The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the realisation of the Agge Sea Port Project in Bayelsa State as part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s alignment with the broader marine and blue economy vision, which is part of its transformative agenda to revive the economy.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who stated this at the flag-off of the marine safety sensitization and distribution of life jackets to waterways users in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, said the ministry is working closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the Agge Deep Seaport becomes a reality in record time.

The Minister, who underscored what the Agge Deep Seaport means, not just for Bayelsa, but for Nigeria as a whole, said the port will serve as a major maritime gateway in the South-South, facilitating international trade, reducing congestion at existing ports, creating jobs, boosting local and foreign investment, and accelerating economic development in the Niger Delta and beyond.

Oyetola, who commended the Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri, for his initiatives and his administration’s alignment with the broader Marine and Blue Economy vision of the Federal Government, added that the port will also open up new frontiers in logistics, fisheries, shipbuilding, and tourism.

Speaking on the distribution of life jackets to waterways users, the Minister said the initiative was in continuation of the implementation of the Federal Government’s national safety initiative that speaks directly to the value the administration places on human lives.

“Today, we are here in Bayelsa State to fulfil that same promise, distributing 3,500 life jackets to users of inland waterways in this great state.

“This landmark initiative, launched under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, is not just symbolic; it is strategic, proactive, and long overdue. It is our direct response to the alarming rate of boat mishaps and the heartbreaking fatalities that have plagued our waterways for far too long.

“As we all know, water transportation remains the most viable means of connectivity for many of our rural and riverine communities, yet it is also one of the riskiest when safety protocols are ignored or unavailable.

“What we are doing here today is saving lives. It is that simple. With these life jackets, we are empowering our waterways users, fishermen, traders, students, and transport operators with the basic tools to survive and be safe.

“It is our firm belief that no one should lose their life simply because they had to cross a river or travel by boat. The distribution of life jackets to the 12 selected states in this first phase represents one of the most comprehensive federal responses in recent times to the persistent safety challenges on Nigeria’s inland waterways.

Bayelsa, with its vast coastline and intricate network of creeks and rivers, is rightly one of the key beneficiaries.

“Your Excellency, Governor Douye Diri, I wish to commend your unwavering support for this initiative and your administration’s alignment with the broader Marine and Blue Economy vision of the Federal Government. Your commitment to the actualisation of the Agge Deep Seaport is both timely and visionary.

“Let me briefly underscore what the Agge Deep Seaport means — not just for Bayelsa, but for Nigeria as a whole. This port will serve as a major maritime gateway in the South-South, facilitating international trade, reducing congestion at existing ports, creating jobs, boosting local and foreign investment, and accelerating economic development in the Niger Delta and beyond. It will also open up new frontiers in logistics, fisheries, shipbuilding, and tourism.

“I wish to assure Your Excellency and the good people of Bayelsa that the Federal Government remains fully committed to the realisation of this transformative project. The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is working closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the Agge Deep Seaport becomes a reality in record time.”

The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, in his remark, appealed to the Federal Government to make good its promise of supporting the state in developing the Agge Deep Seaport.

Represented at the ceremony by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the governor described the Agge Seaport project as a gateway to regional and international trade that would be of immense benefit to the state and the country at large.

Governor Diri, who assured the Federal Government of his administration’s commitment to actualising the project, called for effective collaboration from all critical stakeholders, including development partners.

His words: “We are happy that you have spoken profusely about the Agge Deep Seaport. But we will be happier if all of us work together in pursuing this endeavour to its completion and use.

“We need complementation and not competition; collaboration and not confrontation, because we believe that it is in collaborating and complementing each other that we can achieve the Agge Deep Seaport project.

“The Agge Deep Seaport is not only important to Bayelsa. It will not only open the gateway to Bayelsa, but also open the gateway to the Nigerian economy in several ways.”

He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for selecting Bayelsa as one of the inaugural states for the marine safety initiative.

The Bayelsa Governor urged the people of the state, particularly boat drivers and their passengers, to be more safety-conscious by always making use of the life jackets, describing safety as a collective endeavour.

According to him, “I call upon all stakeholders — traditional institutions, transport unions, community leaders, and security agencies — to collaborate with us. Safety is a collective endeavour, and development is a shared pursuit.

“A life jacket is not a hindrance, but a lifesaver. It’s your protection, your safeguard. Wear it, encourage others to do the same, and let us cultivate a culture where safety is valued as a strength, not stigmatised as a weakness.”