MOMBASA, KENYA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described Nigeria’s ocean resources as central to the nation’s sovereignty, security, and economic prosperity, underscoring their critical role in food security, trade, energy, and livelihoods.
Represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, the President made this known on Wednesday at the high-level opening ceremony of the 11th edition of the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa County, Kenya.
Tinubu noted that Nigeria, as a major maritime nation with about 853 kilometres of coastline along the Gulf of Guinea, has a vital stake in ocean governance, stressing that the health of the oceans directly determines the stability and prosperity of Africa.
He said his administration has prioritised the blue economy since assuming office in May 2023, including the creation of a dedicated Federal Ministry of Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs to harness marine resources for national development.
The President unveiled Nigeria’s plan to create five million ocean-based jobs by 2035 through the implementation of a National Blue Economy Action Plan focused on fisheries, maritime transport, tourism, and renewable energy, with special emphasis on youth and women.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and called for stronger regional collaboration to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which he said undermines economic stability and food security.
On climate action, Tinubu pledged that Nigeria would expand marine protected areas by 2030, restore 50 percent of degraded mangroves, and champion efforts to eliminate single-use plastics across Africa.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in maritime security under the Yaoundé Architecture, noting that enhanced surveillance, joint patrols, and intelligence sharing have significantly reduced piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
“Maritime security is inseparable from food security, trade facilitation, and peacebuilding,” he said.
The President further called for stronger partnerships among African nations, development partners, and the private sector to mobilise sustainable financing and promote inclusive ocean governance.
READ ALSO: NEMA, KSrelief Deepen Partnership to Deliver Food Aid to Vulnerable Nigerians
MURIC Faults Withdrawal of Lagos BECE Timetable, Alleges Islamophobia
He emphasised the importance of global collaboration, urging equitable access to funding and technology to enable African coastal states to fully harness ocean-based opportunities.
Tinubu concluded by calling for collective action to safeguard the oceans for future generations, describing them as a shared global heritage.
About The Author
