By Abubakar Yunusa
An expert in the maritime industry has suggested that for the blue economy to thrive in the Niger Delta and Nigeria, about 12 billion dollars is needed for the cleanup of the oil pollution in the Niger Delta.
Silva Opuala-Charles, a professor, made the revelation at the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, 2025 Correspondent Week, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Blue Economy: Starting Steps for Rivers State,’ Opuala-Charles who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, maintained that the nation should think beyond oil and diversify, he however, regretted that diversification has not been achieved.
The expert warned that unless the Federal Government deliberately fund the cleanup in the Niger Delta which will take 12 billion dollars in the next 12 years, the enormous wealth expected to be created by the blue economy will not be actualised, noting that it is only aggressive clean up that can change the marine environment that harbours all the gains of the blue economy.
He explained that currently, the wealth of the blue economy has not been exploited due to constant environmental degradation and the destruction of the ecosystem by oil bunkering in large size thereby, creating underdevelopment, lack of jobs and not making enough money from people’s livelihoods in the blue economy.
“How do we stop the pollution in the Niger Delta, the gas flaring so that we can benefit from the blue economy?” he wondered.
The Professor further suggested that there are over 24 trillion-naira businesses in the blue economy such as eco-tourism, marine transportation, fishing, creation of livelihood, saying that there is marine resources for economic growth but is neglected.
“We must demand for penalty of oil pollution in the region,” he said.
