By Nnasom David

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed his commitment to the full implementation of the newly approved National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, tasking top management of the ministry and its agencies to prioritise performance, leadership, and collaboration.

Speaking at the sectoral retreat held Tuesday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Oyetola described the gathering as more than an administrative formality.

He said it was a defining moment for reflection, realignment, and purposeful engagement toward national economic transformation.

The minister emphasised that the Marine and Blue Economy sector has been placed at the centre of the Federal Government’s economic growth agenda under the Renewed Hope framework.

He said this demands urgent and disciplined action from the ministry’s leadership to deliver measurable outcomes.

“Our focus now must shift from planning to execution,” Oyetola said.

He cited key milestones such as ongoing port infrastructure upgrades, improved port efficiency, enhanced maritime security, progress in aquaculture, and the long-awaited disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF).

He described the recent Federal Executive Council’s approval of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy as a foundational achievement that lays the groundwork for long-term transformation of the sector.

Oyetola called on ministry and agency heads to fully internalise the policy’s priorities and convert them into actionable programmes. He stressed that leadership must be anchored on coordination, technology adoption, transparency, environmental responsibility, and institutional accountability.

A key component of the retreat was the signing of performance bonds by heads of agencies. The minister urged that these should be seen not as symbolic gestures, but as serious commitments to boosting the sector’s GDP contribution, job creation, port throughput, and regulatory efficiency.

He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s strategic bid for a Category C seat on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, stating that while the ministry would continue to lead the diplomatic effort, all agencies must actively support the campaign and project Nigeria’s readiness for global leadership.

In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola, echoed the minister’s message, stating that the ministry stands at a pivotal point in realising the Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to Oloruntola, under Oyetola’s leadership, the approval of the National Policy marked a significant milestone, but the next phase must focus on converting policy into real and measurable impact.

He described the retreat as a critical platform for breaking execution barriers, fostering inter-agency synergy, and outlining the necessary steps to position the marine and blue economy sector as a key contributor to national development.

Oloruntola highlighted the performance bonds as part of the ministry’s strategy to drive results through clear key performance indicators, and praised agency leaders for embracing a culture of accountability and excellence.

He also commended the National Assembly Committees overseeing the sector, led by Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun and Hon. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, for their oversight and legislative support, which he said had strengthened the ministry’s reform efforts.

The retreat marks a shift from policy approval to policy execution, with clear expectations set for leadership at all levels to deliver on the promise of a thriving marine and blue economy.