Ahead of World Maritime Day (WMD), the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, have urged citizens and governments to take collective responsibility in preserving ocean resources to ensure their sustainable use.

Nigeria will join the global maritime community to commemorate the 2025 World Maritime Day on September 25, with the theme, ‘Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity’, according to a statement by the Chairman of the World Maritime Day Mobilisation and Publicity Sub-Committee, Lami Tumaka.

Speaking ahead of the commemoration, Oyetola emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between the citizenry and the Federal Government to harness the vast opportunities within the nation’s maritime domain.

He said the event is aimed at highlighting the shared responsibility of citizens to utilise the ocean sustainably, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

The minister said it also underscores the transgenerational importance of protecting ocean resources, while also recognising the immense opportunities the oceans portend for humanity.

In his message to mark the day, the Secretary-General of IMO, Arsenio Dominguez, underscored the essential role of the ocean in regulating climate, sustaining life, and supporting global trade.

He warned that human-induced pressures such as pollution, warming, acidification, and overfishing are placing marine ecosystems under severe strain.

According to him, urgent global cooperation is required to reduce pollution, protect marine life, and adopt sustainable practices.

“While human activity has caused the damage, it also holds the key to restoring the ocean – presenting both a responsibility and an opportunity for a healthier, safer future,” Dominguez stated.