As Nigeria marks 65 years of independence, the Maritime Correspondents Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) has urged coastal states to take the lead in unlocking the nation's blue economy potential.
Commending President Bola Tinubu's creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy alongside its 10-year roadmap, MARCON stressed the urgent need to bridge the disconnect between federal agencies and state governments.
The organisation proposed quarterly stakeholder meetings involving traditional rulers, local experts, and government officials to fast-track maritime safety, sustainability, and job creation.
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MARCON projected that 100,000 jobs could be created annually through fishing, boat building, life jacket production, and maritime security, if states actively engage coastal communities.
It further called for mass training in skills such as coxswain duties, fish processing, and rescue operations, while urging states with marine resources to stop relying solely on federal allocations but tap into maritime opportunities for economic diversification.
"Nigeria is a sleeping maritime giant," MARCON noted, emphasizing that community involvement is key to turning coastal heritage into a growth engine for SMEs and grassroots entrepreneurs.
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