- Reaffirms Commitment to Safer Waterways
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, led the official distribution of 3,500 life jackets to water transport users in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Friday, May 2, 2025.
The event, held as part of a nationwide initiative, marks a continuation of the Federal Government’s concerted efforts to tackle recurring boat mishaps and ensure the safety of coastal and riverine communities.
Speaking at the event in Yenagoa, Oyetola emphasized the critical role that water transportation plays in the daily lives of Nigerians, particularly in coastal and riverine communities. He described the life jacket distribution campaign as “strategic, proactive, and long overdue,” noting that it reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to preserving lives and promoting a safe marine environment.
“What we are doing here today is saving lives. It is that simple,” Oyetola declared. “With these life jackets, we are empowering our waterways users — fishermen, traders, students, and transport operators — with the basic tools to survive and be safe.”
The distribution in Bayelsa State follows a similar flag-off in Minna, Niger State on April 29, 2025, where Oyetola initiated the rollout of life jackets across 12 coastal and riverine states as part of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy’s first phase of intervention. The initiative is one of the most comprehensive federal responses in recent times to the growing safety concerns on Nige ria’s inland waterways. Highlighting Bayelsa’s vast network of rivers, creeks, and its strategic maritime position, the Minister said the state was a natural priority in the campaign. He also used the occasion to commend Governor Douye Diri for aligning with the Federal Government’s Marine and Blue Economy agenda.
Oyetola particularly hailed Bayelsa’s creation of a state Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and commitment to the development of the Agge Deep Seaport — a project he described as “transformative and visionary,” capable of reshaping the economic landscape of not just Bayelsa, but the entire South-South region.
“The Agge Deep Seaport will serve as a major maritime gateway, facilitating international trade, reducing congestion at existing ports, creating jobs, boosting investments, and accelerating development in the Niger Delta,” the Minister said. “The Federal Government remains fully committed to its realization.”
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