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By Tracy Moses
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the full and accelerated implementation of the newly approved National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, urging top officials across the sector to match vision with measurable action.
Speaking during the opening session of the 2025 Sectoral Retreat at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister described the gathering as a crucial platform for strategic introspection, realignment, and focused engagement.
He emphasized that the retreat was not a mere bureaucratic exercise but a high-level intervention to recalibrate the Ministry’s direction in line with national economic priorities.
“The Marine and Blue Economy is pivotal to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Oyetola declared. “This retreat must go beyond discussions; it must produce a clear roadmap for delivering transformative outcomes that will uplift our economy, enhance job creation, and solidify Nigeria’s standing in global maritime affairs.”
The Minister called on senior officials and agency heads to adopt a disciplined, technology-driven, and transparent approach to implementation. He stressed the importance of collaborative leadership, inter-agency synergy, and performance-based delivery mechanisms that translate policy into tangible impact.
Highlighting recent milestones, Oyetola pointed to major reforms already underway, modernization of port infrastructure, the deployment of the National Single Window platform, improvements in port efficiency, enhanced maritime security, advancements in aquaculture and fisheries, and the kick-off of the long-awaited disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF). He hailed the recent approval of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy by the Federal Executive Council as a foundational achievement for lasting transformation.
With implementation now the central focus, the Minister directed that every agency must fully align with the policy’s strategic pillars and deliver actionable programs anchored on innovation, accountability, environmental sustainability, and measurable KPIs. He further emphasized the importance of the Performance Bonds signed during the retreat, describing them as binding commitments, not symbolic rituals, to deliver concrete, time-bound results.
“These Performance Bonds represent a solemn pledge to Nigerians. They must drive measurable improvements in GDP contribution, port throughput, job creation, and revenue generation,” Oyetola insisted.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s strategic campaign for a Category C seat on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, calling it a national priority that requires unified effort across all agencies. “This is our collective responsibility. The Ministry will lead the charge, but every agency must play its part in demonstrating Nigeria’s readiness to lead on the global maritime stage,” he said.
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola, reinforced the Minister’s call for decisive and accountable action. He noted that the Ministry is at a turning point in the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda and must rise to the occasion by translating policy into visible, measurable progress.
Describing the retreat as a vital space for breaking execution bottlenecks, enhancing collaboration, and designing a clear path forward, Oloruntola said the highlight would be the signing of Performance Bonds by the Heads of Agencies. These, he explained, are directly tied to specific Key Performance Indicators and signal a new era of results-oriented governance within the maritime sector.
He commended agency leaders for embracing this new accountability model and for their commitment to cascading the vision down through their respective teams. He emphasized that while the Minister provides strategic leadership, it is the duty of senior management to convert that vision into deliverables through coordination, discipline, and execution.
The Permanent Secretary also acknowledged the critical support of the National Assembly Committees overseeing the sector. He extended deep appreciation to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun, and the Chairperson of the House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education, and Administration, Hon. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, for their consistent legislative support and partnership.
Oloruntola concluded by praising Minister Oyetola’s visionary leadership and relentless drive, which, he said, have reinvigorated the Ministry’s operations and galvanized stakeholders towards a common national goal of marine economic prosperity.