Marine & Blue Economy Ministry Unveils ECMS to Accelerate Reforms, Boost Investor Confidence
The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has taken a significant step in its digital transformation drive with the official launch of its Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), a platform aimed at strengthening transparency, efficiency and accountability in public service delivery.
The ECMS was unveiled on Wednesday by the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, alongside the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, at the Ministry’s Fourth Quarter 2025 Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The high-level engagement, themed “Positioning Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy for Investment, Innovation and Expansion: The Pathway,” brought together stakeholders from across the marine and blue economy value chain.
In his keynote address, Oyetola described the forum as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s efforts to reposition the marine and blue economy as a key driver of economic diversification, inclusive growth and global competitiveness. He said the engagement was designed to promote transparency, accountability and shared ownership of reforms in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The Minister explained that the ECMS represents a strategic investment that extends beyond internal administration to improve service delivery and investor engagement.
“A digitally enabled Ministry is a more responsive Ministry,” Oyetola said. “The ECMS will streamline workflows, strengthen records management, improve decision-making and enhance our capacity to support investors, operators and partners with speed, clarity and integrity.”
Highlighting the sector’s vast potential, he noted that Nigeria’s long coastline, extensive inland waterways and strategic location provide immense opportunities in maritime trade, fisheries, aquaculture, logistics, tourism and related services.
Oyetola disclosed that local fish production increased from 1.1 million metric tonnes to 1.4 million metric tonnes over the past year, attributing the growth to targeted interventions, improved coordination, technology deployment and better planning. While acknowledging that the figure remains below the country’s annual consumption of 3.6 million metric tonnes, he said the progress signals steady momentum.
He also revealed that the Ministry has begun engagements with financial institutions to facilitate single-digit interest loans for fishermen nationwide, a move aimed at boosting productivity, expanding access to finance and addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
On the global front, the Minister said Nigeria’s election into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and its emergence as Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea reflect renewed international confidence in the country’s maritime governance and reform agenda.
Oyetola added that the Ministry’s reform initiatives have attracted national recognition, citing a 96 per cent performance rating by the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU), positive evaluations from the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), and recent National Bureau of Statistics data ranking water transportation among the five fastest-growing sectors of the Nigerian economy.
In her remarks, Walson-Jack commended the Ministry for its reform drive and successful deployment of the ECMS, describing the platform as a major milestone in the Federal Civil Service’s transition to paperless governance.
She said the system would enhance institutional memory, reduce bureaucracy, improve accountability and promote faster, more efficient service delivery across the Ministry.
The event was attended by regulators, private sector operators, investors, development partners and other stakeholders in the marine and blue economy, who reaffirmed their commitment to supporting sustainable growth and development in the sector.
