Oyetola links surge in fish production to renewed investment

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has announced a rise in local fish production, stating that the growth reflects renewed investment, stronger collaboration with coastal communities, and targeted reforms in aquaculture.

Oyetola stated this in Lagos on Monday while declaring open the 2025 Nigerian Maritime Expo.
Represented by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Marine and Blue Economy, Prof Busayo Fakinlede, the Minister said the growth from “1.1 million metric tonnes in 2024 to 1.4 million metric tonnes in 2025 reflects renewed investment, stronger collaboration with coastal communities, and targeted reforms in aquaculture.”

Oyetola described the fisheries boost as a clear indicator that Nigeria’s blue economy reforms are yielding measurable outcomes, particularly in food security and job creation.

He stressed that the ministry is working with operators to expand sustainable aquaculture, protect local jobs, and reduce excessive importation in line with national economic priorities.

Oyetola described the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy as the backbone of recent achievements, guiding reforms across shipping, coastal tourism, maritime services and offshore energy.

The former governor of Osun State also referenced record fiscal performance, with maritime agencies generating N1.39tn in 2024, double the previous year’s output, driven by improved transparency and operational discipline.

He announced the gazetting of the country’s first Inland Water Safety Code in over 40 years, alongside expanded patrols, improved charting, and better rescue coordination.

The Minister reaffirmed the success of the Deep Blue Project, which has kept piracy at zero for three consecutive years, drawing international commendation.

He urged stakeholders to use the two-day NIMAREX 2025 event to deepen innovation in shipping, maritime technology, port services, ocean energy, logistics and coastal tourism.

In her lead paper presentation, the Adviser on the Blue Economy at the Executive Office of the President of Kenya, Ambassador Nancy Karigithu, noted that the activities of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry cut across over 22 other distinct ministries in Kenya, emphasising the need for an inter-ministerial committee for seamless operations.

She highlighted the significance of sustainable operations and planning across various facets of the marine and blue economy, especially in fisheries and aquaculture.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, emphasised that the shipping industry has endless potential to create jobs for the country’s teeming youth population and transform the economy.

He expressed fears that Nigerian maritime operators are “feeding on crumbs”, as they are not able to play big in the real business of shipping.

He recalled the productive days of NIMAREX and pledged his support, financial and intellectual, to ensure the sustainability of the refloated NIMAREX.

In his welcome remarks, Chairman of the 2025 NIMAREX Planning Committee, Sola Adewumi, described the relaunch of NIMAREX as a renewal of a longstanding industry vision to unify public and private maritime stakeholders.

Adewumi stressed that the relaunch underlines the resilience of the sector and its continued importance to Nigeria’s economic future.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for demonstrating political will by creating a dedicated Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Adewumi emphasised that NIMAREX remains the collective voice of Nigeria’s maritime sector and called on government agencies, private operators, investors, and international partners to fully support the renewed drive towards maritime growth and global competitiveness.

One of the high points of the event was the presentation of a posthumous award to Nigeria’s first indigenous shipowner, the late Alhaji Wahab Folawiyo.

During the presentation to the Executive Director, Investments, Folawiyo Group, Mohammed Folawiyo, the consultant for NIMAREX 2025, Funmi Folorunso, recalled her early days as a staff member of the Nigerian Ministry of Transportation and Aviation, during which she registered Folawiyo’s vessels as the first indigenous-owned ships.

Folorunso charged the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to revamp the nation’s shipping sector in a manner that would lead to an influx of Nigerian-owned vessels for domestic and international shipping operations.

The idea for NIMAREX was conceived with the aim of creating a platform in Nigeria that mirrors major global maritime exhibitions. The rationale for launching NIMAREX includes Nigeria’s large maritime potential, extensive inland waterways, multiple seaports, significant crude oil and LNG reserves, and the ambition to become a logistics hub in West and Central Africa. The first edition of NIMAREX took place in 2011.