Minister Urges Maritime Agencies To Avoid Task Duplication

Muhyideen Jimoh
May, Wed, 2025

Economy/Business

Minister urges maritime agencies to avoid task duplication

follow and like on:

179 total views today

By Diana Omueza

Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, has urged the various agencies in the marine sector to align priorities and eliminate task duplication to advance the sector.

Oyetola said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2025 two-days Sectoral Retreat for Top Management of the ministry and its agencies.

He said that it was imperative for the agencies in the marine sector to focus on strengthening inter-agency coordination and work as a single ecosystem.

“Let me reiterate four strategic imperatives that must guide our efforts going forward; we must eliminate duplication, align priorities, and work as a single ecosystem.

“Adoption of technology and data-driven management from port operations to fisheries monitoring; we must deploy tools that improve efficiency and transparency.

“All our interventions must adhere to the principles of accountability, due process, and value for money.

“The marine environment is not an infinite resource, we must safeguard it through regulation, education, and enforcement,” he said.

The minister urged stakeholders at the retreat to critically assess the current position of the sector, identify areas of concern and set paths to ensure disciplined execution and measurable outcomes.

According to him, the retreat is beyond administrative formality but a crucial opportunity to evaluate the sector’s direction and to reposition it for impactful delivery in line with national expectations.

He said that the Federal Government had positioned marine and blue economy at the forefront of its growth agenda, expecting significant strides in its development.

He said that it was the responsibility of the agencies and stakeholders to meet those expectations by setting high standards for the sector, raising its performance across all areas.

Oyetola listed the ongoing modernisation of port infrastructure and systems, steady improvements in port operational efficiency, early-stage implementation of the National Single Window platform amongst others as achievements that should be consolidated.

“Most significantly, the Federal Executive Council has approved the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy.

“This is a foundational policy document that sets out our vision, priorities, and responsibilities for the sector’s long-term development.

“It provides the framework upon which all future initiatives, regulations, and investments must be anchored.

“As we move into the implementation phase, the burden of delivery rests squarely on the leadership of the ministry and its agencies,” he said.

The minister said that the strategic thrust of the policy must be fully internalised.

According to him, they should be translated into well-prioritised programmes, institutional coherence, and measurable outcomes that align with national expectations and reflect the aspirations of Nigerians.

Mr Olufemi Oloruntola, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, described the retreat as an opportunity to strengthen the effective interplay between agencies leadership and the management of the ministry4.

This, he said was essential to the delivery of collective mandates.

“While the minister sets the strategic direction, it is our task as senior management to translate that direction into measurable progress driven by discipline, collaboration and a sense of responsibility.

“Equally vital to our success is the role of directors in the ministry who constitute the core of our management structure.

“Their responsibility in ensuring internal alignment, administrative efficiency, and seamless coordination with our agencies cannot be overstated.

“As we work to realise the minister’s vision, it is this internal machinery that must function at full strength to ensure consistency, clarity, and cohesion in our operations,” he said.

The permanent secretary said that it was time to focus on translating the marine and blue economy policy into real, measurable outcomes.

He commended the heads of agencies for their readiness to lead within their institutions and to cascade obligations throughout their teams.

He urged them to identify barriers, propose solutions for strengthening inter-agency synergy, and define actionable steps that would position the marine sector as a major driver of national development, in alignment with global trends.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Constance Athekame/Kadiri Abdulrahman

follow and like on: