Federal lawmaker representing Akoko North East/North West in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has been been assigned the portfolio of the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
President Bola Tinubu assigned portfolios to the first batch of ministers on Wednesday in Abuja.
Other persons that were also assigned portfolios by President Tinubu include Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Power, Adedayo Adelabu; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake; Minister of Transportation, Adegboyega Oyetola; Minister of Works, David Umahi; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru; Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh; Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa and
Minister of State Defence, Bello Matawalle.
Other are Minister of State Education, Yusuf T. Sunumu;
Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare,Tunji Alausa; Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Anite; Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji; Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha;
Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy; Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Youth, Abubakar Momoh; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, Minister of State, Gas Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo and Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri.
Meanwhile, the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry headed by Tunji-Ojo is to ensure the sustainable use and conservation of aquatic resources in both marine and freshwater environments of Nigeria. Activities of this ministry will cover the oceans and seas, coastlines and banks, lakes, rivers and groundwater all over Nigeria.
The new ministry is also expected to use marine and freshwater environments of Nigeria in a sustainable way to develop economic growth and generate resources the federal government, in addition to production of energy and food for the country.
Federal government agencies under the supervision of new ministry of Marine and Blue Economy include Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Nigeria Shippers Council,
Nigeria Inland Waterways and
National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency.