African shipowners urge FG to develop strategic fleet policy to drive National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy

Notable Nigerian shipping stakeholders on Thursday July 4, 2025 applauded the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, over the recently approved National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy by the Federal Government.

Among the stakeholders at a Citizens and Stakeholders Forum in Lagos, organized by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, was the President, African Shipowners Association (ASA), Captain Ladi Olubowale, who harped on the importance of Strategic Fleet Policy and capacity building for cadetship training by the government to drive the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy.

The ASA President, Captain Ladi Olubowale, described the forum as a very good opportunity for port  stakeholders to evaluate and make necessary inputs into the Policy. He pledged that ASA would be ready to offer much-needed counsel to the ministry in the formulation of the Strategic Fleet Policy.

“This forum is a very good one for stakeholders in the industry. We applaud the Minister and his team on their efforts towards repositioning the industry. At ASA, we are ready to further collaborate with the ministry and its agencies in making the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy work.

“For the country to achieve the objectives of the National National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, the ministry must consider designing a Strategic Fleet Policy. This is very important as it will drive the economy. We are ready to work with the government in this area. Also, we must invest further in capacity building for cadetship training,” Captain Ladi Olubowale submitted.

Also speaking was Dr. Odunayo Ani, President of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, who reiterated their support the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy.

Dr. Odunayo Ani described the policy as both timely and visionary and noted that it reflects the Federal Government’s resolve to drive sustainable ocean governance, job creation, economic diversification, and environmental stewardship.

“As a key stakeholder in the maritime sector, WISTA Nigeria believes that strategic collaboration is indispensable to the successful implementation of this national blueprint,” she said.

“WISTA Nigeria stands ready to support this agenda through advocacy, training, and strategic partnerships,” she added.

Earlier in his keynote address, the Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola described the Federal Executive Council’s approval of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy as a major turning point, offering a structured framework to unlock value across Nigeria’s vast marine ecosystems, including port infrastructure, maritime security, aquaculture, coastal tourism, ocean governance, marine biotechnology, renewable energy, and climate resilience.

Oyetola noted that the forum was not a ceremony but a platform for a practical working session designed to craft an implementation roadmap with clear institutional responsibilities and measurable deliverables.

He stressed the need for inter-agency coordination, accountability mechanisms, and capacity building, affirming that citizen engagement and shared ownership are essential to the success of the policy. Drawing on global trends, he argued that inclusive policymaking yields stronger development outcomes, particularly in complex and interconnected sectors such as the marine economy.

Oyetola highlighted key milestones achieved by the Ministry since its inception, including a 75 per cent performance score in 2024 as evaluated by the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit under the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination. This performance, achieved despite institutional challenges, places the Ministry among the top-performing MDAs nationwide. He commended the efforts of the Ministry’s Delivery Task Teams and urged them to sustain the momentum in pursuing excellence.

Providing updates on priority areas, Oyetola revealed that the Federal Government has commenced reconstruction of the Apapa and Tin Can Ports under the Western Port Rehabilitation Programme, with procurement processes ongoing for the Eastern Ports. These physical upgrades are being matched with digital innovations such as the Port Community System, an electronic call-up platform, and a unified One-Stop-Shop for port clearance—all aimed at reducing congestion, boosting investor confidence, and re-establishing Nigeria as a maritime hub in West and Central Africa.

He also reiterated the government’s commitment to revitalising indigenous shipping capacity through the revival of a National Carrier under a public-private partnership model. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has begun preparatory work for the transparent disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, which, once operational, will significantly expand opportunities for Nigerian shipping operators.

The Minister spoke on the Ministry’s digitisation drive, which has resulted in consistent growth in revenue and operational efficiency across agencies. Procedural bottlenecks are being addressed, and investment is rising in bonded terminals, dry ports, inland logistics corridors, and warehousing. Nigeria, he noted, is steadily moving towards becoming the maritime and logistics gateway for the sub-region.

In terms of regional cooperation, Nigeria is championing the operationalisation of the Regional Maritime Development Bank under the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), which will be headquartered in Abuja and offer long-term maritime infrastructure financing.

Oyetola highlighted recent strides in enhancing inland waterways transport. Through the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the Ministry has implemented the Inland Waterways Transportation Regulation, 2023, and launched a national water safety campaign. Over 42,000 safety jackets have been distributed, ferries and patrol boats deployed, and water marshals trained—all contributing to reduced boat mishaps and renewed public confidence in water travel.

On the fisheries and aquaculture front, the Minister said the recent transfer of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to the Ministry has sparked renewed efforts to reposition the sector. These include the revival of fishing terminals, automation of licensing systems, and incentives for responsible investment in aquaculture.

He maintained that maritime security remains central to the Ministry’s agenda. Through the Deep Blue Project, Nigeria has maintained zero piracy incidents in its territorial waters for three consecutive years, earning praise from the international community and contributing to regional maritime stability. He further disclosed that Nigeria’s offer to host the African Union Combined Maritime Task Force in Lagos has been endorsed by the AU Peace and Security Council.

Mr Olufemi Michael Oloruntola, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, welcomed participants by reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to inclusive implementation, stating that the revised directive from the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit now requires holistic stakeholder engagement every quarter to promote transparency and collective ownership.

The stakeholders at the forum heads of maritime agencies, shipowners, terminal operators, freight forwarding associations, truckers, women’s groups, and representatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, Nigerian Technology Development Agency, and other critical institutions.

The event laid a solid foundation for the structured and inclusive rollout of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy.