The conversation around the Blue Economy in Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta remains impractical without first addressing the extensive environmental degradation and pollution caused by decades of oil exploration, an expert has cautioned.

President of Garden City Premier Business School and former Bayelsa State Commissioner for Finance, Prof. Silva Opuala-Charles, stressed that the region cannot realistically embrace a blue economy while its waters are contaminated by oil spills and marine life continues to suffer.

Prof. Opuala-Charles made the remarks during the 2025 Correspondents’ Week organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Rivers State Council.

He said: “We say Blue Economy, but what is blue about our water? The waters are dark, oily, and toxic. The creeks are dead zones. Our fishermen bring back nothing but stories of hardship. Before we can talk about tapping into the ocean economy, we must clean up the mess first.”

Delivering a speech titled “Blue Economy: Starting Steps for Rivers State”, he referred to United Nations data indicating that over 13 million barrels of oil have been spilled in more than 7,000 incidents across the Niger Delta since 1958.

“You cannot talk of aquaculture when the fish stock is dead. You cannot speak of marine tourism when your waters reek of crude oil. We must tell ourselves the truth, this is not a blue economy, this is a red economy soaked in pollution,” he stated.

Citing a 2023 Reuters report, Prof. Opuala-Charles noted it would take an estimated $12 billion and 12 years to execute a full environmental clean-up of the region. He insisted that any serious Blue Economy discourse must begin with extensive clean-up operations, especially in the most severely affected coastal communities.

“We should not start with policy documents and media launches. We must start with a mop. Clean the rivers, clean the creeks, restore the mangroves, then talk about growth,” he emphasized.

He also decried the absence of a tailored Blue Economy framework for Rivers State, stressing that an overreliance on federal initiatives would ignore the unique environmental and socio-economic realities of the area.

“Where is the policy? Where is the structure? Where is the funding plan? A Blue Economy agenda must not be a cut-and-paste from the federal level. We need a Rivers-specific approach that puts clean-up and restoration at the center,” he said.

While highlighting the region’s untapped marine biodiversity, aquaculture prospects, and rich inland waterways, he lamented that environmental neglect had crippled many of these opportunities.

He recommended the creation of a State Blue Economy Council to include stakeholders from oil-producing communities, academic institutions, private sector actors, and civil society. He also urged the government to Prioritize aquaculture training, and investments for youths in riverine areas, Design a sustainable marine transportation roadmap,
Set aside funds for environmental restoration and coastal protection, Seek international support for clean-up efforts in oil-impacted communities.

“Let us move from dependency on dirty energy to sustainable economic alternatives. But let’s not pretend. There is no Blue Economy without a green environment. No fish can thrive in poisoned waters. No investor will build a resort on a polluted shoreline. The first step is clean-up,” he concluded to loud applause from journalists and media professionals present.

He reiterated the need for a clearly defined policy tailored to Rivers State, warning that vague rhetoric without firm structures and implementation plans would only worsen confusion.

“Rivers State cannot afford to piggyback on federal documents that do not address our unique environmental damage. We need a locally tailored strategy – one that puts cleanup, coastal protection, and community participation at the center,” he said.

Prof. Opuala-Charles again advocated for the urgent establishment of a Rivers State Blue Economy Council comprising community representatives, academic experts, private sector professionals, and civil society organizations. According to him, this Council should manage all Blue Economy-related plans, from budgeting to oversight.

He further called for targeted investments in sustainable aquaculture, skills training for young people in marine sectors, revitalization of artisanal fishing, and a comprehensive effort to restore damaged creeks and wetlands.

“Rivers State has the potential to be the aquaculture hub of West Africa. We have the coastline, the population, and the maritime culture. But we have failed to leverage that because we have ignored the environment. If you kill your ocean, you kill your economy,” he warned.

The Correspondents’ Week event drew attendance from senior media professionals, scholars, policy experts, public officials, and civil society participants.