Nigeria’s Blue Economy Holds Untapped Potential For Agriculture—Kyari

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, on Wednesday emphasized the critical connection between agriculture and Nigeria’s emerging blue economy, particularly through aquaculture, inland fisheries, irrigated agriculture, and wetland management.

Speaking through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, during a courtesy visit by participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47, 2025, of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kyari stated that these linkages have the potential to foster food security, environmental resilience, and inclusive economic growth.

“Agricultural and blue-economy are inextricably linked—particularly through aquaculture, inland fisheries, irrigated agriculture, wetland management and the livelihoods of coastal—to enhance a more food-secured, environmental resilient and economic inclusive country,” Kyari said.

The minister also noted that Nigeria’s extensive inland waterways, wetlands, and coastal zones offer substantial opportunities for boosting nutrition, food production, and economic empowerment, especially in rural communities. He described aquaculture as “one of the fastest growing sources of animal protein worldwide.”

Kyari highlighted the relevance of this year’s NIPSS course theme, “Blue Economy and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities,” to the ministry’s core responsibilities, stating that sustainable water resource management plays a vital role in climate resilience and irrigated agriculture.

He stressed the need to integrate blue economy principles into national agricultural and rural development policies to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those related to poverty eradication, zero hunger, and economic growth.

The minister, however, identified key challenges hindering progress in the sector, including pollution, insufficient investment, and climate-induced pressures. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and informed dialogue to overcome these challenges and advance the sector.

In his remarks, the Director General of NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo, commended the Ministry’s initiatives and urged Nigerians to change negative perceptions about farmers.

“Farmers struggle to bring things out from the ground and don’t even benefit from what they do,” he said, calling on all Nigerians to start producing part of what they eat to better appreciate the value of farmers.

Nigeria’s Blue Economy Holds Untapped Potential For Agriculture—Kyari is first published on The Whistler Newspaper