By Obiabin Onukwugha
Newly sworn-in Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, says he will take practicable steps in ensuring safety and adequate utilisation of Nigeria’s inland rivers, lakes, and waterways, both in terms of cargo shipment and passenger transportation by embarking on holistic dredging campaign for most of the country’s strategically important inland waterways so as to make them navigable for the passage of goods and people.
There has been clamour for the dredging of Nigerian waterways especially to reduce marine accidents and tackle flooding problems that arise from high sea levels and ocean surge.
The Minister also vowed to ensure the responsible management and utilisation of the country’s marine resources to boost its economy.
Oyetola spoke while addressing staff of the ministry on assumption of duty on Monday, acknowledging the abundance of marine resources that exist within the coastal region of Nigeria and harped on the need to fully harness them for economic gains.
He called for collaboration and teamwork among all stakeholders and agencies for the benefits of Nigeria’s vast coastal resources.
“The global level blue economy is estimated at more than $1.5 trillion annually, and I urge stakeholders to seize the opportunity and become a significant player in the industry. I strongly believe in the power of collaboration, and dedication to service. The collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal can only be efficient and effective through teamwork. This is why I crave your indulgence that we must work as a team to deliver on our mandate. Let us work together to find innovative solutions to the challenges we face, ensuring that our oceans and marine life are safe, reliable, and sustainable.
“Our oceans cover more than two-thirds of our planet’s surface, holding the key to sustainable economic growth, environmental preservation, and technological innovation. As we look ahead, my vision is rooted in the responsible management and utilisation of our marine resources to benefit not only our economy but also the health of our planet.
“We must come up with practicable ways of ensuring that our inland rivers, lakes, and waterways are well utilised, both in terms of cargo shipment and passenger transportation. And this can be done by embarking on a holistic dredging campaign for most of our strategically important inland waterways so as to make them navigable for the passage of goods and people”, he said.
The former Osun state governor, also promised to harness inter-agency collaboration to ensure positive change in the sector.
He said: “We equally have a duty to promote better inter-agency cooperation and coordination between the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority.
“We must seize this opportunity to create positive change, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come. I appreciate your dedication, and I look forward to working alongside each of you in the pursuit of a better Nigeria,” Oyetola said.