State governments have been urged to play a more active role in unlocking Nigeria’s vast marine and blue economy potential as the Federal Government pushes to translate its national policy into tangible economic gains.

 

The call came on Thursday from the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who said sub-national governments were indispensable to the successful implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy because many of the country’s marine resources are located within states and coastal communities.

 

Speaking at the Second Quarter 2026 Citizens’ and Stakeholders’ Engagement of the ministry in Lagos, Oyetola said the country had moved beyond policy formulation and must now focus on implementation that delivers investment, jobs, food security and environmental sustainability.

 

He called for stronger partnerships among the Federal Government, state governments, development partners and the private sector to drive investments across fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, tourism, shipbuilding, renewable energy and marine biotechnology.

 

The minister said reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had improved maritime safety, attracted investment and enhanced the competitiveness of Nigerian ports.

 

He noted that ongoing port modernisation and plans for new deep seaports in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Lagos and Ondo states would strengthen Nigeria’s ambition of becoming West Africa’s leading maritime hub.

 

In a keynote address, the Governor of Bayelsa, Duoye Diri, challenged coastal states to establish dedicated ministries for marine and blue economy, enact enabling laws and invest in maritime infrastructure, skills development and data systems.

Diri said Bayelsa had already established a Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and commenced commercial fish production at its aquaculture village in Yenegwe while pursuing the proposed Agge Deep Seaport project.

 

Also speaking, Aliko Dangote, represented by Dangote Port Operations Managing Director Simeon Akin Omole, said achieving the Federal Government’s target of creating three million jobs through the blue economy would depend largely on sustained private sector investment.

 

He identified fisheries as one of the country’s biggest untapped opportunities, noting that Nigeria still spends nearly one billion dollars annually on fish imports despite its enormous aquatic resources.

 

Dangote said investments in aquaculture, processing, cold-chain logistics and export infrastructure could significantly reduce imports, save foreign exchange and generate more than 500,000 jobs.

 

The ministry in a statement on Thursday said the event brought together government officials, lawmakers, diplomats, development partners, academics and private sector operators to discuss strategies for accelerating implementation of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy policy.