Bayelsa has become the first and only sub-national in Nigeria to create a Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, following President Bola Tinubu’s pioneering initiative at the federal level in 2023.
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, disclosed this over the weekend at the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit, which preceded the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the governor said he was attending the conference—co-hosted by the governments of France and Costa Rica—in furtherance of his administration’s commitment to bringing global attention to the environmental challenges facing his region, particularly Bayelsa State.
Speaking during a panel session themed “Multi-Level Governance of Coastal Cities and Regions,” Governor Diri emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to adequately address the threats of global warming, climate change, and ocean rise.
He noted that Bayelsa communities are under constant threat from rising sea levels and coastal erosion due to the state’s geographical location. According to him, his administration has introduced innovative policies to tackle these challenges, including the establishment of the ministry.
“As a coastal state, Bayelsa lies below sea level and consequently faces the risks associated with ocean rise. About 70 percent of its land area is occupied by rivers, and it borders the Atlantic Ocean on its three senatorial flanks,” the governor explained.
“We have undertaken several policy innovations in line with the efforts of the Federal Ministry. We are also promoting mangrove restoration as a state rich in mangroves, rivers, and rivulets. As a state bordering the Atlantic Ocean on the Gulf of Guinea, Bayelsa communities face severe threats from ocean rise and are either being destroyed or on the verge of being wiped out,” he added.
Governor Diri stressed the need for a shift from competitiveness to collaboration: “I believe this is not the time to focus on competition, but rather on a multi-governmental approach to address these challenges. This should involve collaborative and synergistic governance at national, sub-national, and international levels, with all stakeholders actively involved.”
He concluded by expressing optimism that well-coordinated efforts could open access to climate funds and other forms of support for sub-nationals like Bayelsa, reiterating the importance of joint action in saving coastal communities from devastation caused by ocean surge and erosion.
