The Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District, Neda Imasuen, has urged littoral states across Africa to prioritise the development of their marine resources, declaring that the blue economy holds enormous opportunities for job creation, food security and sustainable economic growth.
Imasuen made the call on Tuesday when a delegation of the Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER), led by its Founder and Convener, Dr Piriye Kiyaramo, paid him a courtesy visit at his office in the National Assembly, Abuja.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions pledged to champion the blue economy agenda at the National Assembly, promising to facilitate engagements with relevant Senate committees to advance policies and legislation capable of unlocking the sector’s vast potential.
He also accepted to serve as a Patron of ABER. The lawmaker identified the Niger Delta’s coastline, pristine beaches and marine resources as untapped economic assets that could transform the region into a major destination for coastal tourism and investment.
According to him, strategic investment in luxury beachfront hotels, marine transportation and other tourism infrastructure could position the Niger Delta alongside established coastal destinations in America and other Western countries.
Imasuen particularly commended Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for demonstrating political commitment to the sector, describing Bayelsa as the first state to establish a dedicated Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
He urged other coastal states to follow Bayelsa’s example by creating institutional structures and implementing deliberate policies to harness their marine resources.
The senator noted that Nigeria’s 853-kilometre coastline, alongside Edo State’s access to the Atlantic Ocean through its riverine communities, presents enormous opportunities that must not be allowed to remain untapped.
He stressed the need for littoral states to diversify beyond oil production by investing in sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, marine transportation, coastal tourism and mangrove conservation for blue carbon development.
Imasuen also threw his weight behind ABER’s Pan-African campaign for a Connected, Competitive and Community-Owned Blue Economy, insisting that the National Assembly was open to legislative initiatives that would protect vulnerable fishing communities.
He specifically highlighted the need to safeguard artisanal fishers, enforce the five-nautical-mile Artisanal Exclusive Zone and empower women fish processors through ownership of cold-chain storage facilities.
Earlier, Dr Kiyaramo described ABER as a flagship initiative of the BRACED Tourism Promotion and Development Initiative, with a presence across the five geographical regions of the African Union and the African Diaspora.
He disclosed that the organisation operates offices in New Jersey and California in the United States, alongside a liaison bureau in Abuja.
Kiyaramo, however, raised concerns over what he described as the Blue Justice Gap in the Gulf of Guinea, revealing that more than 70 per cent of artisanal fishers venture into the sea without basic safety equipment.
He further disclosed that West Africa loses an estimated $2.3 billion annually to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, while more than 90 per cent of fisherfolk lack access to legal assistance and effective reporting channels.
Also speaking, ABER Women’s Forum Director of Policy and Advocacy, Dr Mrs Ezeadili Appolonia Obiageri, and the organisation’s Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Hajiya Medina Dauda Nadabo, applauded Senator Imasuen for his contributions, legislative performance and commitment to national development.
