The future of Nigeria’s maritime administration went digital on Wednesday, December 17, as the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy went live with its Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS).
This milestone isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a total reimagining of institutional efficiency, marking a bold leap forward in the Ministry’s journey toward a fully digitized, high-performance maritime sector
In a statement released by Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister, the Ministry confirmed that the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) was officially co-launched by the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack.
The Ministry introduced the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) at its Q4 Stakeholders Engagement at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
The theme of the launch was “Positioning Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy for Investment, Innovation and Expansion: The Pathway.”
In his keynote address, the Hon Minister, Dr. Oyetola, CON, described the engagement as a defining moment in Nigeria’s drive to reposition the marine and blue economy as a critical pillar of economic diversification, growth, and global competitiveness. He noted that the forum was deliberately designed to deepen transparency, accountability, partnership, and shared ownership of reforms in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
On the launch of the ECMS, Oyetola described the platform as a strategic investment that goes beyond internal administration to drive efficiency, transparency, accountability, and improved service delivery. “A digitally enabled Ministry is a more responsive Ministry,” he said.
“Through the ECMS, we are streamlining workflows, strengthening records management, improving decision-making, and enhancing our capacity to support investors, operators, and partners with speed, clarity, and integrity.”
Dr. Oyetola emphasized that Nigeria’s extensive coastline and vast inland waterways are more than just geographic assets; they are gateways to untapped wealth. By strategically leveraging our maritime trade, fisheries, and tourism, we are unlocking new pathways for inclusive growth and regional integration
He outlined key achievements recorded by the Ministry over the past year, particularly in fisheries and aquaculture, where local fish production increased from 1.1 million metric tonnes to 1.4 million metric tonnes. While acknowledging that this still falls short of the country’s annual consumption of 3.6 million tonnes, the Minister said the progress reflects targeted interventions, improved coordination, technology deployment, and better sectoral planning.
The Ministry is tackling the local fish production deficit head-on. Dr. Oyetola disclosed ongoing engagements with financial institutions to secure single-digit interest loans for fishermen across the nation. This bold initiative aims to boost productivity, empower local operators, and effectively curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing across Nigerian waters.
On the international stage, Nigeria is reclaiming its position as a maritime leader. The Minister highlighted the nation’s successful return to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Category C Council after a 14-year absence, a move underscoring renewed global confidence in Nigeria’s governance reforms. This follows Nigeria’s emergence as Chairman of the Conference of Ministers for the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea
Domestically, the Ministry’s reform efforts have garnered significant national recognition. These include a remarkable 96 percent performance rating from the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU) and positive assessments from the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC). Crucially, recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) now ranks water transportation among the top five fastest-growing sectors of the Nigerian economy, demonstrating tangible results.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, lauded the Ministry’s transformative reforms, specifically celebrating the successful launch of the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS). She hailed the platform as a cornerstone of paperless governance, designed to eliminate bureaucracy and accelerate service delivery. By strengthening institutional memory and accountability, Mrs. Walson-Jack noted that the ECMS directly aligns the Ministry with the Federal Civil Service’s digital transformation roadmap.
The forum successfully engaged a diverse cross-section of the marine and blue economy, including government regulators, private sector operators, and development partners. Throughout the event, these stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to the sector, underscoring a shared vision for its sustainable and prosperous growth.
