The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Execellence, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Tuesday defended the N12.2 billion budget proposal of the ministry for 2025.
The ministry is proposing N11,770,533,003 for the capital budget and N453,856,327 for overhead.
The budget was defended on Tuesday at the National Assembly before the Joint Committee of the Senate on Marine Transport and House Committees on Ports and Harbour, Marine Safety, Education and Administration; Inland Waterways and Committee on Shipping Services
The Minister also laid the budget of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron and Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria before the Committee.
The Minister noted that the Ministry through the 2025 budget targets the provision of life jackets to the riverine communities in the states to boost safety of passengers.
He also said the Ministry hopes to replace rickety wooden boats used for commercial transport with standardized crafts with the 2025 budget.
The Minister while disclosing plans to begin capital dredging at selected locations on some major rivers, added that the process requires huge funds.
The Minister said: “the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and its Agencies under the 2025 Budget seek to consolidate and sustain on the achievements and performances recorded in the immediate past year by focusing on ports infrastructural development, increased fish production, maritime safety and security, information technology deployment to improve operation and revenue generation, human capacity building and the effective technical and economic regulation to ensure the strengthening of blue economy in Nigeria.
On some projects the ministry wants to embark on with the 2025 budget, Oyetola said: “As a quick response to the spate of boat mishaps on our inland waterways occasioned by increased traffic on waterways, the Ministry has targeted the provision of life jackets to the Riverine Communities in the states to boost the safety of passengers.
Also, major programme to replace rickety wooden boats used for commercial transport with standardized crafts and capital dredging at selected locations on our major rivers are planned for 2025.
“Dredging is desirable to ensure that the 10,000 kilometres of our waterways are navigable because currently, only about 3,800 kilometres are navigable.
Water Transportation is cheaper and safer but we need to invest in the dredging to get the desired result we want for the sector.
“Also, pursuant to its mandate and the charge given by Mr. President, the Ministry is developing Dry Ports at Ijebu-Ode and Moniya in Ogun State and Oyo State respectively.
These IDPs are targeted for fast tracked delivery to decongest the Western Port System. Design consultancies for the project are on-going.
“Quantum investment through the capital budget is necessary for the Ministry to deliver on its lofty mandate and potential. Greater budgetary provision is therefore advocated. The proposed total Capital Budget of N11,770,533,003 and Overhead of N453,856,327 though inadequate is for your kind consideration.”
Speaking on the performance of the 2024 budget, Oyetola said: “The total Capital Appropriation for the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2024 Budget is N10,848,512,984. The sum of N9,973,802,613 has been utilized/committed at the end of December, 2024.
The remaining balance of N874,710,371 will be expended in the 1st Quarter of 2025.
“In addition, the sum of N191,086,917 was appropriated for Overhead Expenditure.
The sum of N191,086,917 was released up to the Month of December, 2024. the released amount was expended as at 27th December, 2024. The Ministry also received a Take-off Grant of N625,000,000 out of which the sum of N523,763,955 was committed on the Ministry’s activities.
“All activities related to the Fisheries Department were funded from this grant.
He added that the Ministry was unable to access the 2024 Capital Appropriation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, noting that in the 2025 Budget proposal, the Ministry is initiating major projects in the fisheries and aquaculture subsector to boost fish production.”
He explained that the projects are deliberately tied to government capital budgets to guarantee fast tracked delivery and assured food security.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Marine Transportation and Blue Economy, Sen. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni called on the ministry to begin the process of dredging River Niger, Lake Chad Basin and other rivers in the country.
The Senator while admitting that dredging was capital intensive noted that the process for dredging should commence immediately and be considered in the 2026 budget proposal.
He said: “We agree that the Ministry is grossly underfunded considering the projects it is expected to undertake, but as a committee, we feel you should use your position to attract funding and other opportunities to the Ministry.
“The president appointed you a minister because he believes in your capacity. So, I charge you and the agencies under you to commence the fight for 2026 budget now, the process must start in order to accommodate dredging and other key projects in the budget of next year.”