Blue economy meaningless in Niger Delta without clean up – says professor of economics

…As stakeholders call for development of infrastructure, effective governance first

Niger Delta states warming up for dawn of a blue economy have been advised to first pursue clean up of the region polluted by over 13m barrels of crude oil. Silva Opuala-Charles, a professor, economist, and financial expert who is president of the Garden City Premier Business School, who made the declaration agreed that $12m is required to embark on this project.

This is as other stakeholders have called for aggressive development of specific infrastructure and effective governance structure as conditions that would allow blue economy to debut in the oil region.

These were the fallouts of the opening day of the Correspondents Week of the Rivers State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) which kicked off Monday, April 7, 2025.

The professor warned that the conversation around Blue Economy in Rivers State and the Niger Delta is unrealistic without first addressing the widespread environmental pollution and degradation caused by decades of oil exploration, an expert has warned.

Opuala-Charles, also a former Commissioner of Finance in Bayelsa State Commissioner, said the Niger Delta region cannot genuinely pursue a blue economy when its waters were stained by oil spills and its marine life is devastated by pollution.

Read also: FG eyes new policy to position Nigeria as blue economy leader

The Bayelsa-born expert with roots in Okrika said: “Our waters are now 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.”

Delivering a speech titled “Blue Economy: Starting Steps for Rivers State”, he cited United Nations data showing that 13 million barrels of oil have been spilled in over 7,000 incidents in the Niger Delta 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.

The professor made reference to 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 Blue 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 the rivers, clean 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 involving stakeholders from oil host communities, academia, private sector, and civil society; “Prioritize aquaculture training and investment for young people in 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 concluded to huge applause from journalists and media executives present.

He further took aim at the lack of a defined Blue Economy policy for Rivers State, warning that vague talk without concrete action plans and a clearcut structure would only create more confusion.

“Rivers State cannot afford to piggyback on federal 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.

Opuala-Charles recommended that the state 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.

“Rivers State has the potential to be the aquaculture hub of West Africa. We have the coastline, the population, and the maritime culture. But we have failed to leverage that because we have ignored the environment. If you kill your ocean, you kill your economy,” he warned.

Meanwhile, stakeholders and experts have identified effective governance as the most potent tool to unlock the dormant wealth in the Blue Economy available to the Rivers State government.

This was the highlight at the Correspondents’ Week. The stakeholders said infrastructure development, effective governance, and sustainable practices as well as stakeholder engagement are crucial to unlocking the blue economy potential of the state.

Chairman of the Chapel, Amaechi Okonkwo, led in this view in his welcome address. The week-long event is with the theme: “Blue Economy: Starting Steps for Rivers State” while the sub-theme is: “Enhancing the Economic Welfare of Journalists in a Period of Economic Crisis.”

Okonkwo said: “Rivers State being just as rich in ocean resources as in oil and gas, we reasoned, should also position herself as a premium maritime state by deploying the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation.

“The state possesses significant blue economy potential, particularly in fisheries, tourism and maritime transport, contributing about 35 per cent to the state’s GDP. To unlock this potential, infrastructure development, effective governance, sustainable practices and stakeholder engagement are crucial.

“We believe that to be able to do this, there are some necessary steps the state needs to take to align with the vision and goals of the federal administration for creating that ministry of blue economy at this time, hence the choice of the theme for this year’s Correspondents’ Week.”

In her goodwill message, Chinyere Nwoga, president of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), said the chamber has enjoyed a lot of goodwill from journalists in Rivers State.

Nwoga said: “We are happy and proud of the solid and harmonious relationship we have with the media and journalists. The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce has enjoyed a lot of goodwill from journalists.

“Journalists, generally are multi-functioned, holding public officers accountable, ensuring transparency, shaping the voice of the populace and ensuring that important issues and brought up for discourse. Journalists also provide a platform and for women to be heard.

She stated that PHCCIMA shares some tenets with the media and has been ensuring transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to best global practices.

“The mission of the chamber is to remain a voice for the business community and to support businesses and startups through business support and member-to-member patronage.”

Also in his goodwill message, Paul Bazia, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state, lauded the Correspondents’ Chapel for delving into the issue of blue economy, which is part of the development communication plan of the new leadership of the union

Bazia said: “Few months ago when we were searching for new leadership for NUJ, we did promise that in the next three years, the union will be setting agenda for development communication.

“The Correspondents’ Chapel has come up with what partly describes what we are looking towards to. We are setting agenda for economic diversification.”

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