The Federal Government asserts that the nation’s Marine and Blue Economy presents vast, untapped investment opportunities, positioning the country as a strategic destination for foreign investors seeking sustainable growth
On Friday, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, made a statement, which was signed by his media adviser, Bolaji Akinola.
At the London International Shipping Week 2025, Mr Oyetola was represented by Dayo Mobereola, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.
Mr Oyetola emphasized that Nigeria’s maritime sector has the capacity to drive economic growth, generate employment, and position the country as a regional maritime hub.
He encouraged African investors and other maritime stakeholders to seize the numerous opportunities available to tap into the sector’s vast potential.
“We urge investors to look beyond short-term gains and embrace the long-term benefits of investing in Nigeria’s fast-evolving maritime landscape. Our oceans and inland waterways are our lifeblood, our highways to prosperity and the very arteries that will fuel the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“Nigeria’s significant progress in maritime security: the success of the Deep Blue Project has eliminated piracy in Nigerian waters and contributed to a sharp decline in incidents across the Gulf of Guinea.
“Nigeria has recorded three consecutive years without piracy attacks in its territorial waters, a feat that has earned commendations from the International Maritime Bureau. This is proof that Nigeria is a safe destination for maritime investments,” he said.
Mr Oyetola said that Nigeria’s growing port infrastructure, with the landmark Lekki Deep Sea Port, stood as a symbol of public-private partnership success.
According to him, the state-of-the-art facilities and capacity berth the world’s largest vessels and Lekki Port is expected to serve as a vital trans-shipment hub for landlocked African nations.
The minister said that the government’s ambitious reforms were all geared towards positioning Nigeria as the maritime hub of West and Central Africa. He said that the government understood sea security was non-negotiable and remained committed to sustaining its security gains through technology-driven surveillance, strong legal frameworks and regional collaboration.
This, he said, would scale up trans-shipment operations for countries such as Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso, positioning Nigeria as the maritime hub of the sub-region.
Mr Oyetola called for support for Nigeria’s candidature for election into Category C of the IMO Council for the 2026–2027 Biennium.
“Our campaign is not just about a seat for Nigeria; it is about securing a stronger voice for the entire African continent,” he said.
Mr Oyetola called for collaborations within the African maritime sector for a secure, sustainable, and seamlessly integrated maritime industry.
In his remarks, the Chairman of MAN’s Governing Council Engr Kehinde Akinola, said that the council had developed a comprehensive five-year strategic development plan for the academy.
Akinola said that when approved, the plan would accelerate institutional reforms, enhance training standards, deepen industry linkages, and reposition the academy for greater efficiency.
He said that the governing council was partnering shipowners and operators to secure practical training for the cadets.
“It is an obligation because we must prepare our cadets to meet international standards,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Kevin Okonna, the Acting Rector of the academy, said that within the past 10 months, the academy had been repositioned to enhance teaching and learning.
Okonna said that the institution had been collaborating with maritime professional associations and the academy’s alumni to facilitate the employment of more maritime professionals.
“We have employed about seven marine professional lecturers to enhance cadets teaching and learning.
“We have also obtained the commitment of shipowners and their associations to provide onboard training opportunities for our cadets,” he said.
The theme of the event is: “Implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy for Onboard Training of Nigerian Merchants Navy Cadets and the Critical Needs of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria”.
