Utilise coastal areas advantage for economic development, stakeholders tell Akeredolu

Experts in oceanography, tourism and other professional endeavours have urged the administration of Mr Rotimi Akeredolu to utilise Ondo State’s vast coastal areas for economic advantage.

The advice was hinged on the inconsistency in the crude oil price, coupled with the fact that though the state is among oil producing communities, it cannot rank with its counterparts in the Niger Delta region in terms of revenue derivations.

“For the simple fact that Ondo State is far bigger than some of her contemporary oil producing states, with larger commitments, but lesser revenue, it behooves the current administration to tap the huge potential inherent in her coastal areas that have remained dormant for long,” admonished Dr  Fatoki Omosehin, a consultant on oceanography, who is also an indigene of Ilaje, in Ondo State.

Citing from the 2017 World Bank reports, Omosehin noted that  for billions of people around the world, especially,  the poor ones,  healthy oceans mean jobs, food and protection.

“FAO estimates that fisheries and aqua culture assure the livelihoods of 10-12 per cent of the world’s population with more than 90 per cent of those employed by capturing fisheries working in small-scale operations in developing countries. “Oceans are equally important for food security and jobs. In 2012, fisheries produced roughly 160 million tons of fish and generated over US$129 billion in exports while securing access to nutrition for billions of people and accounting for 16 percent of total global animal protein”, said the report, among other revelations, a scenario Omosehin described as “very apt with Ondo State.”

Similar sentiment was expressed by Mr Johnson Ajayi, a tourism consultant, who is also an Ondo State indigene, believed that with quality research, Akeredolu can make the state self sufficient  by developing the coastal areas, diversifying  through agriculture and improving the state’s internally revenue generation (IGR).

Compared what is happening in The Gambia, a tiny West African country that may not be bigger than Ondo State, Ajayi, who equally made an allusion to another World Bank Report, noted that Gambia, in collaboration with the Regional Fisheries Program , that consists of Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, among others, aims to increase the economic contribution of marine resources through strengthened fisheries governance, reduced illegal fishing, and increased value added to fish products.

“To me, if Ondo state can strengthen fisheries, tourism activities and provide the necessary support, our youths, instead of engaging in criminal behaviours such as kidnapping and armed robbery, would joyfully embrace fishing activities, while tourism would also immensely adds to the state’s IGR”. Said Ajayi.

Experts revealed that coastal areas within 100 km of the ocean account for an estimated 61 percent of the world’s total Gross National Product (GNP) and are of particular importance for developing countries.  Overall, it was stated that  healthy oceans, coasts and freshwater ecosystems are crucial for economic growth and food production, which experts believed that Ondo state has abundant opportunity.

“The World Bank Group helps countries promote strong governance of marine and coastal resources to improve the contribution to sustainable and inclusive growth by supporting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, establishing coastal and marine protected areas, reducing pollution, integrating coastal resource management and developing knowledge and capacity around ocean health”, said Christopher Effiong, a marine consultant, who also asked, not only Ondo State but even Lagos, to tap from the abundant nature’s provision for their respective economic resurgence.

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