The Federal Government is to explore deep seabed exploration and mining activities to harness the vast resources of the blue economy and drive economic growth.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, said this on Wednesday in Abuja in his opening address at the stakeholders` sensitisation workshop on “ Deep Seabed Activities“.
Ouetola who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Micheal Oloruntola, described seabed minerals as the mineral resources found on or beneath the ocean floor.
According to him, the government is committed to diversifying the national economy by capitalising on the global surge by harnessing the vast potential of marine resources.
“As a major oil-producing country with extensive coastline and inland waterways, we cannot afford to lag in this new frontier.
“This transition from a fossil fuel-based to a mineral-based economy presents opportunities for Nigeria to leverage its marine resources, particularly wave and tide energy, to generate clean energy.
“Effective harnessing of these resources will significantly contribute to our national`s energy needs and national economy,“ he said.
He said the workshop aimed to raise awareness among critical stakeholders on the importance of deep seabed exploration and exploitation and addressing the environmental and social implications.
He added that the workshop would also focus on ensuring effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects that might arise from deep seabed activities.
Also speaking, Dr Dayo Mobereola, the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), encouraged all relevant stakeholders to join forces to collectively navigate the new frontier of marine and blue economy.
He further urged the relevant stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria`s deep sea resources contribute to the prosperity and sustainability of the nation in line with international best practices.
“Nigeria has long benefited from its offshore oil and gas resources. As we look to the future, deep sea mining presents a unique opportunity for Nigeria to diversify its economy and secure long-term economic growth.
“It is an integral part of the blue economy, promising technological advancement, resource security and job creation, “ he said.
According to him, the deep seabed refers to the deepest part of the ocean extending from approximately 200 meters to 11,000 meters depth, which is home to unique ecosystems and biodiversity.
He said It remained a largely unexplored frontier, with ongoing research and development aimed at understanding its ecosystem, resources and potential applications.
According to him, deep seabed mining is an emerging concept that could improve the economic activities of a country , which involves the extraction of mineral deposits from the ocean floor.
He explained that the extraction of such minerals has metals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, and gold crucial for modern technologies and green energy solutions.
“There has been high interest in deep seabed mining due to the significance of these metals.
‘However, there have not been commercial operations of the mining as there are concerns about environmental impacts and the need for a regulatory framework.
“The deep seabed is therefore believed to hold vast reserves of these minerals, possibly in quantities that could significantly reduce the world’s dependency on land mining,” he said.
