Last weekend, I visited Ayakoro community in Bayelsa State to attend the birthday thanksgiving service in honour of the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.
The experience was unique and brought me exciting memories. As we drove along, I momentarily fell asleep as a result of the cool weather. Apparently, my driver had missed his way again because he refused to wake me up. As I opened my eyes, I saw a sign that indicated that we were in Oloibiri, which is a notable community where the oil that fuels our national economy was first discovered in a commercial quantity many years ago.
The picture clicked instantly. Thereafter, we saw a construction site that the villagers said was an oil museum project undertaken by the federal government. The residents later directed us towards another nearby community known as Otueke, where former President Goodluck Jonathan comes from. We then advanced further to a community called Onuebum before crossing over by boat to Ayakoro.
Despite the huge potential, few conversations are happening. I was intrigued by the network of creeks, rivers and rivulets as we travelled along, although many of them appeared heavily polluted. The short boat ride provided an opportunity for me to reflect on the potential of the blue economy in Bayelsa State, in particular, and the Niger Delta region as a whole.
As I spent time thinking about the experience, I wondered why very few conversations are happening on this issue in Nigeria, yet far-reaching innovations are being shaped from the oceans elsewhere in the world. Blue economy is the sustainable use of marine resources for economic growth, job creation and improvement of livelihoods while protecting marine and coastal ecosystems. It encompasses a range of activities such as fisheries, tourism, offshore energy, shipping, and marine biotechnology, among others.
In the Niger Delta, the picture we have about our rivers and oceans is one of disasters, flooding, boat mishaps, kidnapping, piracy, and oil thefts, as though the negatives are all that our blue economy sector can offer. Yet, there can be many jobs to be created and quantum revenue generated from beneath the surface of our creeks and waterways, from Nembe to Sapele, and from Andoni to Ibeno, and beyond. Strong policies must connect with regional priorities. Despite government efforts and intentions, many Nigerians, including those in the Niger Delta, remain unaware of the potential of the blue economy.
Many aspiring professionals have yet to view the ocean as a viable career path. Policy makers still prefer to operate in traditional silos that hamper their productivity and minimise their impact, disconnected from coastal communities. The national policy on marine and blue economy, recently presented by the government, has been applauded as an initial positive step. However, the government alone cannot do this. Private sector players, development partners and civil society must come together to bring solutions and adapt examples of best practices.
Regional agencies, such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), as well as states and other subnational entities, play a crucial role in coordination and effectiveness. The projected target of generating $ 1.5 trillion for the national economy in ten years is a helpful guide. The Niger Delta region is best positioned to lead the way. However, a clear roadmap on how this will happen should be articulated as a matter of urgency. We need to tell our story by ourselves. The blue economy is central to the future of the Niger Delta region. It will strengthen our economy, lessen the burden of youth unemployment, improve food security and support efforts to adapt to climate change. We need to tell our own story; otherwise, no one else will.
We will no longer allow vested interests to hijack the narratives and twist them in furtherance of their interests and objectives. The enormous potentials that exist should be presented alongside clear pathways to overcome existing challenges. The narrative should be presented in comprehensive yet straightforward language that is accessible to diverse audiences. Researchers must now urgently decouple complex marine knowledge into easy-to-comprehend information.
Residents in coastal communities, especially women and youth, should be encouraged to share their stories of experience. That story should not be about risks alone but also about a pragmatic approach towards developing resilience and preserving their livelihoods. It is our responsibility to amplify these coastal voices to ensure that they are heard in decision-making spaces from boardrooms to parliaments. We have another opportunity to do things differently.
Strong voices in the region must take control of the conversation with clarity, urgency and purpose. Otherwise, we may lose the chance to uplift our communities again. Our approach in the Niger Delta should now be deliberately different and optimistic. Islands of progress should be encouraged and celebrated in the sea of past disappointments. The last time was during the oil boom, when we pointed fingers elsewhere to external actors far from ourselves.
We accused multinational oil companies and the parasitic elite. We have another opportunity, and we cannot afford to lose it. This time it will be inexplicable. Revamping more ports will unlock Nigeria’s blue economy, making the Niger Delta the expected hub for national blue economy efforts. Decisive actions must be taken by relevant stakeholders. Multiple informed sources have confirmed that Nigeria’s over-reliance on the port in Lagos has continued to hinder the country’s maritime potential.
Investments in port infrastructure would significantly enhance national development and improve the country’s maritime logistics framework. Revamping more ports in the country will unlock the country’s blue economy. Securing our waterways has become urgent to attract investment in marine transport. Our territorial waters have continued to serve as a haven for unregulated fishing by foreign invaders.
Thinking beyond oil should not be a slogan anymore. It should be translated into a realistic initiative pregnant with possibilities. We have an opportunity to change the course of our national history by leveraging the blue economy promises in the Niger Delta to re-launch our country on a path of sustainable prosperity.
Uche Igwe, Ph.D, is a blue economy enthusiast and co-convener Niger Delta Blue Economy Investment Summit. He can be reached at ucheigwe@gmail.com
