The relevant agencies of government in Nigeria have been urged to come together and work to ensure efficient management and sustainable exploitation of resources of the ocean to reposition the nation’s Blue Economy.
An expert in Blue Economy, Dr. Awwal Bamanga stated this at a public lecture in Lagos to commemorate the 2024 World Ocean Day.
The lecture, organized by the International Ocean Institute – Nigeria (IOI- Nigeria) Center in conjunction with the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine (NIOMR) had the theme: “Blue Economy: Balancing Economic Growth and Ocean Health”.
Dr. Bamanga who was the guest lecturer said President Bola Tinubu made a very wise decision by creating the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, as it has a huge potential to positively turn around the economic fortune of the country.
He however noted that to derive maximum benefit from the sector, the resources in the ocean should be efficiently managed and exploited, with the various agencies working in synergy.
” Blue Economy cuts across different sectors . If there is a policy document that can clearly identify what roles each component can play and at the end of the day, the overall concept is to promote Blue Economy”he said.
The blue economy, or the ocean economy, is a term used to describe the economic activities associated with the oceans and seas. The World Bank defines the blue economy as the “sustainable use of ocean resources to benefit economies, livelihoods and ocean ecosystem health”.
Bamanga who maintained the ocean could contribute $1.5 trillion to the global economy if efficiently managed and exploited, posited that an important strategy to adopt is
Sustainability which is about managing the ocean in a way that protects it from over exploitation and pollution as well as ensuring its usage is not negatively impacting the socioeconomic and environmental benefits.
“Marine ecosystems with resources contribute to ocean stability, assimilate and process wastes and contribute to the quality of life of coastal people.
“The ocean is known for it’s ability to connect nations
“Infact , most of Nigeria’s crude is now being obtained from the sea bed in deep offshore locations. The ocean has been an economic force to reckon with .
“Despite the importance of the ocean , coastal and marine resources are under intense pressure from local and climate related factors. Local factors such as overfishing,coastal overdevelopment, situation”.
“80 percent is marine pollution originates on land , pollution accompanies most kinds of humans activities, including offshore oil and gas production and marine oil transportation. Traditional shipping and oil transportation routes are new exposed to the impacts of oil polluted discharges from tankers and other vessels that other areas”.
The expert submitted that actualizing the Blue economy dream has gone beyond a mere desire to become a necessity.
He said aside from collaborations, other ways of promoting environmental governance and the blue economy are establishing marine protected areas and ensuring sustainable fishing practices, pollution reduction, climate change mitigation, and habitat restoration amongst others.
He also highlighted the importance of research, awareness, education, and others.
Bamanga who emphasized that the Niger Delta has Africa’s largest expanse of mangroves, which are major breeding and nursery grounds for many commercially important fish species, underlined the various aspects of the marine economy including fisheries, aquaculture, Ecotourism, hydrocarbon, maritime safety, and mineral exploration
The Director of the International Ocean Institute, Nigeria Center, (IOI-Nigeria) Akanbi Williams pointed out that the health of the ocean is a global issue that requires global cooperation and that nations, organizations, and individuals must work together to protect and restore the oceans.
Williams said that World Ocean Day has provided an ample opportunity to deepen people’s knowledge about the oceans and the problems facing them.
“June 8th of every year is the date set aside by the United Nations to celebrate the ocean and this year’s theme is AWAKEN NEW DEPTHS, which is a call to explore, understand and protect the mysteries and wonders beneath the waves. It is a theme that invites us to deepen our understanding,expand our compassion,advance our scientific knowledge,foster collaboration and solidify our commitment to the health of our oceans
“We noticed that ocean literacy is very poor in our part of the world. The more knowledge that you have the greater decision you are able to take.
“The ocean covers 71% of our planet’s surface and plays a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth.
“It regulates our climate,provides oxygen and is a vital source of food and livelihood for billions of people. However,our oceans face unprecedented threats from pollution, overfishing,and climate change. To Awaken the new depths, we must first awaken the to the reality of these challenges. We need to educate ourselves and others about the ocean’s significance and the perils it faces. Promoting ocean literacy programs in schools and communities, utilizing media and social platforms to disseminate factual critical information about ocean health and encouraging young people to take an active role in ocean conservation efforts are all vital steps toward this goal.
“As we celebrate world Ocean Day , let us reflect on our profound connection to the oceans and the responsibility we share in protecting them. By deepening our understanding, expanding our compassion, advancing our scientific knowledge, fostering collaboration and strengthening our commitment, we can truly awaken new depths. Together,we can ensure that our oceans remain vibrant and resilient for generations to come”.
The Director IOI Nigeria who described plastic pollution as among the biggest environmental concerns and disasters globally,gave credit to Lagos State government for beginning to recycle plastics and putting in place measures against plastic pollution.
He stressed the determination of the center to the health of the ocean within Nigeria .
According to Williams who is also the Chief Research Officer of NIOMR
part of the objectives of the IOI Nigeria Center includes publicizing the products of the IOI network and world Ocean reviews and creating awareness on current issues relating to the ocean such as marine pollution,oil pollution, overfishing and derp ocean mining.
He clarified that the IOI Nigeria Center is an offshoot of the IOI Western African Operational center which has the mandate to promote training, education, international relations and publications towards ensuring the health of the ocean.
Also speaking, the Executive Director/ Chief Executive Officer of NIOMR, Prof Abiodun Sule represented by Dr. Obatola Ochuko, said the shared mandates between the agency and IOI- Nigeria in Ocean matters “have fostered a strong and productive relationship, enabling them to advance ocean research, promote sustainable practices and influence policies that protect the nation’s environment. Together, we have made significant strides in understanding and conserving our ocean ecosystems, and I am confident that our partnership will continue to yield positive outcomes for the future.
“Today’s celebration features a series of activities designed to engage,educate and inspire. The centerpiece of our program is a public lecture. This topic is particularly timely and significant, given the recent creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in Nigeria, of which NIOMR is now a proud part. The Blue Economy represents a promising avenue for sustainable economic growth, leveraging our vast marine resources to create jobs, stimulate innovation and drive development while ensuring the health and resilience of our ocean ecosystems”.
One of the dignitaries, Prince David Omawunmi who is a trustee of the Eco Restoration Foundation, underscored the relevance of the event in raising awareness about the ocean.
He said, “every year,we come together to mark this day to raise more awareness. Majority of humans are sea blind. We really don’t see the sea ,so we don’t appreciate it. What you can’t measure,you can’t manage”.
Shedding light on his foundation,he said that Eco Restoration Foundation is a coastal advocacy committed to the protection, restoration and conservation of coastal wetlands across Nigeria. We promote eco literacy, promote the mangrove marathon and we have the Eco Park Mangrove Sanctuary and Research Centre where.
The high point of the occasion was the presentation of awards to pupils and students of some schools in Lagos that emerged victorious in an essay and crafts competition towards deepening knowledge about the ocean.
Some of the winners said the opportunity has helped to increase their knowledge about the importance of the ocean and how to contribute to protecting it from pollution.
The event brought together scholars, Conservationists, and other stakeholders including officials of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and NIMASA.