ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Government has formally inaugurated a Blue Economy Steering Committee and Technical Committee in a strategic move to unlock the vast economic potential of its coastal and riverine assets for sustainable socio-economic growth.
Performing the inauguration in Asaba on Tuesday, Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme, Ph.D., charged members with developing a robust and actionable framework that will position Delta as a leading player in Nigeria’s emerging blue economy sector.
Onyeme, who chairs the Delta State Blue Economy Framework, said the selected Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were critical to the effective implementation of the policy, noting that the sector remains a key driver in the state’s broader economic expansion strategy.
The Steering Committee comprises representatives from the Ministries of Environment, Transport, Agriculture, Riverine Infrastructure, Housing, Energy, Trade and Investment, Culture and Tourism, as well as the Delta State Internal Revenue Service and the Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA).
The Technical Committee, on its part, includes key directors drawn from the selected MDAs to provide operational direction, technical expertise and coordination necessary to actualise the framework.
Describing the blue economy as a strategic pillar of development, Onyeme emphasized that the committees must work collaboratively to ensure the state maximises opportunities in marine resources, inland waterways, fisheries, transport, tourism and energy.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Dr. Barry Pere-Gbe, explained that the Blue Economy encompasses all economic activities linked to oceans, seas, coastal areas and inland waterways.
According to him, these activities include the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services connected to marine and mineral resources, as well as other economic exchanges tied to aquatic environments.
Dr. Pere-Gbe noted that the policy framework being developed by Delta State is designed to domesticate and align with federal initiatives on the Blue Economy. He added that within the South-South region, only Bayelsa State currently operates a dedicated Ministry of Blue Economy.
He disclosed that the Blue Economy Framework Committee operates under the Office of the Deputy Governor to ensure synergy, inter-ministerial coordination and effective policy execution.
Commissioners and representatives of participating MDAs also presented briefs outlining their ministries’ policy direction and proposed contributions toward integrating their operations into the state’s Blue Economy agenda.
The inauguration signals Delta State’s renewed commitment to economic diversification, revenue expansion and sustainable development, with government expressing confidence that a structured and coordinated framework will unlock investment opportunities and accelerate growth across coastal and riverine communities.
