Abuja: Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, has urged the various agencies in the marine sector to align priorities and eliminate task duplication to advance the sector. Oyetola made this call during the 2025 two-day Sectoral Retreat for Top Management of the ministry and its agencies held in Abuja. He emphasized the importance of strengthening inter-agency coordination and functioning as a unified ecosystem.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the minister highlighted four strategic imperatives that should guide efforts in the sector. These include the elimination of task duplication, alignment of priorities, and the adoption of technology and data-driven management to improve efficiency and transparency. He also stressed the necessity of adhering to principles such as accountability, due process, and value for money, while safeguarding the marine environment through regulation, education, and enforcement.
The minister urged stakeholders at the retreat to critically assess the current position of the sector, identify areas of concern, and set paths for disciplined execution and measurable outcomes. He stated that the retreat was a crucial opportunity to evaluate the sector’s direction and reposition it for impactful delivery in line with national expectations. The Federal Government has positioned the marine and blue economy at the forefront of its growth agenda, with significant strides expected in its development.
Oyetola outlined ongoing achievements such as the modernization of port infrastructure and systems, improvements in port operational efficiency, and the early-stage implementation of the National Single Window platform. He noted the Federal Executive Council’s approval of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, which sets out the vision, priorities, and responsibilities for the sector’s long-term development. The minister stressed the importance of internalizing this policy and translating it into well-prioritized programs that align with national expectations and reflect the aspirations of Nigerians.
Mr Olufemi Oloruntola, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, described the retreat as an opportunity to strengthen the effective interplay between agency leadership and the management of the ministry. He emphasized the role of senior management in translating strategic direction into measurable progress and highlighted the importance of internal alignment, administrative efficiency, and seamless coordination with agencies.
The permanent secretary commended the heads of agencies for their readiness to lead within their institutions and urged them to identify barriers, propose solutions for strengthening inter-agency synergy, and define actionable steps to position the marine sector as a major driver of national development in alignment with global trends.