After several months of uncertainty as to the policy direction and legal framework of the newly established Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last year, indications have emerged that the legal and policy framework of the new Ministry is now ready.
This good news was made public Monday in Yenagoa , Bayelsa State by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola. Chief Oyetola who was speaking at the validation Session of the Policy Framework for the Bayelsa State Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy revealed that the document would be unveiled next month in Abuja by President Bola Tinubu. Oyetola explained that the new Ministry was created in response not only on the need to diversity the economy but an opportunity for Nigeria to harness the bundles of opportunities which remained untapped in the Sector.
He commended Gov Douye Diri the for writing his name in gold for being the first State in the country for taking the initiative to create a Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. Oyetola who was represented by the Director of Research , Planning and Statistics in the Ministry, Hajia Kalthum Ibrahim, enumerated the huge potentials in the sector and pledged to cooperate and partner with the Bayelsa State Government in this regard. In his opening remarks,Governor Douye Diri remarked that the wealth of Bayelsa State lies in the bed of the Atlantic Ocean and that his administration would spare no effort in harnessing the full potentials of the Sector. The Governor announced the establishment of fish cities across the State and that efforts were in full gear to realise the dream of the Agge deep Seaport project. Also speaking, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr Dayo Mobereola, explained that many Asian-Pacific countries have implemented sustainabl blue economy growth . He said ” for instance, Indonesia has developed a multi- sectoral blue economy plan that taps into fisheries, Marine, tourism, and coral reef preservation. Similarly, the Philippines, Thailand and China have incorporated coastal and marine tourism, renewable energy and fisheries into their national development strategies “.