Niger Delta cleanup must precede blue economy plans, expert tells FG

The conversation around delving into blue economy in Rivers State and the Niger Delta region could be unrealistic without first addressing the widespread environmental pollution and degradation caused by more than half a century of oil production, Silva Opuala-Charles, president of Garden City Business School, has warned.

Opula-Charles, who is a former commissioner of finance in Bayelsa State, said the Niger Delta region cannot genuinely pursue a blue economy when its waters were stained by oil spills, and its marine ecosystem is devastated by pollution.

He spoke at the 2025 Correspondents’ Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Rivers State Council, which has a tgeme: “Blue economy: starting steps for Rivers State”.

“We say Blue Economy, but what is blue about our waters? The waters are dark, oily, and toxic. The creeks are dead zones. Our fishermen bring back nothing but stories of hardship. Before we can talk about tapping into the ocean economy, we must clean up the mess first, Opula-Charles advised.

A recent survey said Nigeria has a blue economy potential worth some $296bn, with $10bn accruable from shipping alone if harnessed.

Speaking on the theme of the media correspondents’ weeks “Blue Economy: Starting Steps for Rivers State”, the former Bayelsa State finance commissioner cited United Nations data showing that 13 million barrels of oil have been spilled in over 7,000 incidents in the Nigeria’s  delta region since 1958.

“You cannot talk of aquaculture when the fish stock is dead. You cannot speak of marine tourism when your waters reek of crude oil. We must tell ourselves the truth – this is not a blue economy, this is a red economy soaked in pollution,” he stated.

Opuala-Charles referenced a 2023 Reuters report which estimated that it would take $12 billion and 12 years to clean up the entire Niger Delta region. He said any government or agency speaking about the ocean economy must first prioritize a comprehensive clean-up campaign, starting with the most affected riverine communities.

“We should not start with policy documents and media launches. We must start with a mop. clean up the rivers, clean up the creeks, restore the mangroves, then talk about growth,” he emphasized.

He also criticized the absence of a tailored blue economy policy framework for Rivers State, warning that relying on federal policies alone will sideline the peculiar environmental and socio-economic needs of the region.

“Where is the policy? Where is the structure? Where is the funding plan? A blue economy agenda must not be a cut-and-paste from the federal level. We need a Rivers-specific approach that puts clean-up and restoration at the center,” he said.

In terms of potential, Opuala-Charles acknowledged that Rivers State is richly endowed with vast inland waterways, untapped marine biodiversity, and aquaculture potential, but stressed that environmental neglect continues to cripple economic opportunities.

He proposed that the state government should launch a State Blue Economy Council (SBEC) involving stakeholders from oil host communities, academia, private sector, and civil society.

“Prioritize aquaculture training and investment for young people in the coastal areas; develop a sustainable marine transportation master plan; allocate budgetary provisions to environmental remediation and coastal protection; and lobby for international funding to support clean-up projects in areas affected by oil spills.

“Let us move from dependency on dirty energy to sustainable economic alternatives. But let’s not pretend. there is no blue economy without a green environment. No fish can thrive in poisoned waters. No investor will build a resort on a polluted shoreline. The first step is clean-up,” he said.

Till date, Rivers and most of Nigeria’s subnationals has no defined blue economy policy. At the macroeconomic level, only a preliminary working document exists, which was developed by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) under Dakuku Peterside former boss of the agency.

Nigeria and its littoral subnationals like Rivers State should take lessons from Mauritius, and Madagascar which are reaping huge revenues from their different ocean economies.

Opuala-Charles therefore,  warnd that vague talk without concrete action plans and a clearcut structure would only create more confusion.

“Rivers State cannot afford to piggy bank on federal government documents that do not address our unique environmental damage. We need a locally tailored strategy – one that puts cleanup, coastal protection, and community participation at the center,” he said.

He therefore, recommended that the state government should urgently establish a Rivers State Blue Economy Council made up of representatives from riverine communities, academia, private sector experts, and civil society groups. The council, he said, should oversee all activities tied to the blue economy, from budgeting to monitoring and accountability.

He also called for direct investments in sustainable aquaculture, training of youths in marine-based enterprises, revival of the artisanal fishing industry, and a state-wide campaign to restore degraded creeks and wetlands.

The media Correspondents’ Week was attended by top media executives, academics, experts, government officials, and civil society stakeholders.