Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni, has urged swift policy reforms and major investments to unlock Nigeria’s vast maritime and coastal potential and position the country as a dominant regional hub.
Speaking through his representative, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, at the 2025 Annual Conference of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) in Lagos, Senator Sanni noted that with modern infrastructure and sound policies, Nigeria can rise as West and Central Africa’s leading maritime powerhouse.
He described the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy as a significant milestone but stressed that its success hinges on strategic planning, strong private-sector participation, and the modernization of ports and inland waterways.
According to him, Nigeria must develop seamless multimodal transport systems connecting seaports to industrial and agricultural centres, while embracing digital innovations such as the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) to boost efficiency, transparency, and revenue generation.
Senator Sanni called for the development of a National Blue Economy Policy aligned with global frameworks including the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Such a policy, he said, must strengthen institutional coordination, eliminate regulatory bottlenecks, and create a clear legal environment that supports investment and maritime dispute resolution.
He further highlighted the untapped economic opportunities in fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism, renewable energy, and biotechnology, stressing that sustainability and community inclusion must guide all Blue Economy projects.
With effective public–private collaboration and technology-driven reforms, he maintained, Nigeria’s marine and coastal resources can become powerful engines of industrial development and national prosperity.
Reporting by Sherifat Oyediran