Do any of Nigeria’s political parties actually have a coherent aquaculture policy designed to maximise revenue from our 853km Atlantic coastline? If not, then we are missing out on one of the greatest opportunities to diversify our economy and reduce dependence on crude oil.
Years ago, I suggested releasing oil-eating algae into the Niger Delta to clean up oil slicks. My vision was that this would pave the way for a lucrative aquaculture industry. Nigerians simply do not appreciate the resources they are sitting on. Nigeria has the seventh largest mangrove forest in the world, covering 6,900 square kilometres. Properly harnessed, this ecosystem could generate more revenue than crude oil.
Mangroves provide critical nurseries for thousands of fish species, from tiny gobies to massive sharks. They are also blue carbon ecosystems, up to ten times more efficient than terrestrial forests at absorbing carbon. With Lagos already suffering coastal erosion, exporting Niger Delta mangroves westward could help combat the encroachment of the Atlantic Ocean.
Mangrove wood is sturdy and ideal for construction. A sustainable timber industry could thrive if we replaced every felled tree with two new ones. Eco-tourism is another untapped opportunity. Sports fishing, kayaking, and birdwatching could flourish in the Niger Delta, replacing the violence associated with crude oil with peace and prosperity.
We have barely explored the ocean floor off the Niger Delta. Who knows what coral species or biological compounds lie undiscovered? Mangroves often yield antibacterial materials and pest-resistant genes. Aquaculture is another goldmine. Shrimp farming thrives in mangrove ecosystems, as Vietnam’s Mekong Delta shows. Properly managed, the Niger Delta could host sharks, dolphins, manatees, crabs, shrimps, whales, and abundant freshwater fish, sustaining entire industries.
I challenge my Ijaw and Ogoni brothers: stop waiting for Abuja. If there are oil slicks in your backyard, clean them up yourselves. Universities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Bayelsa, and Otuoke should already be mass-producing anti-crude algae, exporting it, and generating revenue.
Let us also remember that Jesus’ closest followers were fishermen. When he told them to cast their nets on the right side of the ship, they caught more fish than they could haul in. That is what I am asking of the Niger Delta people today. You are sitting on a gold mine, but crude oil has blinded us to its presence.
Nigeria needs a coherent aquaculture policy — one that turns our Atlantic coastline and mangrove forests into engines of prosperity.
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