The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy of Nigeria has launched its Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), representing a significant leap in its digital transformation initiative and institutional reform agenda. This milestone was celebrated during the Ministry’s Fourth Quarter 2025 Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja and co-hosted by Minister Adegboyega Oyetola and Head of the Civil Service, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack.
The engagement attracted various stakeholders from the marine and blue economy sectors, focusing on the theme: “Positioning Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy for Investment, Innovation and Expansion: The Pathway.” In his keynote address, Minister Oyetola emphasized the importance of this engagement in Nigeria’s drive to revitalize the marine and blue economy as a critical component for economic diversification and competitiveness on a global scale. He highlighted the forum’s goal of fostering transparency, accountability, partnership, and shared ownership of reforms in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Oyetola described the ECMS as a strategic investment intended to enhance not only internal administration but also promote efficiency, transparency, and service delivery. He asserted that “a digitally enabled Ministry is a more responsive Ministry,” stressing how the ECMS will streamline workflows, improve decision-making, and bolster support for investors and operators.
The Minister also underscored the sector’s strategic significance, citing Nigeria’s extensive coastline and inland waterways as key assets for maritime trade, fisheries, aquaculture, logistics, and tourism. He reported an increase in local fish production from 1.1 million metric tons to 1.4 million metric tons, although this still falls short of the annual consumption of 3.6 million tons. The increase reflects targeted interventions and better sectoral planning.
To further enhance the sector, Oyetola noted the Ministry’s engagement with financial institutions to offer low-interest loans to fishermen, aimed at boosting productivity and curbing illegal fishing practices. On the international front, he highlighted Nigeria’s election to Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its leadership in the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea as indicators of renewed global confidence in Nigeria’s maritime governance and policy initiatives.
The Ministry’s reform efforts have been recognized nationally, with a 96% performance rating from the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit and positive evaluations from the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council. Additionally, recent reports from the National Bureau of Statistics indicate that water transportation is among the fastest-growing sectors in the Nigerian economy.
Mrs. Walson-Jack praised the ECMS as a significant advancement towards paperless governance and efficient records management. She noted that the digital platform would improve accountability and align the Ministry with broader digital transformation goals across the Federal Civil Service.
The launch event garnered participation from a broad spectrum of industry stakeholders, including regulators and investors, all committed to advancing the growth and sustainability of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy sector.
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