Blue Economy
Delta State Launches Blue Economy Committees to Harness Wealth of Its Waters
Delta State Launches Blue Economy Committees to Harness Wealth of Its Waters
By Okeoghene Onoriobe | Blue Economy Correspondent | Asaba-Delta State | Wednesday 25th February 2026
In a bold step toward economic diversification, the Delta State Government inaugurates dual committees to unlock the multi-billion-naira potential of its oceans, rivers, creeks and coastal belts.
Delta State has taken a decisive step toward reshaping its economic future — one that looks not to the oilfields beneath its land, but to the rivers, creeks, coastlines and waterways that define its geography. On Tuesday, Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme, Ph.D., formally inaugurated the Delta State Blue Economy Steering Committee and Technical Committee in Asaba, setting in motion a structured policy effort to tap into what experts describe as a largely underexploited frontier of economic growth.
Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme (front row, centre), flanked by members of the Blue Economy Steering and Technical Committees, shortly after their inauguration at Government House, Asaba, on Tuesday
With hundreds of kilometres of waterways, a rich aquatic biodiversity, coastal communities, and direct access to the Atlantic Ocean through the Bight of Benin, Delta State sits on a goldmine that has, for decades, remained in the shadows of crude oil. The new committees are tasked with changing that narrative.
What Is the Blue Economy? Understanding the Concept
Before examining Delta’s strategic move, it is important to understand what the Blue Economy actually means — and why it matters.
The Blue Economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean and water resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, while preserving the health of aquatic ecosystems. The term — popularised globally by the World Bank and the United Nations — covers a wide range of sectors:
- Fisheries and Aquaculture: Commercial fishing, fish farming, and seafood processing industries that feed populations and generate export revenue.
- Marine and Inland Water Transport: Freight and passenger movement across rivers, lakes, coastal waters and seas — cheaper and often more efficient than road transport.
- Coastal and Nautical Tourism: Eco-tourism, boat cruises, beach resorts, heritage water festivals and recreational water sports.
- Offshore Energy: Renewable energy such as wave, tidal and offshore wind power, as well as existing offshore oil and gas operations.
- Marine Mineral Resources: Extraction of sand, gravel, salt and other minerals from seabeds and riverbeds.
- Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering: Construction and maintenance of boats, vessels, barges and offshore platforms.
- Coastal Real Estate and Infrastructure: Development of ports, jetties, waterfront markets and riverine residential communities
Globally, the Blue Economy is valued at over $1.5 trillion annually and is expected to double by 2030, according to the World Bank. For a riverine state like Delta — home to approximately 60% waterways and coastal territory — the sector represents a transformational opportunity.
“The Blue Economy encompasses all economic activities linked to oceans, seas, coastal areas and inland waterways — including the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services connected to marine and mineral resources.” — Dr. Barry Pere-Gbe, Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor
The Two Committees: Their Roles and Composition
To translate policy ambition into concrete action, the state government has established two distinct but complementary bodies — each with a defined function in the Blue Economy governance architecture.
1. The Blue Economy Steering Committee
This is the high-level policy organ. Chaired by Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme, the Steering Committee is responsible for setting strategic direction, approving frameworks and ensuring that all participating ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) align their work with the state’s Blue Economy vision.
Members are drawn from the following key sectors of government:
- Ministry of Environment — oversees ecosystem protection, pollution control and environmental sustainability.
- Ministry of Transport — responsible for waterway transport policy, jetty infrastructure and maritime regulation.
- Ministry of Agriculture — focuses on fisheries development, aquaculture expansion and food security.
- Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure — handles construction of waterfront facilities, bridges and creek development.
- Ministry of Housing — integrates waterfront urban planning and development.
- Ministry of Energy — explores offshore and tidal renewable energy opportunities.
- Ministry of Trade and Investment — drives private sector engagement, investment promotion and trade partnerships.
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism — develops coastal tourism, water festivals and recreational economy.
- Delta State Internal Revenue Service (DTIRS) — manages taxation, revenue collection and fiscal planning.
- Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA) — coordinates inward investment and foreign direct investment (FDI) promotion.
2. The Blue Economy Technical Committee
Operating beneath the Steering Committee, this is the operational engine of the framework. Composed of senior directors drawn from the same MDAs, the Technical Committee provides expert analysis, coordinates implementation across ministries, monitors performance and ensures that policy decisions are practically executable.
The relationship between the two committees mirrors best practice in public administration: policy is set at the top, and technical expertise drives delivery from below — both working in tandem.
FACT BOX: Delta State at a Glance
Economic Potential: What the Blue Economy Offers Delta
Experts and government officials alike have pointed to several areas where the Blue Economy can generate measurable economic returns for Delta State:
Fisheries and Aquaculture: Delta’s waters support diverse species of fish, shrimp, crab and periwinkle. With improved infrastructure, cold chain logistics and aquaculture investment, the state could significantly boost fish production, reduce Nigeria’s fish import bill — currently estimated at over $700 million annually — and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
Inland Waterways Transport: Road infrastructure in riverine communities is often poor or nonexistent. Developing reliable water transport routes — with passenger ferries, cargo barges and standardised jetties — can reduce logistics costs, open up remote markets and stimulate commerce in historically underserved areas.
Blue Tourism: Delta’s waterways, mangroves, river deltas and oil-palm lined creeks present unique eco-tourism opportunities. Boat safaris, fishing tourism, cultural water festivals and river heritage trails could attract both domestic and international visitors.
Coastal Energy: Offshore wind and tidal energy remain largely untapped across Nigeria’s coastline. As global energy transition accelerates, Delta’s Atlantic-facing coast positions it as a potential site for future renewable energy infrastructure.
“The committees must work collaboratively to ensure the state maximises opportunities in marine resources, inland waterways, fisheries, transport, tourism and energy.” — Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme, Ph.D.
Governance Structure: Coordinated Under the Deputy Governor
A notable feature of Delta’s Blue Economy architecture is its placement under the Office of the Deputy Governor rather than a single sector ministry. This is significant for several reasons.
First, it gives the initiative cross-ministerial authority — the Deputy Governor can direct coordination across Agriculture, Transport, Tourism, Energy and Revenue without being constrained by any one ministry’s mandate. Second, it ensures that the Blue Economy remains a whole-of-government priority rather than a siloed project. Third, it elevates the framework’s political profile, signalling that implementation will be supervised at the highest executive level.
Commissioners and directors of the participating MDAs also presented ministerial briefs at the inauguration — outlining their sectors’ specific contributions to the Blue Economy agenda. This signals an early commitment to institutional buy-in, which is often the first casualty in cross-government policy efforts
What Success Would Look Like
For Delta State’s Blue Economy framework to deliver real impact, analysts and policymakers typically point to the following benchmarks:
- A comprehensive Blue Economy Master Plan with sector-specific targets, timelines and investment requirements.
- Increased foreign and domestic investment in fisheries, water transport, and coastal tourism.
- Improved waterway infrastructure — functional jetties, navigation aids, flood management systems.
- Job creation in riverine communities that have historically been economically marginalised.
- Diversification of state revenue away from federal oil allocations toward locally generated Blue Economy income.
- Institutional capacity building — training of officers in marine law, aquaculture management, and environmental governance.
Conclusion: A Turning Tide
For a state that has long watched its wealth flow outward through oil pipelines and its communities remain underdeveloped despite sitting atop immense natural riches, the inauguration of Delta’s Blue Economy committees may mark a turning tide — quite literally.
The challenge now is execution. Committees and frameworks are only as powerful as the political will and technical capacity behind them. But the structural decisions made on Tuesday — broad ministerial representation, placement under the Deputy Governor, alignment with federal policy — suggest that Delta State is approaching this not as a tokenistic gesture, but as a serious platform for economic transformation.
If realised, Delta’s Blue Economy could become a model for other riverine states in Nigeria — proving that sustainable water-based prosperity is not just possible, but achievable.
$200m Fish Lifeline: FG Taps World Bank Funds to Push States Towards Fish Sufficiency
Oyetola Sets Sights on Net Exporter Status as FG Secures $200m World Bank Backing for State-Led Aquaculture
By Okeoghene Onoriobe | Waterways News
The Federal Government says it has secured a $200 million commitment from the World Bank Group to drive fisheries and aquaculture production nationwide, as it moves to cut fish imports and close a supply gap of more than 2.2 million tonnes.
The money will be lent to state governments on concessional terms. It is meant to help them expand fish production, attract investment and build viable aquaculture projects.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, announced this at an Executive Training on the Aquaculture Investment Guide, organised by his ministry with the World Bank Group in Abuja. He was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Marine and Blue Economy, Professor Busayo Fakinlede.
Oyetola said fish is central to food security, household nutrition and rural livelihoods, and that Nigeria cannot be food secure while importing most of its fish. He said the goal is to “produce more, import less” and eventually become a net exporter, which he said requires every state to play its part.
The numbers
Nigeria needs about 3.6 million tonnes of fish a year but produces roughly 1.4 million tonnes. Imports cover the gap and cost nearly $1 billion annually in foreign exchange.
State-driven framework
Under the ministry’s framework, each state is expected to:
identify priority aquaculture value chains
assess investment readiness
develop bankable project pipelines
commit to measurable contributions to national fish output
The training brought together commissioners from Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Cross River States, plus permanent secretaries and directors of fisheries and aquaculture from across the federation. It covered business models, risk management, environmental and social safeguards, and public-private partnerships.
A Federal-State interface is also planned to coordinate a national fish security strategy.
Oyetola commended the World Bank for its support on analytical studies, cluster-based development, capacity building and the Aquaculture Investment Guide. He will oversee a post-training stakeholders’ roundtable with states and other stakeholders to sustain momentum.
Ministry’s scorecard
Fakinlede credited the minister’s leadership for:
the August 2026 inauguration of the Technical Committee on Accelerating Fish Production
digitisation of fish import licensing
a rise in national output from 1.1 million to 1.4 million tonnes
US shrimp-export certification after compliance with Turtle Excluder Device requirements
the Fish City and Fish Terminal investment portfolio to attract private capital
NIGERIA WATCH
Read the fine print. As of 9 November, I could not find a published World Bank project document for the $200 million, and the figure rests on the ministry’s statement. The repayment period, interest rate, per-state allocation and disbursement date have not been made public, and it is unclear whether this is new money or part of financing already agreed. Waterways News should press the ministry on these before treating the figure as settled.
Loans, not grants. States carry the debt and must show bankable projects. Strong states like Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Cross River, whose commissioners attended, sit on the water and are best placed to benefit. Inland and riverine communities lacking project-preparation capacity risk being left behind.
The missing small operators. The framework speaks of investors, PPPs and bankable pipelines. It says little about artisanal fishers, boat operators and fishing communities, including those represented by WABOTAN and ATBOWATON, who supply and move much of the country’s fish. Without cold chains, landing jetties, safe water transport and affordable engines, higher production will not reach markets.
Policy versus delivery. The target is ambitious, with output reportedly up from 1.1 million to 1.4 million tonnes. Yet Nigeria still meets under 40 per cent of its fish demand, and it has heard similar promises before, from the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund onward. The test is whether the roundtable produces dates, allocations and measurable state commitments.
Blue Economy
Oyetola Takes Nigeria’s Case on Gulf of Guinea Security and Seafarer Welfare to IMO Council in London
Oyetola Takes Nigeria’s Case on Gulf of Guinea Security and Seafarer Welfare to IMO Council in London
Minister says seafarers must not become casualties of geopolitical disputes as Nigeria presses for stronger technical support for developing maritime nations
By Ighoyota Onaibre | Waterways News
Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has restated the country’s commitment to safe, secure and sustainable international shipping. He is leading a high-level delegation to the 138th session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council in London.
The five-day session opened on November 2 at the IMO headquarters and ends today, November 6, 2026. Nigeria’s participation is meant to strengthen its voice in global maritime governance and to advance the interests of developing maritime nations.
Nigeria sits on the 40-member Council under Category C. The session is considering the protection of vital shipping routes, the welfare and safety of seafarers, institutional governance and the sustainability of the global maritime industry.
Protecting vital shipping lanes
A central issue is the protection of strategic shipping routes against growing security threats and attacks on commercial vessels in high-risk zones. Under Agenda Item 11, “Protection of Vital Shipping Lanes,” Nigeria is expected to draw on its experience combating piracy and maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea to push for stronger international cooperation and coordinated security responses.
“Nigeria recognises that the challenges confronting the global maritime industry require collective action, stronger international cooperation and effective regulatory frameworks,” Oyetola said. He added that Nigeria was at the Council to see its interests represented and to contribute to solutions that strengthen maritime security, protect seafarers and promote sustainable shipping.
He said the progress made in the Gulf of Guinea showed that maritime insecurity can be tackled “through political commitment, effective coordination and cooperation among regional and international partners.”
Seafarer welfare
Seafarer welfare is also high on the agenda. This follows IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez’s condemnation of the use of seafarers as pawns in geopolitical disputes. Nigeria is backing measures to prevent the arbitrary detention and abandonment of seafarers, and to ensure their fair treatment, safe repatriation and mental well-being.
“Seafarers are the lifeblood of international shipping,” Oyetola said. “Their safety, dignity and welfare must never be compromised by geopolitical tensions.”
Budget and capacity building
The Council is also reviewing financial allocations for the 2026–2027 biennium and strategic priorities for 2028–2029. Nigeria sees this as an opening to push for more technical cooperation and capacity-building support for developing maritime countries.
Oyetola said developing maritime nations “must have access to the technical expertise, institutional support and investment opportunities required to participate meaningfully in the evolving global shipping industry.”
The delegation
The minister is accompanied by:
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood
The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola
The Director of Maritime Services, Mr. Oyinloye Meshack
Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative at the IMO, Mr. William Bwala
Nigeria Watch
A heavy session. The Council has dealt with more than Nigeria’s agenda this week. Other delegations have also pressed seafarer protection and freedom of navigation, with Liberia and Indonesia among the countries that raised them. The session has also given attention to security in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea. On Wednesday, the Council recommended a second four-year term for Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, running from 2028 to 2031. The IMO Assembly must still approve it in 2027. Nigeria’s message on the Gulf of Guinea has been delivered in a crowded room.
Hormuz is a Nigerian issue. This newsroom has followed the Strait of Hormuz crisis closely, from rising freight rates to war-risk insurance premiums at Nigerian ports. Oyetola’s call to shield seafarers from geopolitical tension is not abstract. Dominguez has said thousands of seafarers in the region live and work under heightened risk, and the IMO’s tally of seafarers killed in the region since February stood at 24 as of November 5.
Where the Gulf of Guinea story stands. Nigeria is presenting its Gulf of Guinea record as a model, and the Deep Blue Project is the backbone of that claim. NIMASA has just showcased upgraded assets at AFRIDEX 2026. Delegates in London will weigh the narrative against what stakeholders at home actually experience on the water.
The home test. Nigeria’s arguments at the IMO for seafarer dignity, fair treatment and capacity-building support will carry weight in proportion to how well they are matched at home.
Questions that Waterways News continues to raise:
Do Nigerian seafarers and inland waterway workers enjoy the safety and welfare standards the minister is championing abroad?
Will the technical cooperation Nigeria is seeking reach small-scale and informal waterway operators, such as those under WABOTAN and ATBOWATON, or stay at the policy level?
With Nigeria holding a Council seat, how will diplomatic wins in London be turned into delivery at home, from CVFF disbursement to NPERA implementation?
Waterways News will keep tracking the outcome of the 138th Council session and what it means for Nigerian maritime stakeholders.
Blue Economy
NIWA Deploys Enforcers to Niger Waterfronts as Boat Operators Cry Out Over Life Jacket Shortage
NIWA Deploys Enforcers to Niger Waterfronts as Boat Operators Cry Out Over Life Jacket Shortage
Operators say a 300-seater has only seven jackets, and ask for prices to drop from N20,000 to as low as N5,000
By Raymond Gold | Waterways News
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has sent enforcement personnel to waterfronts across Niger State to make life jacket use compulsory and ensure compliance with inland waterways safety rules.
NIWA’s Minna Area Manager, Akapo Adeboye, announced this at the 2026 Sensitisation and Enlightenment Campaign on Inland Waterways Regulations at Zumba Waterfront, Shiroro Local Government Area. The campaign theme was “Total Safety Measures and Compliance on the Nation’s Inland Waterways.”
Adeboye said NIWA has given 3,500 life jackets to boat operators at waterfronts across the state. He was troubled, however, that some operators neither wear the jackets nor provide them for passengers during trips.
He also condemned operators who charge passengers extra to use a life jacket, saying this discourages compliance. He said the safety of lives and property remains a priority of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and that operators and passengers alike must wear life jackets before boarding. Violators, he warned, will face the full weight of the law.
Some operators at the event said scarcity and cost make full compliance impossible.
Adamu Gunduma said his boat carries 300 passengers but he has seven life jackets, one of them for himself. The other six go to passengers on a first-come, first-served basis.
Adamu Tanko said his 150-passenger boat has three life jackets.
Saidu Sani said his 40-passenger boat has none, for himself or his passengers.
Abubakar Mamman-Kwanu appealed to government and other stakeholders for more jackets through donations and support programmes.
The operators said a life jacket costs about N20,000 on the market and asked authorities to bring the price down to between N5,000 and N6,000. They added that high prices and falling farm-produce prices could keep many farmers from buying one. Farmers, they said, make up a large share of water transport users in the area. They called for stronger government intervention, arguing that easier access to life jackets would improve compliance and prevent avoidable deaths.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) first reported the development on Monday.
Nigeria Watch
Enforcement is arriving before supply. Gunduma, Tanko and Sani together operate boats licensed for 490 passengers, yet they reported 10 life jackets between them. Telling such operators to refuse boarding without a jacket is, for now, an order they cannot obey. Cheap jackets must reach waterfronts before penalties are enforced, or enforcement will fall hardest on the poorest operators.
NIWA has also faced a misuse problem. Adeboye said in an earlier interview that people sell the jackets, use them as pillows or farm tools. He said that when his team revisited a waterfront after a 3,500-jacket flag-off, they could not find one in use. Both complaints can be true at once, and the way out is a mix of local ownership, fitting by boat capacity and visible checks by marshals.
The stakes are real and well documented. After a July 2025 mishap at Zumba, Adeboye said 26 passengers wearing life jackets were rescued alive, 15 bodies were recovered and three people were missing. He noted that the incident came eight days after a NIWA sensitization campaign at the same waterfront.
Marshals and penalties are already in place. Waterways marshals were inaugurated at Zumba to enforce transport regulations. Adeboye has also said NIWA gazetted penalty codes for operators and passengers who fail to comply. The open question is whether operators get realistic access to compliance before sanctions bite.
Questions for NIWA and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy:
How many jackets are needed to cover the licensed capacity of boats at Niger waterfronts, against the 3,500 supplied?
Can bulk procurement or local assembly bring the N20,000 price down?
Will NIWA publish compliance figures and sanctions issued after the campaign?
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