EXCLUSIVE: Tinubu’s Minister, Oyetola Splurges N1 Billion on Cars, Burns More Billions in Questionable Maritime Projects

Secrets Reporters

In a country gasping for breath under the crushing weight of inflation, hunger, and a plummeting naira, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has chosen to sail in the opposite direction, one of brazen luxury and questionable spending. The newly minted ministry, birthed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August 2023, has hit the ground running, not with reform or innovation, but with a lavish appetite for taxpayer funds. SecretsReporters can confirm exclusively that the ministry, under the leadership of Gboyega Adetola, has perfected the art of fiscal flamboyance, spending billions like confetti at a political carnival.

Like a sailor drunk on the thrill of high tides, the ministry’s first order of business in 2024 was to set aside a staggering ₦1 billion for the procurement of official vehicles, not for the entire maritime workforce, but primarily for the Minister and his Permanent Secretary. This extravagant budget covered two Toyota Land Cruisers, seven Innoson project pickups, and seven 28-seater CNG staff buses. In a country where the average citizen struggles to afford a meal a day, the decision to splurge on high-end SUVs is nothing short of a slap in the face of the poor.

Worse still, documents obtained by SecretsReporters reveal that the entire ₦1 billion was completely exhausted with military precision and zero remorse. There was no mention of public procurement transparency, no justification for the brand choices, and no assessment of value for money. Just a clean sweep of the budget like a smooth sail into opulence.

But the spending spree did not end at the vehicle showrooms. The ministry also set aside another ₦200 million to implement “all International Maritime Organization conventions and protocols” across maritime agencies. One would expect a flurry of reports, stakeholder engagements, and concrete policy impacts after these spendings but alas, nothing but radio silence followed with another line on the budget marked: 100% spent.

As if on autopilot, ₦100 million also vanished into the black hole labeled “Implementation of international ship and port facility security code in Nigeria.” For years, Nigeria’s ports have struggled with corruption and inefficiency, and this hefty investment promised to change that narrative. Yet, at Apapa, Onne, and Warri ports, there’s no visible sign of improvement. The financial trail ends with the expenditure, leaving behind empty promises and no tangible results at the docks.

In the name of environmental protection, the ministry further budgeted ₦100 million to implement climate change strategies in the maritime sector, which it claimed aligns with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) procedures. While these ambitions sound impressive, the reality tells a different story. Nigeria’s ports remain filthy, marine pollution continues to worsen, and coastal communities see little to no benefit from this much-touted climate funding.

The document also revealed that another ₦200 million was spent on “assessment visits” to ports, Inland Container Depots (ICDs), and inland waterways projects. While we learnt these visits were to ensure compliance with development plans, no specific ports were listed, no outcomes were published, and no reforms were implemented. Like sailors lost at sea, the funds again drifted into obscurity.

Still hungry, the ministry earmarked ₦250 million for coordinating marine activities between Nigeria and other West African countries. This included bilateral and multilateral meetings on maritime safety and regional security. Whether these meetings took place over caviar or coconut water remains unclear, but once again, the budget was fully expended with no single communiqué or press briefing held to highlight this expenditure and how it has improved maritime security along Nigeria’s dangerous Gulf of Guinea corridor.

In total, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has spent over ₦1.85 billion on a series of projects that reek more of vanity than visionary leadership. Like a ship adrift without a compass, the ministry seems more preoccupied with cosmetic achievements and diplomatic outings than with the urgent tasks of maritime reform, port decongestion, or sustainable development of the blue economy.

This unchecked spending spree unfolds amid growing frustration from seafarers over unpaid wages, a dormant Nigerian ship registry, and indigenous shipowners struggling under persistent foreign dominance.