By Obiabin Onukwugha
Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu has pledged Nigeria’s commitment to expanding marine protected areas by 2030, restoring 50 percent of degraded mangroves, and leading efforts to eliminate single-use plastics.
This comes as the president urged global support to tackle marine pollution and other threats to ocean ecosystems, while highlighting Nigeria’s role in maritime security operations in the Gulf of Guinea under the Yaoundé Architecture.
Tinubu made the pledge while delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya on Wednesday, stating that Nigeria is targeting five million new ocean-based jobs as part of efforts to unlock the economic potential of its maritime resources.
Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, called for a stronger African cooperation to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, describing it as a major threat to food security and economic stability across the continent.
He said Nigeria’s vast coastline and maritime endowments remain critical to food security, trade, energy and livelihoods, adding that the administration’s blue economy agenda is central to its broader economic diversification drive.
“Our ocean resources are central to food security, trade, energy and the livelihood of Nigeria. For Nigeria, the ocean is not only a source of prosperity but also a pillar of sovereignty, security and climate resilience,” he said.
The President informed the confrence that since assuming office in May 2023, his administration has elevated the blue economy to a national priority through the creation of the federal ministry of marine and blue economy, pointing out that the move reflects Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable ocean governance.
He also stated that Nigeria, with about 853 kilometres of coastline and strategic interests in the Gulf of Guinea, remains committed to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and a rules-based maritime order.
He said Nigeria has launched a blue economy action plan aimed at expanding fisheries, shipping, maritime tourism and renewable energy, with a target of creating five million ocean-based jobs, particularly for young people and women.
“We have launched a blue economy action plan aimed at developing fisheries, shipping, maritime tourism and renewable energy. This will enable us to achieve our pledge to create five million new jobs based on the ocean, prioritising youth and women, and ensuring that ocean industries uplift vulnerable coastal communities,” he said.
Tinubu emphasised that equitable financing and technology transfer is needed for African countries to harness its ocean resources, pointing out that investments in naval capacity and technology have reduced piracy incidents in the region, improving safety for commercial shipping.
According to him, partnerships between governments, development institutions, the private sector and civil society is key to financing sustainable ocean governance and expanding opportunities across Africa’s blue economy.
He also called for increased cooperation between Nigeria, Kenya and other coastal states, noting that participation of women and young people is essential to unlocking the sector’s full potential, stating, “Our ocean is our common heritage, and its future depends on the collective action we take today.”
