The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, has outlined ambitious reforms aimed at transforming Nigeria’s maritime sector into a key driver of economic growth.
Speaking at an interactive session with editors of print media in Lagos, Oyetola highlighted the government’s commitment to harnessing marine resources for national prosperity.
With an extensive coastline of 853 kilometers and a vast Exclusive Economic Zone of over 300,000 square kilometers, Nigeria is strategically positioned to develop its blue economy.
The minister emphasized that the sector—encompassing maritime shipping, ports infrastructure, fishing, aquaculture, and renewable energy—has immense potential to boost the country’s GDP.
One of the major highlights of the event was the announcement of the modernization of the Western Ports, including Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port, with a completion period of 48 months.
This initiative is expected to increase the draft of Nigerian ports to 16-17 meters, allowing larger vessels to dock and reducing revenue losses to neighboring countries. Additionally, the reforms are projected to generate over 20,000 jobs.
Oyetola also revealed that Nigeria has concluded its National Blue Economy Strategy, developed in collaboration with international partners such as the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and the Kingdom of Norway.
The ministry has also finalized a Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, reinforcing the government’s focus on increasing local fish production while addressing illegal and unregulated fishing.
Further efforts to strengthen the maritime sector include the implementation of a National Single Window (NSW) digital platform to streamline trade compliance and improve port efficiency.
The government is also reducing the number of agencies operating at seaports to enhance ease of doing business.
Security in Nigeria’s waterways remains a top priority, with the minister noting that Nigeria has sustained a zero-piracy record in the Gulf of Guinea over the last three years.
The deployment of the Deep Blue Sea Project and Falcon Eye Surveillance Systems has significantly boosted maritime security.
In a move to position Nigeria as a leading maritime nation, Oyetola confirmed that the country has secured an additional 16,300 square kilometers of continental shelf and has ratified six international maritime conventions.
The minister also announced Nigeria’s bid to contest the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council election in 2025.
The session ended with a call for greater collaboration between the media and the ministry to ensure the successful implementation of policies and reforms.
Oyetola reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustainable marine resource management, investment attraction, and job creation, marking a significant step forward in Nigeria’s blue economy agenda.
