Nigeria’s marine and blue economy has entered a new phase of renewal and expansion following decisive reforms championed by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, with 2025 emerging as a defining year for the sector.
According to the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Dr Bolaji Akinola, long-standing constraints that held back Nigeria’s maritime growth for decades were dismantled under Oyetola’s leadership, unlocking the sector for sustainable development and renewed investor confidence.
Akinola said since assuming office in August 2023, the Minister has pursued focused and far-reaching interventions that restored efficiency, credibility and global relevance to Nigeria’s maritime industry, with most of the breakthroughs crystallising in 2025.
Foremost among the achievements, he noted, was the resolution of the over 20-year-old Apapa gridlock, which had crippled port operations and disrupted trade along the Lagos port corridor. By early 2024, coordinated policies, improved operational discipline and infrastructure optimisation delivered lasting relief, significantly reducing cargo dwell time, lowering logistics costs and restoring the Lagos ports as viable gateways for national and regional commerce.
Another major milestone was Nigeria’s return to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council in 2025 after a 14-year absence. Akinola said the successful election marked a restoration of Nigeria’s influence in global maritime decision-making, reinforced its leadership role in Africa and reaffirmed international confidence in the country’s maritime governance.
He further disclosed that approval was secured in 2025 for Nigeria’s first comprehensive port upgrade and modernisation in more than five decades, ending years of reliance on obsolete port infrastructure.
The initiative, he said, will align Nigerian ports with global standards, enhance competitiveness, attract larger vessels and position the country as a maritime and logistics hub for West and Central Africa.
In a related development, the Ministry issued compliance certificates for the Bakassi Deep Sea Port and the Ondo Deep Sea Port to the governments of Cross River and Ondo states respectively. Akinola described the move as a critical regulatory breakthrough that paves the way for accelerated investment, construction and eventual operations of the ports, expanding national port capacity and strengthening regional trade links.
The Special Adviser also highlighted the establishment of the Regional Maritime Development Bank (RMDB) in 2025, resolving a 16-year impasse that limited access to maritime financing. With the bank now operational, he said the sector is better positioned to attract long-term funding for shipping, port development and maritime services.
Equally significant, he said, was the approval granted for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to commence disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), which had remained dormant for over two decades. The activation of the fund is expected to boost indigenous ship ownership and strengthen local participation in coastal and international trade.
Akinola also described the development and Federal Executive Council approval of Nigeria’s first-ever National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy in May 2025 as a landmark policy breakthrough. The framework integrates shipping, ports, fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism, offshore energy and environmental sustainability into a unified national strategy, providing clarity for investors and a roadmap for inclusive and sustainable growth.
On maritime security, he noted that sustained deployment of assets under the Deep Blue Project has helped maintain zero piracy incidents in Nigerian waters, reinforcing investor confidence and Nigeria’s leadership in regional maritime security.
He further revealed that Nigeria recorded an increase of 300,000 metric tonnes in fish production in 2025 — the first such growth in over a decade — reflecting the Minister’s drive to reduce fish import dependence, enhance food security and create jobs across the fisheries value chain.
Akinola said the cumulative impact of these reforms has laid a solid foundation for long-term growth of the marine and blue economy, stressing that while progress has been steady since 2023, 2025 stands out as a year of bold reforms and tangible results.
Looking ahead, he assured that Minister Oyetola remains committed to supporting indigenous shipowners, boosting fish production and consolidating the gains achieved, as the sector moves towards accelerated growth in the years ahead.
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