02/07/2026
Today in Lagos, I joined my dear brother, the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, for the 2nd Quarter 2026 Citizens/Stakeholders’ Engagement with a theme: “From policy to action: Mobilising Sub-National Governments for Effective Implementation of Nigeria’s National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy.”
First, let me appreciate Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the initiative to create this ministry that has the capacity and spirit to turn around the economic fortunes of the country.
The pioneering mark of Bayelsa State in the establishment of a State Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, is not only strategic, but it conforms with the drive of my Government of Assured Prosperity to diversify our economy away from oil and gas to tapping our resources in the ocean and rivers across the three senatorial districts of the State.
My attendance at the event was to open further engagement with key stakeholders and interact with industry players with a view to harnessing the vast economic opportunities in the maritime sector and also share our implementation model and experience with the sub-national governments.
In my keynote address titled, “Sub-National Leadership In Advancing Nigeria’s Marine And Blue Economy: The Bayelsa Experience And Pathways For Coastal State Development”, I made it clear that our administration is opening Bayelsa to responsible private capital in aquaculture, modern boat building, cold chain logistics, marine transport, and sustainable coastal tourism.
We have now become a national model for how to institutionalise and mainstream the Blue Economy at the sub-national level through enabling legislation and an operational model.
As expected from the various states, we are in the process of enacting the Bayelsa State Blue Economy Law that will align with the national policy set by the Federal Government to drive the marine and blue economy.
In Bayelsa State, we are creating an investment climate with the construction of strategic roads to attract the private sector particularly in the development of our flagship maritime project, the Agge Deep seaport in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the State.
For Bayelsa, Agge will not merely be hosting a seaport but it will be a gateway vision for regional trade, logistics, industrial development, fisheries exports and wider integration within the Gulf of Guinea.
We will continue to work closely with the Federal Government in unlocking our untapped maritime promise in the journey to industrialisation and job creation in the state.
~SDD