Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Stakeholders and experts have called on the Rivers State Government to take urgent action by fixing governance structures and investing in infrastructure to unlock the vast potential of the blue economy in the state.
This call came on the opening ceremony of the 2025 Correspondents’ Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Rivers State Council, held in Port Harcourt, with the theme: “Blue Economy: Starting Steps for Rivers State” with the sub-theme “Enhancing the Economic Welfare of Journalists in a Period of Economic Crisis.”
The stakeholders said infrastructure development, effective governance, and sustainable practices as well as stakeholder engagement are crucial to unlocking the blue economy potential of the state.
Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Amaechi Okonkwo, said Rivers State must move beyond rhetoric and begin practical steps toward leveraging its marine and coastal resources.
Okonkwo noted that the blue economy—including fisheries, tourism, and maritime transport—already contributes an estimated 35% to the state’s GDP but remains underutilized due to poor planning and neglect.
He said, “Rivers State being just as rich in ocean resources as in oil and gas, we reasoned, should also position herself as a premium maritime state by deploying the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation.
“The state possesses significant blue economy potential, particularly in fisheries, tourism and maritime transport, contributing about 35 per cent to the state’s GDP. To unlock this potential, infrastructure development, effective governance, sustainable practices and stakeholder engagement are crucial.
“We believe that to be able to do this, there are some necessary steps the state needs to take to align with the vision and goals of the federal administration for creating that ministry of blue economy at this time, hence the choice of the theme for this year’s Correspondents’ Week.”
In her goodwill message, President of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, PHCCIMA, Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, commended the media for spotlighting economic issues, stressing the importance of transparency and accountability.
“Journalists, generally are multi-functioned, holding public officers accountable, ensuring transparency, shaping the voice of the populace and ensuring that important issues and brought up for discourse. We rely on the media to get balanced account of what is happening. We are not unaware of the challenges you face in trying to do your job.”
She stated that PHCCIMA shares some tenets with the media and has been ensuring transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to best global practices.
The PHCCIMA President said: “We as a chamber share some tenets with you. We ensure transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to best global practices. The mission of the chamber is to remain a voice for the business community and to support businesses and startups through business support and member-to-member patronage.”
Also in his goodwill message, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists in the state, Comrade Paul Bazia, lauded the Correspondents’ Chapel for delving into the issue of blue economy, which is part of the development communication plan of the new leadership of the union
Bazia said: “Few months ago when we were searching for new leadership for NUJ, we did promise that in the next three years, the union will be setting agenda for development in the state. Our major job is to set agenda to open up Rivers State to investments in blue economy.
“The Correspondents’ Chapel has come up with what partly describes what we are looking towards to. We are setting agenda for economic diversification.”
