As world leaders converge on the coastal city of Nice in France, for the third United Nations Ocean Conference to confront ocean emergency, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA),
Hon. Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, has called on attendees to prioritize developing a comprehensive gloabal strategy to safeguard fragile marine ecosystems and resources.
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday in commemoration of this year’s World Ocean Day, Hon. Prince Amgbare, expressed deep concern about the fragile marine ecosystems in the Niger Delta Basin area, comprising Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers State, reiterating that his Authority’s plan to launch “NDBDA Waterways Sanitation Corps” supports the broader strategy of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
While commending organizers of the ocean conference 2025, being co-chaired by France and Costa Rica, aimed at addressing the escalating global ocean crisis, he expressed worry over recent scientific warnings to the effect that the combined threats of climate change, plastic pollution, ecosystem loss, and marine resource overuse could have catastrophic and irreversible consequences for the world’s oceans.
Hon. Amgbare noted that the Blue Economy has transformed Nice coast in France, the host region of the third ocean conference 2025, driving economic growth and societal benefits, pointing out that with its stunning beaches and Mediterranean climate, the region leverages tourism, maritime transport, fisheries, and innovative sectors like marine renewable energy to foster sustainable development.
“The ocean’s health is our health. As the planet’s blue heart, it fuels our food supply, medicine, climate balance, and water cycle, supporting countless livelihoods. But climate change, pollution, and ecosystem degradation put everything at risk. Therefore, on World Ocean Day 2025, we sound the alarm: protect the ocean, protect our future. The window for action is shrinking. We must act now to Save Our Ocean.
“Strengthening international legal frameworks, such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Marine Pollution (MARPOL) treaty, is crucial to combating marine pollution. Authorities must prioritize regulating riverine pollution, which is a significant source of ocean plastic pollution, to curb the flow of plastic waste into the seas and other water bodies.
“Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly responsible consumption and production, can help mitigate marine pollution. Furthermore, utilizing non-binding agreements and guidelines can facilitate international cooperation, driving collective action to protect our oceans.
“Collaboration among governments, industries, and civil society is crucial to effectively address marine pollution. This includes implementing and enforcing regulations, conducting ongoing research, and monitoring pollution levels. Engaging local communities and stakeholders in decision-making processes ensures that governance models are both effective and sustainable.
“Healthy oceans and coastal areas are the lifeblood of our planet, driving socioeconomic development and supporting human well-being. They generate half of our oxygen, supply 16% of global animal protein, and underpin numerous economic activities that foster growth and employment opportunities.”
Highlighting plans to introduce ocean literacy programs in the NDBDA’s catchment states, Hon. Amgbare lamented that, “Despite the ocean covering over 70% of our planet, we know less about the ocean’s depths than distant planets. This knowledge gap hinders our ability to harness resources sustainably while protecting marine ecosystems.
“The NDBDA Waterways Sanitation Corps initiative supports global sustainability goals by addressing plastic pollution, promoting climate action, and conserving marine life. Specifically, the corps will contribute to achieving SDG 6, SDG 13, and SDG 14, driving progress toward clean waterways, climate resilience, and healthy oceans, working to transform the Niger Delta’s waterways through comprehensive sanitation management, community engagement, and environmental education.
“NDBDA is collaborating with Ms. Rita Solari Inko-Tariah, a UNESCO-IOC Ocean Ambassador and Nigeria’s representative for Ocean Literacy. As the initiator of Road Show and Zero Plastic World, Zero Plastic Ocean, Ms. Inko-Tariah is a global leader in combating plastic pollution. Her initiatives are endorsed as a UN Ocean Decade Activity, aligning with the UN’s 2021-2030 Ocean Science for Sustainable Development goals, and she is part of the EU4Ocean Coalition for Ocean Literacy.
“By working together, the NDBDA Waterways Sanitation Corps can contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet, as a broader strategy of the United Nations aligning with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Nigeria’s maritime sector,” Hon. Amgbare said.
