The Minister of the Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, has stated that tackling Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, harnessing marine tourism, safety and security are top of the agenda of his administration as the minister of the newly-created ministry.

Oyetola said this during a working visit to NIMASA headquarters in Lagos on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

The minister said the time has come for Nigeria to fully harness its vast potential in the maritime sector, noting that the working visit was to ascertain and properly appraise the situation of things with a view to taking practical steps and measures towards addressing them.

He said: “Today, we have come to see some of the things you told us in Abuja and to properly appraise the situation of things with a view to taking practical steps towards addressing them.

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“I am particularly interested in the NIMASA Modular Floating Dock because of its potential to generate employment and stemmed capital flight. But we must find a way of ensuring stakeholders’ buy-in, in whatever we do so that we are seen to be working together for the growth and development of Nigeria”.

Oyetola noted that it was time for Nigeria to float a National Carrier, stressing that through a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) arrangement, and the support of stakeholders, such a plan would be achieved in the interest of the maritime industry and Nigeria as a whole.

The minister said the management of the resources of Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy entailed proactive, smart, and strategic thinking, calling for the rediscovery, harnessing, and packaging of the nation’s maritime resources, including seafoods, in line with all associated international standards and specifications.

Oyetola, who bemoaned foreign dominance of the fishing industry, assured that under his watch it will no longer be business as usual.

Oyetola stressed that the safety and security of the maritime corridors of Nigeria was a priority area in his agenda for the ministry, noting that without safety and security, there would be no meaningful achievement in the industry.

He added that with the rich endowments of the Marine and Blue Economy, Nigeria has no justification not to develop marine tourism, which he said was a revenue-spinner for most countries, especially at the period when diversification of the economy from oil was sacrosanct.

On his part, the NIMASA Director-General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said the minister’s appointment was based on the industry and stakeholders’ clamour for independence, and the magnanimity of President Bola Tinubu to create the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, describing the president as a listening leader.

The Star