FG Moves to Validate National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy

By Ada Nkong

Nigeria has achieved notable progress in maritime governance, including the ratification and domestication of international protocols and conventions.
The minister of Marine and Blue economy Dr Adegboyega Oyetola made this assertion at the validation workshop on development of national policy for the marine and Blue economy.

He said the national policy will address challenges like unsustainable practices, environmental degradation, and illegal activities, such as Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing.

“It affirms our mandate, vision, and mission; which sets the stage for the objectives of the policy and its aspirations. It further dissects these aspirations into five broad parts of legal and institutional framework; maritime transport, trade and shipping; fisheries and aquaculture, marine abiotic resources; and marine innovation and technology It also identifies an array of cross cutting issues and then concludes with a scan of Stakeholders to support the implementation structure. It is comprehensive, ” he asserted.

In his welcome address the the permanent secretary Mr Olufemi Oloruntola said the workshop is a key step in shaping the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, designed to address Nigerias specific needs and aspirations while embracing sustainable development principles

The monster further said “the Federal Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy has painstakingly developed strategies to guide the sustainable use of our marine resources. Our partnerships with the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the Kingdom of Norway, WorldFish and other stakeholders, have yielded notable strategy and policy documents that are very vital inputs into the National Policy on Marine & Blue Economy”.

In his welcome address the the permanent secretary Mr Olufemi Oloruntola said the workshop is a key step in shaping the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, designed to address Nigerias specific needs and aspirations while embracing sustainable development principles

The workshop had in attendance stakeholders from the maritime sector.