The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has taken a significant step toward modern governance with the launch of a digital Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), reinforcing its commitment to transparency, efficiency and institutional reform.
The digital platform was officially unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja by the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, alongside the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack.
The unveiling took place during the Ministry’s Fourth Quarter 2025 Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, drawing participants from across Nigeria’s marine and blue economy ecosystem.
Held under the theme “Positioning Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy for Investment, Innovation and Expansion: The Pathway,” the engagement served as a strategic forum for dialogue, collaboration and shared accountability between government and sector stakeholders.
In his keynote address, Dr. Oyetola described the event as a pivotal moment in the nation’s efforts to reposition the marine and blue economy as a cornerstone of economic diversification, growth and global competitiveness.
He explained that the forum was intentionally designed to strengthen transparency, foster partnerships and deepen collective ownership of reforms in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking on the newly launched ECMS, the Minister described it as a transformative tool that would redefine operations within the Ministry, enhance service delivery and improve responsiveness to investors, operators and development partners
According to him, the digital platform will streamline workflows, strengthen records management, support data-driven decision-making and significantly reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks across the Ministry.
Dr. Oyetola underscored the strategic importance of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy, citing the country’s vast coastline, extensive inland waterways and advantageous geographic location as critical assets for trade, fisheries, logistics, tourism and regional integration.
Highlighting sectoral progress, the Minister revealed that local fish production rose from 1.1 million metric tonnes to 1.4 million metric tonnes, reflecting targeted interventions, improved coordination, technology deployment and enhanced planning, even as the country’s annual consumption remains at 3.6 million tonnes.
He further announced that the Ministry is engaging financial institutions to provide single-digit interest loans for fishermen nationwide, aimed at improving access to affordable finance, boosting productivity and curbing illegal fishing activities.
On the international front, Dr. Oyetola noted Nigeria’s election into Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its emergence as Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea as indicators of renewed global confidence in Nigeria’s maritime leadership.
The Minister highlighted that these reforms have earned national recognition, citing a 96 per cent performance rating by the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU), positive assessments from the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), and recent National Bureau of Statistics data ranking water transportation among the top five fastest-growing sectors in the Nigerian economy.
Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, praised the Ministry’s reforms and described the ECMS launch as a critical step toward paperless governance, improved records management and faster service delivery.
The event attracted a broad array of stakeholders including regulators, private sector operators, development partners and investors, all pledging their continued support for the growth and sustainability of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
