By Stpehen Ubanna
Adegbeyoga Oyetola, a former governor of Osun state and now minister of marine and blue economy, appears to have seen the importance of the blue economy that Nigeria has moved to strengthen maritime collaboration with the West African country of Gambia.
The minister is optimistic that the collaboration between the two maritime nations will go a long way ‘’to enhance regional security and economic growth. The former Osun state governor, was said to have expressed Nigeria’s desire for maritime collaboration with Gambia at the just fourth Blue Economy Conference in Banjul, the country’s Capital city.
Adegboyegha, the Nigerian minister of marine and blue economy may have been encouraged to seek maritime collaboration with Gambia, because of the development of the country’s blue economy which appears to have become the country’s major source of revenue generation in the recent years.
In taking the bold initiative to develop the country’s blue economy anchored on the policy thrusts that that the developing countries lacked the technology and needed funds for speeding up the development may not have been dampened to do so.
The Value News online Magazine findings shows that the emphasis of the country was initially placed on the Community fishery center, CFC, concept, as a means of promoting artisanal fishery development. But when it became apparent that the presence of complex facilities and services tailored around to meet the local needs was not a guarantee to the development of the blue economy project in the country may have forced the Gambian government to resort to plan B.
This is the active participation of fisherfolk and the mobilization of local and Community resources in order to assure sustainability of initiatives undertaken by development projects and for the Community and which the Nigerian Government have a lot to learn from the Gambia policy thrust on its blue economy project which had made it a success .
The plan B, development strategy for the Gambia blue economy appears to have worked out as the country Exclusive Economic Zone, currently covers 19,500 km, and has a continental shelf of 3,855 km and the coast length of 80 km. There are indications that as at 1994, the country’s marine fish landings were estimated at 27, 670 tones out of 72% came from artisanal sub-sector of the economy.
The country’s total potential for marine waters, according to an industry operator, is estimated between 128,000 and 167,000 tons per annum which is not in any way near of Nigeria still struggling to develop its multi- billion dollar blue economy . Going by the World Bank’s country report, Gambia’s blue, is ‘’dependent on fisheries, coastal tourism, and marine biodiversity’’.
Determined to fund its blue economy agenda to its logical conclusion, Gambia Ports Authority, GPA, was said to have pursued the country’s fourth expansion of the Banjul port funded by the African Development Bank, AfDB, under the close watch of Akinwumi Adesina, a former minister of Agriculture and Rural Development during President Goodluck Jonatthan’s Administration, the European Investment Bank , EIB and the Government of Gambia. The project cost is put at the North American country of United States, US 612,339 dollars.
President Adama Barrow of Gambia, had alluded to the fact that the Gambia economy encompasses ocean resources , stressing that ‘’the country is leveraging on the blue economy’’.
Pressident Barrow, who was said to have been represented at the recent Banjul, fourth Blue economy , Conference by Mhammed B.S. Jallow, the country’s Vice President, had underscore the theme of the Workshop: Harnessing the Blue Economy for Innovative and Sustainable Development.
The Gambian President may have sounded a note of warning when he noted that people are at a decisive moment that demands they fully leverage the economic potential that the blue economy provides’’. President Adama Barrow, had said unequivocally that the world order is shifting lifestyles by placing immense pressures on the water bodies , precipitating their slow destruction, stressing that that the situation presents with unprecedented challenges and even challenges that has made imperative for maritime nations to chart a sustainable and prosperous future for the seas, oceans , and waterways for the sake of future generations.
The Gambian President was emphatic that the blue economy is fundamentally important, particular, in the area of sustainable use of ocean resources to drive economic growth, enhance livelihoods and create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths while ensuring the health of the marine ecosystems.
Appealing to participants at the Banjul Conference, the Gambian President had stressed the need for countries to adopt approaches that harness the ocean ability to generate prosperity while maintaining the vitality and robustness of the world environments for generations yet unborn.
Describing ‘’the oceans as merely vast expanses of water’’ he asserted that they are the lifeblood of the planet , noting that it is currently’’ covering 70% of the earth’s surface , and critical providers of food, Livelihoods, and boundless opportunities’’.
Dayo Mbereola, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, who was said to have represented, Oyetola, the Nigerian minister of marine and blue economy, had stressed the need for strengthening maritime collaboration with Gambia, at the Banjul blue economy Conference at the Dauda Hawara International Conference center.
Delivering the minister’s speech at the well-attended event in Gambia, the NIMASA, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, had confirmed Nigeria’s commitment to expanding its maritime security infrastructure beyond its territorial waters. H e had alluded to the fact that discussions are ongoing regarding the potential extension of the deep blue project ‘s operations to cover a wider area within the Gulf of Guinea region.
The immediate past Muhammadu Buhari, had contracted the Israeli security firm, HLSI, security Systems and Technologies Limited, at the sum of Us$195.3 million to supply maritime security Assets for the country’s Deep Blue Project. The Israeli security Company had delivered 17 Interception Boats and 16 Amphibious vehicles, to patrol Nigeria coastal waters, consistently non-stop to checkmate the activities of the pirates and sea robbers.
The Israeli firm was said to have also supplied two Special Mission, Vessels, , SMV and two Special Mission Aircrafts, SMA , , three Helicopters for Surveillance of Nigerian Economic Zone, EEZ, and four unmanned aerial vehicles, to the Nigerian government through NIMASA. While the Nigerian Navy operates and maintains the water equipment , the Nigerian Airforce on its part operates and maintains the air equipment, which was said to have been deployed into operations in Nigerian waters.
The Nigeria minister of marine and blue economy , may have gladdened the heart of participants at the Banjul blue economy Conference when he stated clearly that Nigeria remains committed ‘’ to be a stabilizing force , fostering cooperation and promoting sustainable development through the blue economy’’. He was said to have further assured the participants that the country is dedicated ‘’to ensuring safety and security in the Gulf of Guines region, comprising of the West and central African countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Coted’Ivore, Togo, Republic of Benin, Equatorial Guina, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, SaTome Precipe, Cameroun, Gabon, including Angola.
Given the recent disruption in the global trade in Suez Canal , due to the attacks on ocean going vessels laden with cargoes in the Red Sea , and which had resulted in the surge in shipping traffic around the African Continent, may have informed why the Nigerian minister had vowed to address the problem.
The Nigerian marine and blue economy minister, had said that the country is working ‘’ towards extending the operational coverage of its Deep Blue Assets to further enhance the security of the Gulf of Guinea region.
Indeed, the Banjul blue economy Conference may have provided an ample opportunity for Nigeria to formally ‘’declare its Candidacy for the International Maritime Organization, IMO, Category C, Seat’’ , in the upcoming Council election in London, United Kingdom, UK.
Mobereola, the NIMASA, Director General, who was said to have drawn the attention of the participants at the Gambian Conference of Nigeria’s interest in the IMO, category C, Council Seat, for the 2026-2027, term, was said to have solicited the support and vote of member countries of the Maritime Organization of West and Central African subregions , MOWCA.
The NIMASA, helmsman, may have spoken the mind of Adegboyegha, the minister of marine and blue economy when he stated that ‘’Nigeria’s representation in the IMO Council ‘’will strengthen Africa’s voice in global maritime decision-making ‘’, particular, in the areas related to the blue economy , maritime safety, security and environmental sustainability , given the volume of trade conducted in the region’’ .
He may have won the heart of the participants at the Banjul blue economy Conference when he disclosed that the country’s efforts in the area of maritime security have received global recognition tas the International Maritime Bureau, IMB, and IMO, Leadership have ‘’commended the country for its effective deployment of the Deep Blue Project , maritime security Assets’’ , which has sustained the zero piracy incidents in Nigeria waters over the last three years.
He was emphatic that the ‘’Nigeria remains committed to fostering strategic partnership and enhancing shared economic interests of the West and Central African subregion s through sustainable blue economy initiatives’’.
Recall that at the second Banjul blue economy Conference, the Gambian President had opined that’’ the blue economy can drive development across Africa by tapping into the vast opportunities within the maritime sector’’.
Priorto the inauguration of the fourth Banjul blue economy Conference , the Gambian President had expected the participants to focus focus on promoting the innovative and sustainable use of the blue economy within the framework of maritime security, safety and development.
President Adama Barrow, who could not his feelings had said that the Banjul blue economy workshop, aims ‘’to establish platform for knowledge sharing , networking, and capacity building among stakeholders and partners , across the African Continent.
He was said to have also wanted the stakeholders to take advantage of the opportunities provided in the blue economy in order foster development in the region. He had revealed that with an estimated turnover of the US $3 trn to $6trn in the maritime sector including employment, ecosystems services provided by the ocean and cultural services ,’’ the blue economy would support the diversification of the economy’’.
The United Nations, UN, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, DESA, had estimated that fisheries and acquaculture, alone, will contribute, US $100 billion yearly and 60 million jobs to the global economy through the blue economy.
