Sam Onuigbo: Blue Economy as Nigeria’s Gateway to Diversification
By: Abudu Olalekan
Blue Economy Nigeria. That phrase keeps popping up. Everywhere. It isn’t just a buzzword anymore. It is real. Actually, it is the only way forward for us. I was there in Abuja last Thursday, February 5, 2026. The air felt different. Heavy with hope. We gathered to watch Dr. Chika Ethel Chukwudi unveil her new book, “Blue Economy: Gateway to a Sustainable Future.” A big moment. Truly. As I stood there, looking at the crowd, I realized something simple. We are done talking. Now we act.
My name is Sam Onuigbo. Some know me as the guy who sponsored the Climate Change Act back in 2021. That law? It changed everything. Or at least, it started to. It is the backbone. The legal fulcrum. It forces public institutions, private companies, and even regular folks like you and me to think about climate. Not later. Now. Because our future depends on it. Entirely. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said it best recently. He noted that fighting climate change isn’t just about saving trees. No. It is a massive economic opportunity. A global one. And he is right.
The Blue Economy fits right into this. Perfectly. It is not just about fish or boats. It is bigger. Much bigger. Think about our coastline. 853 kilometres of it. Then there is the maritime area. 46,000 square kilometres. Huge. For years, we slept on these assets. Not anymore. The new Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is here to wake us up. Their job? To use our oceans and waters to grow the economy. Create jobs. But also, keep the water healthy. It is a delicate balance. Hard to get right. But we must try.
The Climate Change Act of 2021 knew this was coming. Section 27 specifically talks about nature-based solutions. It says the Council must promote them to cut emissions. Smart move. Very smart. Mangroves, wetlands, oceans. These aren’t just scenery. They are tools. Essential tools for survival. The Act even pushes for Natural Capital Accounting in Section 29. We need to count our natural wealth properly. The National Bureau of Statistics is getting involved now. Finally.
There is so much happening it feels dizzying. The National Carbon Market Activation Policy aims to bring in billions by 2030. Billions! Then there is the Carbon Registry for transparency. The Climate Change Fund is finally operational. Section 15 made that happen. We have a Presidential Committee on Green Economic Solutions too. Our updated goals, NDC 3.0, target a 32% cut in emissions by 2035. Ambitious? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely.
We are seeing money flow in. At the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week earlier this year, we looked to unlock $30 billion in green finance. Massive numbers. Then the Mission 300 Summit wants to electrify 300 million Africans. And we are talking about climate mobility through the Rabat Process. It is a lot. But it is good lot.
Dr. Chukwudi’s book captures all this energy. It is timely. Powerful. She explains how the Blue Economy is a gateway. Not just to money, but to resilience. To jobs that last. To a Nigeria that can compete globally. Her insights will help policymakers make better choices. It will guide industries. Even students will learn from it.
I urge everyone reading this report by Reportersroom to get the book. Buy it. Read it. Learn. You don’t have to be an expert to understand the urgency. Just look around. The signs are there. We must mainstream climate action in every single development plan. No excuses. I am also calling on the Federal Ministry of Education. Please, listen to Section 26 of the Act. Put climate change in schools. In every subject. From primary to university. Our children need to know this stuff. Their lives depend on it.
This launch was more than a ceremony. It was a statement. A declaration that Nigeria is ready. We are building a sustainable architecture. Brick by brick. Law by law. Book by book. The road ahead is long. There will be bumps. Grammatical errors in our plans maybe. But the direction is clear. We go forward. Together. The Blue Economy is not a choice. It is our destiny. Let’s embrace it fully. Without fear.
