By Sunday Oyinloye
A former federal lawmaker and climate change advocate, Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo, has described the blue economy as a critical pathway to Nigeria’s sustainable development, economic diversification and climate resilience, urging policymakers to fully mainstream climate action across all sectors of national planning.
Onuigbo who is the Governing Board member representing South East on the North East Development Commission (NEDC), made the call in Abuja while delivering a goodwill message at the public presentation of a new book titled Blue Economy: Gateway to a Sustainable Future, authored by Dr. Chika Ethel Chukwudi.
The event held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall of the NICON Luxury Hotel attracted policymakers, academics, development experts and stakeholders in the climate and sustainability space.
Congratulating the author, Onuigbo said the publication came at a defining moment in Nigeria’s development journey, when sustainability has moved from being aspirational to becoming fundamental to economic resilience, environmental protection and inter-generational prosperity.
He noted that as the sponsor of the Climate Change Act, 2021, he remains deeply aware that Nigeria’s future depends on how effectively climate action is embedded across all sectors of the economy.
According to him, the Act provides a robust legal and institutional framework for coordinated climate action involving government institutions, the private sector, civil society and development partners.
Quoting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Onuigbo recalled that the President had described the fight against climate change not only as an environmental necessity but also as a global economic opportunity. He said this vision has found strong expression in the growing focus on the blue economy as a catalyst for sustainable growth.
Onuigbo highlighted that the Climate Change Act explicitly recognises nature-based solutions as essential tools for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate impacts. He pointed out that the law also provides for the development of Natural Capital Accounting, including collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics to properly value ecosystems such as oceans, wetlands, mangroves and coastal habitats.
The former National Assembly member commended the Tinubu administration for taking concrete steps to implement the Act, particularly through the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. According to him, the ministry is strategically positioned to maximise Nigeria’s 853 kilometres of coastline and its vast maritime area, while promoting sustainable economic growth and job creation.
The ministry, he said, is expected to coordinate key sectors such as maritime transport, fisheries, aquaculture, coastal tourism, offshore energy and inland waterways within a sustainable development framework, marking a deliberate shift toward recognising aquatic and marine resources as central to national development.
Onuigbo also outlined other climate-related initiatives of the current administration, including the National Carbon Market Activation Policy aimed at generating up to $3 billion annually by 2030, the National Carbon Registry, the operationalisation of the Climate Change Fund, and the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions.
He further cited Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions targeting a 32 per cent emissions reduction by 2035, the Climate-Resilient Livelihoods Empowerment Programme, and the country’s engagement at global platforms such as Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit.
According to him, the blue economy goes beyond the sustainable use of marine resources, offering opportunities for economic diversification, climate resilience, employment and long-term competitiveness. He said Dr. Chukwudi’s book provides timely insights that will enrich policy formulation, guide industry practice and advance academic discourse.
He urged Nigerians and policymakers to acquire the book and deepen their understanding of the blue economy, while also calling on the Federal Ministry of Education to implement provisions of the Climate Change Act that mandate the integration of climate change studies across all levels of education.
Onuigbo applauded the author, organisers and stakeholders for strengthening Nigeria’s climate and sustainability architecture through the initiative.
