A new Federal Ministry of Marine
and Blue Economy (MOMBE) in Nigeria is currently developing
its structure and formulating its vision. The
Government of Nigeria considers the ‘blue economy’ as a tool to boost job
creation and economic growth. The new Ministry has the mandate to
institutionalize Blue Economy as an important pillar for economic sustenance
and growth diversification having due regards to the ecosystem. Its vision is
to position Nigeria as a premier maritime nation by utilizing the potentials of
its blue economy to diversify revenue, assure sustainable development, and
cultivate environmental stewardship. But increasing
pressures on the coastal and marine ecosystems and challenges with the
sustainable use of natural resources affect Nigeria’s BE potential. Coastal
economic activities are exposed to increasing risks of pollution, erosion,
fluvial and coastal flooding caused by rapid urbanization, oil spillage, waste
and plastic waste management practices, mangrove depletion, sediment trapping
by port/upstream dams, and more recently climate change/variability driven
sea-level rise and intense precipitation. It is estimated that coastal
degradation (urban floods, erosion, and pollution) in three states Cross River,
Delta, and Lagos in 2018, cost society US$9.7 billion, or 2.4 percent of GDP. To
address these challenges, the Government of Nigeria needs to address fragmented
policies and budget planning and the limited intersectoral cooperation across
blue sectors (e.g between federal, state, and local levels). There are
opportunities to support the development of institutional frameworks for a new
Ministry and to strengthen vertical (national/states/community) and horizontal
(intersectoral) coordination. It is also important to improve integrated
management of natural resources at the community level and strengthen selected
sectors focusing on promoting local economy, investments in key blue sector
activities to foster a climate-resilient BE and protect the ecological integrity
of the coast and maritime resources. Strategic participatory planning and
coordination supported by this grant are expected to enhance the outcomes of
integrated management by supporting synergies and cooperation across sectors. The World Bank through the PROBLUE a multi-donor Trust Fund will support the Government develop the Blue
Economy Framework in Nigeria.
The WB will mobilize a consulting firm to provide support on three key components of the WB/MOMBE
technical assistance: Data, Analyses, and Mapping; Policy and Institutional
Development; and Coordination and Planning of Investments. These components aim
to strengthen the regulatory and institutional structures necessary for core
functions and service delivery of the MOMBE and
the states, ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and that various
stakeholders are aligned in their efforts, as well as support informed
decision-making in the BE space.