The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has called for partnership between the Ministry and the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) to advance fisheries research, innovation and sustainable development in the country.
Oyetola made the call in Abuja on Friday during a courtesy visit by the Executive Secretary of ARCN, Dr. Abubakar Dabban.
He noted that closer collaboration between research institutions and policymakers was critical to achieving food security and sustainable management of aquatic resources.
The Minister disclosed that the supervision of all fisheries-related research institutes and colleges has been reassigned from ARCN to the Ministry, following a directive from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
He explained that the move aligns with the earlier transfer of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to the Ministry, aimed at improving coordination and sectoral efficiency.
According to Oyetola, while the Ministry now holds the primary supervisory mandate, the transition is structured to ensure continuity in research, effective oversight and seamless alignment of policy objectives with scientific outcomes.
He emphasised the importance of leveraging ARCN’s long-standing expertise in agricultural research, proposing joint initiatives in areas such as climate resilience, capacity development, and youth and women empowerment within the fisheries and aquaculture value chain.
“ARCN’s expertise remains vital. We are seeking a seamless link between research, policy and industry application to ensure food security and sustainable resource management,” the Minister said.
In his response, Dabban described the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy as a strategic step towards economic diversification, stressing that Nigeria’s marine biotechnology and aquaculture potential must be driven by strong scientific evidence.
He pledged ARCN’s research network and technical capacity to support the Ministry’s policy framework, adding that science-based collaboration would help deliver measurable outcomes for the nation’s blue economy agenda.
