Oyetola Resumes As Marine & Blue Economy Minister, Vows To Tap From $1.5trn Sector

ABUJA – Adegboyega Oyetola, the immediate past governor of Osun State, and the Minister of the newly created Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy on Monday resumed duty at the Ministry in Abuja, immediately after the new Ministers were sworn in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Minister along with his wife, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola, and others, were received at the ministry at a brief ceremony tagged: ‘meet and greet’ meeting, by heads of agencies and directors under the ministry led by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, where the Perm Sec handed over briefs of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry to the new Minister.

Addressing the ministry officials, the former governor of Osun State, said the ministry must play a very significant role in the sector which he said experts have estimated to be worth more than $1.5 trillion per year globally.

“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 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.

“Experts say the Blue Economy is estimated to be worth more than 1.5 trillion Dollars per year globally. Therefore, given our size as a country and considering the size of our blue economy, we should be a significant player in this sector, so as to contribute immensely to the revenue generation of our country and also provide jobs for the unemployed.

“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.

“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.

“As someone with a strong private sector background, we shall promote greater private sector inclusion while fostering greater efficiency through specialisation and the effective delineation of core duties between the units.

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.

“These are my thoughts as I join you today. I believe that when we are able to do all these and more, we would have contributed our own quota towards realising Mr. President’s renewed Hope Agenda in the Marine and Blue Economy sector. I thank you all for welcoming me and listening to my address. I will now sit back and listen to your ideas and contributions” he said.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary said the Ministry had done a bit on Marine and Blue Economy, stressing that already a committee already exists on ground.

Ajani emphasized there is a lot of resources in the waters, expressing hope that the new Minister would led his team to make the ministry more impactful for the benefits of the country