Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed that the South-South region holds a central position in Nigeria’s quest to harness the full potential of its marine and blue economy.
Speaking in Abuja during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), led by its Managing Director, Ms. Usoro Akpabio, Oyetola described the region as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s maritime future, citing its long coastline, strategic seaports, and abundant aquatic resources.
He stated that the Federal Government remains committed to driving maritime infrastructure development in the South-South to ensure the region plays its rightful role in the nation’s economic transformation.
Oyetola noted that existing ports — including Warri Port in Delta State, Rivers and Onne Ports in Rivers State, and Calabar Port in Cross River State — would soon undergo modernisation under the Federal Government’s port renewal programme.
According to him, the government plans to dredge the ports to a minimum depth of 16 metres to enable them to accommodate larger vessels and improve their competitiveness within the Gulf of Guinea.
“Deeper ports will attract bigger ships, lower cargo handling costs, and boost trade volumes,” Oyetola explained. “This will reduce the cost of doing business and generate higher revenue for the nation.”
He disclosed that the ministry is collaborating with state governments in the region to develop new deep seaports — including the Agge Deep Seaport in Bayelsa, the Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom, the Bakassi Deep Seaport in Cross River, and the Bonny Deep Seaport in Rivers State.
According to him, these projects will position Nigeria as a regional maritime hub while enhancing logistics efficiency, industrial growth, and employment generation.
The minister also emphasized the potential of the South-South for marine tourism development, urging state governments to leverage the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project to attract investments in coastal tourism.
“A vibrant marine tourism sector can create jobs, empower women and youth, and generate sustainable income for coastal communities,” he said.
Oyetola added that the presence of key institutions such as the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron, Akwa Ibom, and the Nigeria Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State, underscores the region’s strategic importance to human capital development in the maritime sector.
He assured that the ministry is working to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on fish imports by promoting aquaculture and improving local fish production, noting that the South-South region’s rich fishing grounds will play a leading role in achieving this goal.
Oyetola called on Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, noting that the recently approved National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy provides a clear roadmap for sustainable ocean resource management, investment growth, and job creation.
Earlier, Ms. Akpabio commended the minister’s leadership in repositioning the maritime sector, pledging the SSDC’s readiness to collaborate with the ministry on implementing blue economy initiatives across the region.
She proposed the creation of a joint working group between the ministry and the commission to enhance coordination and ensure effective delivery of marine development programmes.
The SSDC delegation included board members — Engr. Chika Chinda, Rt. Hon. Larry Odey, and Hon. Tabitha Salah.
