Nigeria has 853 km of Atlantic coastline but alas we ate not tapping into its economic potential as there is no coherent marine policy in place

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Build an 830km Atlantic windmill wall along our coast from Badagry to Calabar. We should set ourselves a target of generating at least 5,000MW from this project

[2] Build a 25,000MW hydro-electricity power plant at the confluence of the Rivers Niger and Benue in Lokoja. This will involve the creation of an artificial Lake Bassa and the construction of man-made rapids to enhance the hydro-electric capability of the river

[3] Dredge the River Niger from Port Harcourt in Rivers State to Illo in Zamfara State

[4] Dredge the River Benue from Lokoja in Kogi State to Yola in Adamawa State

[5] Dredge River Kaduna so the Kaduna metropolis can be linked to the River Niger Network

[6] Establish a Nigerian Waterways Transport Corporation to provide marine transport across the nation similar to the railway network. Then launch an integrated transport plan in which a ticket will be usable on buses, marine craft and trains, so passengers can used mixed methods of transport for their journeys

[7] Build six artificial lakes on the Rivers Niger and Benue to enhance fish production

[8] Each artificial lake will be the centre of an irrigation policy that will provide water for nearby farmlands. A network of pipelines will be built to connect these lakes with the hinterland across northern Nigeria

[9] Build inlands ports at Asaba, Onitsha, Lokoja, Kaduna, Jebba, Yola and Makurdi

[10] Build a marine wildlife sanctuary in the Niger Delta, importing animals like crocodiles, manatees, dolphins, hippopotamus, etc in a bid to create a unique tourist industry.