Oyetola Banks on State Partnerships to Unlock Nigeria’s Blue Economy Potential
By Sarah Kitka
Lagos (Core Reporters) The Federal Government of Nigeria has intensified efforts to unlock the enormous economic opportunities in Nigeria’s marine and blue economy, with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, urging state governments, private investors and development partners to work together in driving the implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy.
Speaking on Thursday at the Second Quarter 2026 Citizens’ and Stakeholders’ Engagement of the ministry held in Lagos, Oyetola said Nigeria must move beyond policy formulation to practical implementation that would create jobs, attract investment, improve food security and stimulate sustainable economic growth.
The event, themed “From Policy to Action: Mobilising Sub-National Governments for Effective Implementation of Nigeria’s National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy,” brought together governors, lawmakers, diplomats, development partners, industry leaders, academics and maritime stakeholders.
The minister described state governments as indispensable partners in harnessing Nigeria’s vast coastal and inland water resources, stressing that meaningful development of the blue economy could only be achieved through coordinated action across all levels of government.
According to him, reforms introduced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda have improved maritime safety, strengthened investor confidence, modernised port operations and enhanced Nigeria’s competitiveness in global maritime trade.
Highlighting the country’s growing progress, Oyetola said Tin Can Island Port and the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, were ranked among the world’s most improved ports in the 2025 Container Port Performance Index compiled by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence.
He disclosed that ongoing port modernisation projects and the planned development of deep seaports in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Lagos and Ondo states would further position Nigeria as the preferred maritime gateway in West Africa.
The minister also revealed that improved port efficiency had helped Nigeria maintain a consistent national trade surplus since 2024, while adding that the ministry had stepped up efforts to improve safety on inland waterways through the nationwide distribution of life jackets and collaboration with state governments to replace unsafe wooden boats with modern fibre vessels.
While delivering his keynote address, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Duoye Diri, applauded President Tinubu for establishing the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, describing the decision as a bold step toward diversifying Nigeria’s economy beyond oil.
He said Bayelsa had already established its own Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and commenced commercial fish production at the Bayelsa Aquaculture Village in Yenegwe, while also expanding marine transportation and pursuing the proposed Agge Deep Seaport project.
Diri urged coastal states to establish dedicated marine and blue economy ministries, enact supportive legislation, secure their maritime assets, invest in credible data systems and develop the skills and infrastructure required to maximise opportunities in the sector.
Also speaking, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, represented by the Managing Director of Dangote Port Operations, Simeon Akin Omole, said sustained private sector investment would determine the success of Nigeria’s blue economy agenda.
He noted that the national policy targets the creation of three million jobs within four years, annual sectoral growth of seven per cent and the reservation of at least 50 per cent of new jobs for young Nigerians aged between 18 and 35.
Dangote identified infrastructure development, value-chain expansion and robust public-private partnerships as the pillars required to drive industrialisation and unlock the enormous investment opportunities in fisheries, aquaculture, shipbuilding, maritime transport, renewable energy and marine biotechnology.
He further stated that strategic investments in Nigeria’s fisheries value chain could reduce the country’s dependence on fish imports, conserve foreign exchange, create over 500,000 jobs and position Nigeria as a leading exporter of fish products.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator (Dr.) Akon Eyakenyi; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun; representatives of the governors of Ondo and Borno states; and other industry stakeholders, who reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the implementation of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy agenda.
