Osinbajo Inaugurates Committee on Sustainable Blue Economy

Osinbajo Inaugurates Committee on Sustainable Blue Economy

Deji Elumoye

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo Monday inaugurated an Expanded Partnership Committee on Sustainable Blue Economy to further explore the economic opportunities available through oceanic and marine resources around the country.

The Blue Economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems. It entails emerging renewable energy, seabed extractive activities and marine biotechnology and bio-prospecting.

The committee chaired by the VP is composed of State Governors, some Ministers, representatives of military and security agencies and other members from the private sector.

Speaking at the event, Osinbajo said the blue economy offers a whole new vista of opportunity for economic activity especially in areas close to oceans, rivers and coasts, but more importantly, perhaps the entire country, because practically everywhere has some body of water that can be exploited.

On the composition of the committee, the Vice President mentioned that it has representatives from the States and the geo-political zones, agency representation, which includes Chief of Naval Staff, Comptroller-General of Customs, NIMASA and several other agencies.

According to him, “there will be several agencies and several interactions between institutions because we are dealing with ports and terminals, oil and gas, the environment, tourism, hospitality – a whole range of economic activities that are connected to what is described as the Blue Economy.”

The Committee’s Terms of Reference include providing an assessment of the current realities, opportunities and challenges for economic diversification and the growth of a sustainable blue economy in Nigeria, as well as identifying and reviewing relevant policies and institutional/capacity building mechanisms for blue economy development in Nigeria, and others.

The inauguration was attended by the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikpeazu; Minister of State for Power, Godwin Agba; and the representative of the Transportation Minister, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation. Others include the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo; Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd); Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, among others, and private sector representatives.

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