By Stephen Ubanna
For those who thinks that the ministry of ministry of marine and blue economy under the close watch of Adegboyega, who incidentally was a former governor of Osun state would sabotage the implementation plan of the 10-year National Policy on marine and blue economy to forestall harnessing the country’s vast marine resources would be disappointed.
The minister who was said to have given his words to industry stakeholders had assured of his unwavering commitment ‘’to the full and accelerated implementation of the newly approved National Policy on marine and blue economy ‘’.
As a prelude to ensuring proper implementation of the policy, geared towards harnessing the country vast ocean resources , he was said to have called on the top officials of the ministry and the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and safety Agency, NIMASA, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC and Nigerian Inland Water ways Authority, NIWA, ‘’to commit themselves to effective Leadership, inter-agency collaboration and measurable performance outcomes’’.
Determined to keep his promise, he was said to have organized sectoral retreat for senior official of the ministry at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, on Tuesday, May 18, 2025, ‘’to evaluate the sector’s direction and to reposition it for impactful delivery in line with national expectations’’.
Described as a defining moment for reflection, realignment and purposeful engagement, the minister who had said that the gather of the top ministry officials goes beyond administrative normality, noted that the ministry of marine and blue economy under his Leadership has been placed at the forefront of the Federal Government’s economic growth agenda under the Renewed Hope framework.
It was not surprising why he had sounded it loud and clear that ‘’it is incumbent on the ministry’s Leadership to drive the vision that had informed the establishment of the ministry of marine and blue economy with ‘’urgency and discipline’’.
The former Osun state governor may have taken advantage of the ample opportunity provided by the retreat for top officials of the ministry and management of the agencies to highlight the milestones that achieved by the ministry over the last which includes ongoing efforts to modernize Lagos ports of Apapa, Tin-can-Iland port , Port Multi-services Terminal Limited, PTML, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, KLT, phases I and II, and the south eastern ports of Onne, Rivers Port, PortHarcourt, Delta port, Warri and the Cross river state port of Calabar.
This is in addition to the implementation of the National Single Window initiative which industry stakeholders believes will eliminate human interface and deepen the efficiency at the nation’s seaports. In rolling out the National Single Window Platform, the ministry was said to have entered into discussions with Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, led Nigerian Custom Service, NCS.
More instructive of the new ministry achievement under the Leadership of Oyetola, over the last one year was the improvement in the country’s port efficiency, enhanced maritime security, progress in aquaculture and fisheries and the commencement of the disbursement of the much talked about Cabotage Vessel Finance Fince Fund, CVFF, which was said to hit the North American country of the United States, US, $700 million bracket between 2003 and now.
He had said that with the implementation of the recently approved National Policy on marine and blue economy, ‘’the Leadership across the ministry and its agencies, must fully internalize the policy’s strategic priorities and translate them into actionable programmes without further delay’’.
He was said to have also called for ‘’disciplined execution of the policy anchored on improved coordination, technology adoption, transparency, environmental stewardship and institutional accountability.
Tehe signing of the 2025, performance bond with the Heads of agencies under the ministry after the retreat speaks volume. The minister who oversaw the formal signing of the 2025, performance bonds by the Chief Executive Officers, CEOs, of the agencies under the ministry of marine and blue economy was said to have stated categorically that it was initiated ‘’to strengthen accountability, transparency and realignment with national development priorities.
Appealing the agencies under the ministry’s CEO’s ‘’’’to treat the Performance bonds signed during the retreat at the FCT, as symbolic gestures’’, he was said to have urged them to show serious commitments to deliver concrete, time-bound outcomes that would ‘’enhance the sector’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, expand job creation, increase port throughput and improve regulatory compliance and revenue mobilization’’.
In a related development, Dayo Mobereola, Director General, NIMASA, appears to have takena cue from Oyetola, the minister of marine and blue economy to organize an inaugural Senior Management retreat for the agency’s operational staff, in Lagos, the nation’s Commercial nerve center with the theme: Driving Operational Excellence.
The retreat, according to an insider was said to have brought together top officials of the agency within the Operations cadre, whose responsibilities are critical to the daily execution of the agency’s statutory mandate.
The NIMASA, helmsman, who had emphasized that the agency’s overall success hinges on the commitment and dedication of the workforce, had operational team for their contributions toward advancing Nigeria’s maritime sector. He was said to have reiterated the agency’s Management’s dedication ‘’to providing a conducive for professional growth’’.
Putting on the garb of the Head of the agency, who deals directly with the minister of marine and blue economy, he had said that the maritime regulatory agency’s success as a team depends largely on the commitment of the operational staff.
He was emphatic that the Management team will continue to provide an enabling environment that supports capacity development on a continuous basis. He may have gladdened the heart of the agency’s senior operational staff when he declared ‘’our vision ‘’to become the leading Maritime Administration in Africa, advancing Nigerian maritime goals could only be achieve when the staff remained dedicated to their duties’’.
He was said to have encouraged the participants at the NIMASA, retreat ‘’to internalize the agency’s core values, CAPITAL D, which serves as a network of performance, discipline, and professionalism across all levels.
The NIMASA’s performance -based reward system was said to have been strengthened with new initiatives such as’’ gift vouchers’’, introduced to encourage excellence. Six outstanding operational staff were said to have emerged as top performers in 2023 and 2024, and were honoured at the retreat to encourage others to sit up.
Among the awardees were Heaky Dimowo, Director, Marime and Environment Management Department, Gloria Anyasoda, Coordinator, Western Zone of the agency operations, Port Service Controller Calabar port, Aina Akinbola Aderemi, and Engr. Olayiwola Olarewaju who was said to have emerged the best district Surveyor. Other awardees include Engr. Moshood Taiwo Akinwumi and Olumide Olugoke Oyewole, who is an Engr, who had emerged as Employees of the years 2023 and 2024.
Fatai Taye Adeyemi, an Engr and Executive Director, Operations, who was said to have spoken on the same platform with the agency’s Director General, at the retreat, had described ‘’the forum as a valuable platform for knowledge transfer, team building and strategic realignment’’.
He had emphasized his commitment ‘’to an open-door policy, promoting transparent Communication and collaborative problem-solving’’, which may have gladdened the t of the agency operational staff who are ready to double their efforts to make NIMASA, the Leading Maritime Administration in Africa.
An elated Engr. Adeyemi had said the NIMASA retreat, marks a new chapter in how the agency operate. Hear Him It provides an opportunity to share experiences, strengthen our network and commit to shared mission of delivering maritime excellence.
Edward Osagie, an Assistant Director and the agency’s spokesperson had said that that the retreat was concluded on a high note leaving participants with ‘’a renewed sense of purpose, unity and commitment to driving NIMASA’s operations to grater heights’’.
