Daniel Adaji
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Thursday hosted the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, in Abuja, where he called for a stronger partnership to enhance security across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Speaking during the visit, Oyetola congratulated the IGP on his appointment, describing it as well deserved and expressing confidence in his ability to provide effective leadership for the Nigeria Police Force.
He stressed that safeguarding the nation’s coastal and inland waterways is critical to the success of the Federal Government’s blue economy agenda.
The minister noted that the maritime sector holds vast potential for economic diversification, job creation and increased national revenue, but warned that these opportunities can only be fully realized in a secure and well-regulated environment.
“To unlock the full potential of our maritime resources, we must guarantee safety and order across our waterways through seamless cooperation among all relevant agencies,” Oyetola said, underscoring the need for intelligence-driven operations and coordinated enforcement efforts.
In his remarks, IGP Disu thanked the minister for the warm reception and reaffirmed the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen collaboration with the ministry.
He assured that the Force would continue to support strategic sectors, including maritime operations, through intelligence-led policing, patrols and enhanced enforcement against criminal activities on the waterways.
Discussions during the meeting focused on improving surveillance coverage, boosting rapid response capacity and institutionalizing regular information-sharing between the ministry and the police, particularly in Nigeria’s marine and coastal environments.
Both leaders agreed to sustain strategic dialogue and operational coordination mechanisms aimed at protecting critical maritime assets and ensuring that Nigeria’s waters remain safe, secure and conducive to investment.
