- Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola
By Felix Iwebunor
Poised to position Nigeria as a leading destination for maritime investment, innovation and trade in Africa, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, has inaugurated a committee to organise the Nigeria Marine and Blue Economy Expo (NIMBEX).
“Nigeria’s marine and blue economy holds enormous potential to drive economic diversification, attract investment and create sustainable employment. NIMBEX will provide a strategic platform to bring together the capital, expertise and partnerships needed to unlock these opportunities,” the minister said.
Against this backdrop, the expo is expected to bring together policymakers, international investors, industry leaders and technology innovators to support the federal government’s efforts to unlock Nigeria’s vast marine and blue economy potential.
Oyetola said the initiative would provide a platform to translate the country’s maritime advantages into tangible investment opportunities, economic growth and job creation, according to the Special Adviser to the minister, Bolaji Akinola.
Represented at the inauguration by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Fatima Mahmood, the minister said the expo would help bridge the gap between Nigeria’s vast maritime resources and the investments required to harness them for national development.
With an 853-kilometre coastline, over 10,000 kilometres of navigable inland waterways spanning 28 states and a substantial domestic market, Nigeria possesses significant assets to strengthen its position in regional and international maritime trade.
The NIMBEX Organising Committee is chaired by the ministry’s Director of Marine Conservation, Innovation and Technology, Mr Husseini Shettima.
The Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Kalthum Ibrahim, and the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Marine and Blue Economy, Prof. Busayo Fakinlede, are co-chairpersons, while the minister’s Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola, is a member of the committee and Chief Operating Officer of the expo.
Other members include representatives of the ministry’s technical departments, key agencies and institutions across the maritime sector, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, National Inland Waterways Authority, and Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.
Also represented are the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, New Bussa, and the Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology in New Bussa and Baga.
The committee also includes representatives of coastal states, terminal operators, shipowners, freight forwarders, barge operators and other stakeholders in the maritime industry.
The multi-agency composition is intended to promote coordinated planning and execution while connecting investors with credible, policy-backed opportunities across the sector.
NIMBEX will focus on key areas such as deep-sea mining, port development, shipping development, inland waterways development, logistics, offshore energy, maritime finance, fisheries, marine biotechnology, maritime security and environmental sustainability.
The expo will also showcase emerging opportunities in marine renewable energy, green shipbuilding, artificial intelligence-driven logistics, subsea robotics and coastal tourism.
Beyond showcasing investment prospects, NIMBEX aims to foster collaboration among government, industry, financial institutions and technology stakeholders while promoting sustainable approaches to harnessing Nigeria’s marine resources.
