President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment and development of Inland Dry Ports (IDP) in Ijebu-Ode and Moniya in Ogun and Oyo State respectively.

The Inland Dry Ports, when completed, will generate jobs for the teaming youths of Ogun and Oyo States and other States in the Western part of the Country.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola  disclosed this in Abuja, Tuesday, during the 2025 Budget Defence to the Joint Committee of the Senate on Marine Transport and House of Representatives Committees on Ports and Harbour, Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Inland Waterways and Shipping Services.

These IDPs, Oyetola said, are targeted for fast tracked delivery to decongest the Western Port System, adding that the Design consultancies for the project, the Minister said, are on-going.

The notable deficiencies in the maritime sector such as general infrastructure decay, silted river courses, inadequate fish production, and inadequate river crafts, Oyetola said, require major attention.

The Ministry, he said, is therefore initiating several projects and programmes aimed at addressing these challenges.

Speaking further, Oyeyola added that the Federal Government is determined to consolidate and sustain the achievements and performances it recorded last year, by focusing on ports infrastructural development, increased fish production, maritime safety and security, information technology deployment to improve operation and revenue generation, human capacity building and the effective technical and economic regulation to ensure the strengthening of blue economy across the country.

Under the 2024 appropriation, Oyetola said, the Ministry finalised the preparation of the Nigeria’s National Blue Economy Strategy, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, the Strategic Roadmap for Nigeria’s Blue Economy and the National Policy for Marine and Blue Economy. 

These documents, he said, are the foundation for a sound policy framework for the Ministry.

HE said, "The total Capital Appropriation for the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2024 Budget is N10,848,512,984 (Ten Billion, Eight Hundred and Forty-eight Million, Five Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-four naira).

"The sum of N9,973,802,613 (Nine Billion, Nine Hundred and Seventy-three Million, Eight Hundred and Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirteen Naira has been utilized/committed at the end of December, 2024. Remaining balance of N874,710,371 (Eight Hundred and Seventy-four Million, Seven hundred and ten Thousand, Three hundred and seventy-one naira). This will be expended in the 1st Quarter of 2025."

In addition, he said, “the sum of N191,086,917 (One Hundred and Ninety-one Million and Eighty-six Thousand, Nine hundred and seventeen Naira) was appropriated for Overhead Expenditure. The sum of N191,086,917 was released up to the Month of December, 2024, the released amount was expended as at 27th December, 2024. The Ministry also received a Take-off Grant of N625,000,000 out of which the sum of N523,763,955 was committed on the Ministry’s activities. All activities related to the Fisheries Department were funded from this grant.

“As a newly created Ministry, our initial focus is to set up enduring structures and systems for the effective management of the blue economy sector. The notable deficiencies in the sector such as general infrastructure decay, silted river courses, inadequate fish production, and inadequate river crafts require major attention.

"The Ministry is therefore initiating several projects and programmes aimed at addressing these challenges. The Ministry as you are aware is pleased and happy with your review of the legal frameworks for the sector. On our part, we are also reinforcing the Ministry’s oversight and monitoring mandate over its Agencies. All of these require greater budgetary provisions.

Under the 2024 Appropriation, the Ministry, he added, "finalised the preparation of the Nigeria’s National Blue Economy Strategy. the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, the Strategic Roadmap for Nigeria’s Blue Economy and the National Policy for Marine and Blue Economy. These documents are the foundation for a sound policy framework for the Ministry."

Also, “pursuant to its mandate and the charge given by Mr. President, the Ministry is developing Dry Ports at Ijebu-Ode and Moniya in Ogun State and Oyo State respectively. These IDPs are targeted for fast tracked delivery to decongest the Western Port System. Design consultancies for the project are on-going.

As a quick response to the spate of boat mishaps on our inland water ways occasioned by increased traffic on waterways, the Ministry, he said, “has targeted the provision of life jackets to the Riverine Communities in the states to boost safety of passengers. Also, major programme to replace rickety wooden boats used for commercial transport with standardized crafts and capital dredging at selected locations on our major rivers are planned for 2025.

He however, regretted that “the Ministry was unable to access the 2024 Capital Appropriation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. However, in the 2025 Budget proposal, the Ministry is initiating major projects in the fisheries and aquaculture subsector to boost fish production. These projects are deliberately tied to governments capital budgets to guarantee fast tracked delivery and assured food security.

“Quantum investment through the capital budget is necessary for the Ministry to deliver on its lofty mandate and potential. Greater budgetary provision is therefore advocated. The proposed total Capital Budget of N11,770,533,003 (Eleven Billion, Seven Hundred and Seventy Million, Five Hundred and Thirty-three Thousand, Three Naira) and Overhead of N453,856,327 (Four Hundred and Fifty-three Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty-six Thousand, Three hundred and Twenty- seven Naira) though inadequate is for your kind consideration."