Maritime
South-South key to blue economy growth, says Oyetola
The minister of marine and blue economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed the South-South region’s central role in Nigeria’s marine and blue economy ambitions. He said this in a statement by his special adviser, Bolaji Akinola, after receiving a delegation from the South-South Development Commission led by its managing director, Usoro Akpabio.
Mr Oyetola described the region as crucial to Nigeria’s maritime future, citing its long coastline, strategic ports, and abundant aquatic resources.
He said that the federal government remains committed to enhancing maritime infrastructure in the South-South to support national economic growth. The minister noted that ports in Warri, Rivers, and Calabar would soon be modernised under the federal government’s port upgrade initiative.
According to him, plans include dredging the ports to a minimum depth of 16 metres to attract larger vessels and improve competitiveness in the Gulf of Guinea. He said that deeper channels would attract larger ships, reduce cargo handling costs, increase trade, and strengthen the country’s revenue. Mr Oyetola added that the ministry was partnering with states to establish new deep-sea ports in Gulf of Guineaand Rivers. He said these projects would position Nigeria as a regional maritime hub, boosting logistics, industry, and employment. The minister underlined the region’s importance not only for shipping but also for the growth of marine tourism. He urged states to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway to expand coastal tourism and drive prosperity.
He noted that strong marine tourism would create jobs, attract visitors, and deliver sustainable income for coastal communities. Mr Oyetola highlighted the Maritime Academy in Oron and the Maritime University in Okerenkoko as proof of the region’s significance. He said both institutions are developing skilled manpower for the country’s growing maritime industry. The minister reaffirmed the government’s efforts to close Nigeria’s fish production gap and reduce the foreign exchange spent on fish imports. Mr Oyetola noted that the South-South, with rich fishing grounds, would drive self-sufficiency and advance aquaculture. He urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stressing its clear plan for the marine and blue economy sector.
Mr Oyetola said the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy provided a framework for sustainable resource use, investment, and job creation. Ms Akpabio praised the minister’s leadership and commitment to reforming the maritime sector. She stated that the commission was ready to partner with the ministry on blue economy projects throughout the region. Ms Akpabio noted that developing the sector would deepen regional integration, drive growth, and improve livelihoods. She proposed a joint working committee to coordinate programmes and strengthen collaboration. Ms Akpabio was accompanied by SSDC board members Chika Chinda, Larry Odey, and Tabitha Salah.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has expressed confidence that the Maritime Labour E-Platform would boost the sector’s competitiveness as it hosted a workshop to sensitize users of the portal through practical demonstrations and interactive sessions. Held in Lagos, the workshop practicalized the process of registering, verifying and issuing identity cards to seafarers and dockworkers via the NIMASA portal (@nimasa.gov.ng). Practical support measures, including training, cybersecurity and planning a phased rollout to ensure smooth adoption, were also discussed.
Speaking at the event, the NIMASA Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Jibril Abba stressed the importance of the digital platform to achieving global competitiveness, stating that “our digital transformation is underway. This year we launched the Maritime Labour E-Platform, building on our 2022 dockworkers registration success.
It is a modern, integrated system for registering and verifying seafarers, dockworkers, employers, and other stakeholders.” Represented by the Director, Maritime Labour Services Department, Mr. Ibrahim Umar Sidi, the Executive Director further noted that “by centralizing registration and issuing secure biometric ID cards, it cuts paperwork, speeds up processing, and gives us reliable real-time data. This helps us meet our obligations under the Maritime Labour Convention and boosts Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global Blue Economy.”
He also emphasized that the actualization of the digital platform was in line with the Agency’s statutory obligations, stating that, “This initiative directly fulfils our mandate under Section 27(1)(a) of the NIMASA Act 2007, which charges us with the duty to document and maintain a register of every maritime worker and operator. It also aligns with our obligations under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, often called the “Seafarers’ Bill of Rights for promoting fair working conditions, health protections, and social security.
In its efforts to build a smarter, more transparent, and efficient maritime sector, the Federal Government launched the Maritime Labour E-Platform, during an event in June marking the 2025 Day of the Seafarer in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The platform, which is a digital solution designed to revolutionize the governance of maritime labour in Nigeria, was described by the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola at the time as “a transformative tool for labour administration”.
Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola has noted that effective Port State Control (PSC) is one of the most potent tools of ensuring global safety and maintenance of environmental standards in shipping.
Dr. Mobereola who said this at a 5-day Regional Train the Trainer Workshop on Port State Control (PSC) for Member States of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the support of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), further emphasized that the quality of the professionals who implement PSC determines its overall success. Represented by the Executive Director, Operations, Engr. Fatai Taiye Adeyemi, the DG described the workshop as a reflection of Africa’s shared commitment to safer, cleaner, and more efficient shipping.
“Your presence here demonstrates our collective resolve to strengthen efficient maritime governance, improve safety standards, and enhance environmental protection across West and Central Africa,” he said. The DG commended the IMO, the Abuja MoU Secretariat, and all technical partners for their continued support towards capacity-building, regional cooperation, and the promotion of maritime safety in Africa.
Delivering a goodwill message, the representative of the IMO, Captain Ahmed Sewelam, reaffirmed the Organization’s unwavering commitment to supporting Member States through its technical cooperation programme to strengthen effective and harmonized Port State Control regimes globally. “Effective regional cooperation and harmonized PSC practices are essential to eliminate substandard shipping and promote consistency across the region,” Captain Sewelam said. He said that the workshop provides a unique platform for delegates to strengthen their collective capacity as Port States, while discussing key elements such as inspection procedures, reporting, and strategies for improved performance noting that “together, we can strengthen Port State Control implementation and advance maritime safety and sustainability in the region”.
On his part, the Secretary General of the Abuja MoU, Captain Sunday Umoren, reiterated that capacity building remains a top priority of the Abuja MoU. He noted that effective Flag State control directly influences the quality of Port State Control operations, emphasizing the importance of strong national systems. “We must continue to build capacity, strengthen cooperation, and share experiences to ensure that our region maintains high standards of maritime safety and compliance,” he said.
The Train-the-Trainer Workshop on Port State Control under the Abuja MoU represents another milestone in NIMASA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen maritime safety, promote environmental protection, and consolidate Nigeria’s leadership role in advancing regional maritime development. The workshop, which is being held in Lagos, has brought together delegates from 22 countries across West and Central Africa to deepen capacity, harmonize standards, and strengthen maritime safety oversight across the region.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) announced on Monday that about 20 ships laden with food items, petroleum products, and other goods are expected to arrive at Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos. In its shipping position for Monday, the authority disclosed that the ships will arrive in Lagos from November 10 to 12.
According to the NPA, out of the 20 expected ships, four contain crude oil, four contain petrol, three others are to arrive with aviation fuel, while the remaining nine ships are to arrive with diesel, gas oil, and different products.
The NPA also hinted that three ships had arrived at the ports and were waiting to berth with general cargo and bulk urea. Meanwhile, it says that 11 ships are currently at the ports discharging general cargoes, bulk wheat, bulk sugar, containers, and bulk gas. NAN
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