The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, has disclosed that the state government is taking strategic steps to establish a dedicated ministry for marine and blue economy as part of efforts to harness its vast coastal resources and boost economic growth.
Onyeme made this known while speaking with journalists at the Blue Economy Investment Summit 2026, themed “Shifting Gears: Heading to a New Frontier in Maritime Economy,” held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre on Thursday.
According to him, Delta State has already put in place key institutional frameworks to drive its blue economy agenda, including the establishment of both a steering committee and a technical committee.
He explained that while the steering committee is responsible for policy direction and fine-tuning strategies, the technical committee is tasked with the detailed implementation process, particularly in identifying priority areas within the expansive blue economy sector.
“We have been able to establish the full blue economy steering committee and the technical committee. The steering committee handles the fine-tuning, while the technical committee is working on the broad stages of implementation,” Onyeme said.
The Deputy Governor noted that the state intends to align closely with the Federal Government’s maritime development initiatives, especially following the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
He revealed that Delta is already working towards setting up a corresponding ministry at the state level to maximize opportunities in the sector.
“Delta State intends to work along with the Federal Government. With the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, we are also working towards establishing our own ministry because we have a lot to offer,” he stated.
Highlighting the state’s natural advantages, Onyeme emphasized that Delta boasts one of the longest coastlines among Nigeria’s coastal states, positioning it as a key player in maritime and blue economy development.
He added that the government is currently prioritizing areas of investment, noting that due to funding constraints, not all sectors can be developed simultaneously.
“The blue economy is very wide. We are looking at which aspects to tackle first because we cannot implement everything at the same time due to funding limitations,” he said.
Onyeme expressed optimism that the summit would attract investors to the state, thereby accelerating the pace of development in the sector.
While he did not commit to a specific timeline, he assured that the state government is working towards ensuring that tangible results are achieved before the end of the current administration.
“We are hopeful that with investor interest from platforms like this summit, we can move faster. Before the end of this administration, we expect that some aspects of the blue economy will already be operational,” Onyeme added.
The summit brought together policymakers, investors, and stakeholders in the maritime sector to explore new opportunities and strategies for advancing Nigeria’s blue economy.
