The Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Caroline Wura-ola Adepoju, has revealed that Nigeria has the potential to generate N2.5 trillion from the Blue Economy with effective utilization.
She noted that 80% of goods and services are imported into the country via water transportation while expressing concerns about the pollution of waterways, which presents a significant obstacle to international trade.
Adepoju made this point while speaking in a one-day workshop titled “The Coastal State of Rivers and Benefits of the Blue Economy: Stakeholders’ Perspective” in Port Harcourt on Monday.
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Adepoju commended President Bola Tinubu for creating the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy at the right moment.
“N2.5tn can accrue to Nigeria from the blue economy. The oceans is 72 per cent of the world covered by bodies of water. The seabed – 90 per cent of the deposit, is yet to be explored, while 2.2 million species are yet to be discovered by experts.”
In order for the government to optimize the latent opportunities in the Blue Economy, the NIS boss stated that Nigeria must first tackle “pollution from spillages, dumped plastics and other insoluble materials that upset the aqua and marine resources.
“It is very important in the sustainability of the economy of this country in the area of ‘blue economy’ and its derivatives,” Adepoju added.
