The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Monday Onyeme, has revealed that the state government is advancing plans to establish a dedicated Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy as part of a broader strategy to unlock its coastal potential and stimulate economic growth.
Onyeme made the disclosure while addressing journalists at the Blue Economy Investment Summit 2026, held at the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre on Thursday.
The summit, themed “Shifting Gears: Heading to a New Frontier in Maritime Economy,” drew key stakeholders from across the maritime sector.
According to the deputy governor, Delta State has already laid the groundwork for its blue economy agenda through the creation of critical institutional structures.
”These include a steering committee responsible for policy formulation and strategic direction, as well as a technical committee tasked with driving implementation.
“We have been able to establish the full blue economy steering committee and the technical committee.
“While the steering committee focuses on fine-tuning policies, the technical committee is working through the broader stages of implementation, particularly in identifying priority areas, ” he said.
He explained that the state government is aligning its initiatives with federal efforts, especially following the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy Nigeria.
Onyeme noted that Delta intended to mirror this structure at the state level to fully harness opportunities within 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 said.
Highlighting the state’s geographical advantage, Onyeme pointed out that Delta has one of the longest coastlines among Nigeria’s coastal states, positioning it as a major player in maritime and blue economy development.
He, however, acknowledged funding limitations as a key challenge, noting that the government is carefully prioritizing investment areas within the vast blue economy space.
“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.
Despite these constraints, the deputy governor expressed optimism that the summit would serve as a catalyst for attracting investors and accelerating development efforts in the state.
While he did not provide a specific timeline, Onyeme assured that measurable progress would be 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,” he added.
The summit brought together policymakers, investors, and maritime stakeholders to explore emerging opportunities and strategies for advancing Nigeria’s blue economy sector.
