, Managing Director National Inland Waterways Authority and Mr Akutah Ukeyima, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.

AMAE is an initiative of Maritime TV Africa, owners of Hazi’s Art.

AMAE’s interest in art arose through marine landscape photography which it had collated over the years.

Abuja, Aug. 31, 2023: The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, said on Wednesday that the Federal Government was focused on investing in the modernisation of military equipment to guarantee the safety of citizens and foreigners.

Badaru said this in a statement issued by Mrs Victoria Agba-Attah, Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, in his goodwill message at the Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference 2023.

The conference had as its theme: “Crafting a Strategic Blueprint for Security and Prosperity”.

He said while investing in the modernisation of military equipment, the government would also pay attention to the blue economy, the unmanned spaces and climate change.

Badaru who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Ibrahim Kana, said that the Nigerian Government through the ministry had invested a lot in providing equipment and platforms to address piracy.

He added that the International Maritime Bureau had declared that Nigeria had recorded less than two to five cases in the gulf of guinea.

According to him, the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria are responsible for maintaining peace and stability, not just within the black water and the brown water, but deep down into the blue water.

“Indeed the government is redoubling its efforts by providing more platforms like ‘Falcon Eye’ as well as the deep blue project.

“Government has invested huge resources on these projects to address insecurity in not just the Niger Delta but the entire coastal areas of Nigeria,” he said.

Badaru also said that the Nigerian Navy had been active in fighting piracy which had affected the economy of the country, particularly in the maritime area.

He further said that unmanned spaces had significant impact on both the security and economy of the country.

He added that the country would invest in the unmanned spaces through agriculture in order to reduce insecurity in the country.

On Defence and innovation, the minister said that the focus of the National Defence Policy was on modernisation of the Armed Forces.

He noted that the country was developing her local Military Industrial Complex which would ensure innovation and employment as well as fight insecurity.

“With the deployment of modernised military equipment, we will begin to say goodbye to insecurity in Nigeria”, he said.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, represented by Rear Admiral M.K Onubebe were in attendance.

Others in attendance were the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, represented by Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor who is the Chief of Administration, Army and the Acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Frank Mba.

His Royal Highness Emir of Gumi, Justice Lawan Gummi; Chief Adetunji Adeleye, Commander, Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun) were also among other dignitaries present at the event.

Lagos, Aug. 20, 2023: A shipper, Reverend Jonathan Nicole, says shippers expect a rapid and unrestricted development of the maritime industry, following the appointment of Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.

Nicole, in Lagos on Sunday, noted that the development, if commence without hindrances from the past,  would be appreciated.

“Nigeria, situated in the Gulf of Guinea, has a massive coastline of about 420 nautical miles and an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles.

“This translates to a maritime area of 290 square kilometres, about one-third of our land area (924 square kilometres)

“It is now under the watchful eyes of a new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. Congratulations to all who made this a reality.

“This industry segment is centered on transporting people and goods to utilise the expanse of navigational space, which at the moment is grossly unutilised,” he said.

Nicole, also the former president, Shippers Association of Lagos State (SALS), urged that the wisdom of creating a new ministry out of the Ministry of Transportation should be kept alive.

He said that the new Minister of Marine and Blue Economy had been chosen as a vehicle of hope for the shipping lines, terminal operators, shippers, importers etc.

“The ministry must be accommodating because it needs all stakeholders to bring in success.  We provide the means for certain aspects of the marine trade to thrive. We will provide support for the success of our ministry.

“We should not always dwell on the fruits but dwell more and protect the source of providence. We believe that the new minister will be the man of the people.

“The development needed now must be felt in all locations where you have the ports, and our ports should be maintained in accordance with International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) codes,” he said.

He noted that the maritime agencies under the new ministry should be made to know that the old port order was gone and a new one emerging.

Nicole said that maritime sector cover all over Nigeria and beyond, situated in the Atlantic Ocean which supplies the rivers, lakes and shrubs streams, naturally.

He added that the sea would remain for 1,000 years with constant natural navigation supplying water all through her period free of charge.

Nicole urged the ministry to plan ahead, beyond 1,000 years for the supply of ocean going vessels, and provide specialised vessels for the country’s gas and also encourage the harvesting of the fish industry.

“We have in abundance crocker and other species of fish, which unfortunately cannot be harvested as much because of pollution and piracy. Pollution in the sense that our fishes smell petrol.

“It is even getting worse with the massive deposits of radio-active wastes in the seas.  All the oceans of the world have a subterranean exchange of mystery beyond our understanding.

“It is one of the greatest mysteries of God. So, it must be protected and cleaned up constantly because it protects and sustains billions of humanity, plants and animals as well as the forests.

“Sustenance of our seas, lagoons, rivers means sustaining life.  We believe it is one of the most important ministry Nigerians should work hard to protect, irrespective of political affiliation,” he said.

He pointed out that the marine environment had well experienced individuals whose voices and potentials had been silenced for a long time.

He charged all the regulatory bodies including the economic regulators to provide enabling platform for the stakeholders.

This, he noted would them to express their potential at best with progressive regulatory framework, which was missing at present.

“When a regulator is at war with stakeholders, then the environment will be in darkness.

“Regulation is a method of providing a humane environment for the expression of their given potentials.  Give love, it will return back to you,” he said.

Lagos, Aug. 18, 2023: A  promoter of blue economy, Alfe City Institution, on Friday lauded President Bola Tinubu for creating the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

The Chief Executive Officer of Alfe City Institution, Mr Soji Adeleye, praised  the president in a statement  in Lagos.

Adeleye also congratulated Mr Bunmi Tunji-Ojo on his appointment as the pioneer minister of ministry.

He said that the creation of the ministry was a step in the right direction and cheering to Nigerians.

 “The creation of a central authority to manage the introduction of a Nigerian blue economy was one of the recommendations in the communique issued after the Nigeria Blue Economy Stakeholders’ Conference.

 “The conference held from Feb. 15 to 17, 2022, in Lagos, while the Niger Delta Blue Economy Investment Forum held from Nov. 15 to 17, 2022 in Uyo,” he said.

Adeleye expressed optimism that the creation of the ministry would go a long way to tackle challenges to the development of  blue economy in Nigeria.

He said that the  Nigerian Blue Economy Discovery Conference being planned for September  by Alfe City Institution would discuss technical and policy priorities.

The Alfe City Institution has international operations in resource and policy advocacy.

Lagos, Aug. 18, 2023: The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Bashir Jamoh, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry.

Jamoh in a statement in Lagos on Friday,  also appreciated the President for the appointment of Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to man its affairs.

Jamoh said that with the creation of this “long overdue ministry” would give a massive boost to plans and programmes the President intended  to deploy.

While expressing optimism that the maritime industry was large enough to engage the teeming youths in the country adequately, he urged them to take advantage of the opportunities in the Nigerian maritime sector.

“I want to commend President Bola Tinubu for creating the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry and appointing Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to man its affairs.

“There are new opportunities around us, and I’m glad Nigeria, with the creation of this ministry, will explore the concept of the blue economy,” he said.

He described the blue economy as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.

He said the blue economy activities included maritime shipping, fishing & aquaculture, coastal tourism, renewable energy, water desalination, undersea cabling, seabed extractive industries & deep sea mining, marine genetic resources, and biotechnology.

“Honestly, this ministry is long overdue, more importantly, to support the diversification of the economy.

“Efficient management and sustainable exploitation of the marine resources in our seas and oceans, no doubt, will provide a veritable tool for Economic Growth,” Jamoh said.

Lagos, Aug. 18, 2023: The Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) on Thursday, applauded President Bola Tinubu, for the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue and appointment of  a 41-year-old Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as the Minister

The NAMM President, Capt. Tajudeen Alao, made the commendation in Lagos, saying: “I congratulate President Bola Tinubu for listening to us and creating this maritime ministry from lands and railways, where the attention and focus has been.”

Alao, however, described the ministry as a new terrain for the minister with a background in engineering.

He said the minister came in at the time when stakeholders were desirous of harnessing the potential of maritime industry which served as the second revenue contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

“Maritime is different from oil and gas, it is services and value added to anything we do and that is why the importance of maritime cannot be over-emphasised.

“For him to succeed, he needs to meet all stakeholders individually not together, the shipping agencies, terminal operators, professionals like the master mariner marine engineers, dry dock owners, and even those that engage in human transport within the waters.

“This is to enable him know the challenges of these groups. Already, people have been suffering for years, the industry is not performing and the multiplier effect spreads so wide.

“The young people are discouraged because they do not see the potential  and feel the growth, so they go to other fields like information technology,” he said.

Alao said the minister needs to know the players in the industry and their challenges to succeed in his new appointment.

“In the front burner for him should be access road to the ports, evacuation of goods, security within the port corridors from Port Harcourt to Calabar and to Lagos is very important; on security of the waterways, we are winning.

“We need intervention fund for the players within the industry in order to ease the financial pressure from the bank loans collected.

“Some people have taken loan and are not able to redeem them, struggling for the payment and if he comes to talk down on them, they will be mad because their survival is at stake. He has to recognise these basic things and their pains,” he said.

Alao said the minister needed special assistants in different areas to feel the pain and get the right information of what the industry was all about to be able to harness it.

He said maritime was guided by international conventions , and so the minister needed to understand every conventions and identify the players who were supposed to execute the act.

“It’s very important so that when he is talking, he talks with the right terms, because the industry has technical language and terrain,” he said.

Alao urged Tinubu to appoint a special assistant on maritime so that the person could aid the minister.

“We did not get the square peg in square hole that we sought for, but when it comes to agencies, we find out that in a population of 200 millon, how many people has that kind of expertise.

“It is a minus but the agency should be headed by people with technical background in their area so that they will be able to direct the minister in the right path.

“Where the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is talking, he is doing so with experience spanned over 20 years and they are bound to listen to him because he knows the terrain.

“The executive directors that should be in the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and NIMASA should also have the expertise.

“The minister should have geographical spread so that stakeholders can have access to the people, this is in our constitution, federal character and others.

“It’s a political appointment, yes, but we pray that doors are not shut on the people,” he added.

Tunji-Ojo is among the 48 newly appointed minister by President Tinubu.