Maritime
Nigeria’s Blue Economy Must Focus on Skills and Governance, Caribbean Expert Warns at OAUSTECH
Nigeria must invest in maritime skills, align ocean governance and empower local businesses if it hopes to build a sustainable blue economy.
That was the central message delivered by Professor Andrew Spencer, President of Caribbean Maritime University, during the 9th Convocation Lecture of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) in Okitipupa, Ondo State.
Speaking on Wednesday, March 4, Professor Spencer outlined what he described as the “Three Cs” needed for a sustainable blue economy — Capacity, Coherence and Collaboration.
Why It Matters
Nigeria sits within the strategically vital Gulf of Guinea, a region central to offshore energy, fisheries, maritime trade and regional security.
The Federal Government has repeatedly signalled its intention to diversify the economy through ocean-based industries.
But Professor Spencer warned that infrastructure alone would not secure economic sovereignty.
“Ports, vessels, and digital systems create opportunity only when nations possess the skills to operate, regulate, and improve them,” he said.
He added:
“The success of a blue economy is shaped less by the scale of its infrastructure and more by the quality of its people, the alignment of its institutions, and the inclusiveness of its economic design.”
Capacity: “Infrastructure Without Human Capital Produces Dependency”
Drawing lessons from Caribbean port modernisation efforts since the late 1990s, Professor Spencer said many countries improved terminals and increased cargo traffic but failed to develop indigenous expertise at the same pace.
He explained that while ownership of assets often remained national, operational control and strategic data management frequently shifted to foreign operators.
The result, he said, was “structural dependence”.
Maritime universities, he argued, must be seen as strategic national assets rather than peripheral institutions.
A 2024 tracer study from the Caribbean Maritime University showed 45% of graduates secured employment before graduation, 71% within six months, and 81% within nine months — figures he cited as proof that industry-aligned education strengthens economic resilience.
For Nigeria, he said, the implication is “both direct and urgent”.
“Infrastructure can be imported. Capital can be mobilised. Partnerships can be negotiated, but institutional knowledge and maritime competence must be built from within.”
Coherence: The Risk of Fragmented Governance
Professor Spencer also cautioned against fragmented maritime governance.
In the Caribbean, regional coordination existed through CARICOM, but enforcement, surveillance and data systems remained uneven across jurisdictions.
This fragmentation, he said, weakened regulatory authority and made governance reactive rather than strategic.
For Nigeria, with its size and influence in West Africa, the stakes are even higher.
“In a region as resource-intensive and strategically exposed as the Gulf of Guinea, fragmentation would magnify risks rather than contain them,” he warned.
Collaboration: Bringing SMEs into the Fold
The third pillar of the lecture focused on collaboration and value capture.
Professor Spencer said economic growth does not automatically translate into local prosperity when small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are excluded from high-value maritime activities.
He cited Jamaica’s Special Economic Zones framework as an example of how port-adjacent infrastructure can integrate local firms into global value chains.
For Nigeria, he suggested deliberate integration of local SMEs into logistics, vessel services, fisheries processing, storage, tourism and port support services.
“When blue-economy investments build SME capacity, skills and ownership, growth becomes inclusive, resilient and durable,” he said.
What’s Next?
Nigeria has announced several blue economy initiatives in recent years, including plans to strengthen maritime education and develop coastal infrastructure.
Professor Spencer concluded that the question is no longer whether the blue economy will grow but who will own it, who will govern it, and who will benefit from it.
Maritime
NPA 2025 Report: Export-Led Trade Expansion Boosts Nigeria’s Economic Diversification Drive
Nigeria’s maritime sector recorded one of its strongest years on record in 2025, with cargo throughput rising by 24.8%, according to a new report by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The 2025 Operational Performance Report shows total cargo volumes increased from 103.6 million metric tons in 2024 to more than 129.3 million metric tons in 2025.
Officials say the growth reflects progress in the Federal Government’s push to diversify the economy beyond oil.
Why It Matters
Nigeria has long depended on crude oil exports for revenue.
However, economic reforms in recent years have aimed to boost non-oil exports and strengthen trade competitiveness.
According to the report, exports now account for 39% of total cargo throughput, while imports make up 59.2% and transshipment 1.8%.
Container Traffic Surges
Containerised cargo — often seen as a strong indicator of export trade — rose by 25.7% to more than 2.1 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).
Export containers grew by 3.1%, while import-laden containers increased sharply by 32.8%.
Transshipment containers surged by 205.8%, suggesting Nigeria is emerging as a regional logistics hub.
Transshipment refers to cargo routed through Nigeria to other West and Central African countries.
Lekki Port Leads the Pack
The report identifies Lekki Port as Nigeria’s leading port, handling 40.6% of total cargo throughput.
Onne Port followed with 19.1%, while Apapa Port handled 16.7%.
Lekki Port also received the largest vessels, with an average Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 55,712.
Onne followed closely at 53,022 GRT.
By comparison, Apapa and Tin Can Island Port received ships averaging 33,251 and 36,909 GRT respectively.
Although Tin Can recorded the highest number of ship calls at 22.7%, analysts say Lekki and Onne are attracting larger, higher-value vessels.
Ship Calls and Bulk Cargo
Total ship calls rose by nearly 12% to 4,477 vessels in 2025.
Liquid bulk cargo, including fuel and chemicals, remained dominant at 54.7% of total volume.
Containerised cargo accounted for 24%.
Experts say the increase in vessel size signals improved port infrastructure and stronger global shipping confidence.
What the NPA Says
The Managing Director of the NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, described the growth as one of the most significant annual increases in Nigeria’s maritime history.
He said the milestone strengthens Nigeria’s position as “a more competitive and strategic player in regional and global trade.”
Looking ahead, he expressed confidence that further growth would come from the Federal Government-approved port modernisation programme and the planned National Single Window system.
What’s Next?
The port modernisation programme aims to rehabilitate ageing infrastructure, deepen berths, upgrade quays and deploy digital systems across terminals.
Officials say the reforms will reduce cargo dwell time, improve vessel turnaround and enhance safety.
For manufacturers, exporters and logistics operators, the changes could mean faster processing times and improved competitiveness.
Nigeria’s ports are handling more cargo than ever before.
The bigger question now is whether sustained reforms and infrastructure upgrades can turn this growth into long-term economic transformation.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has renewed its strategic partnership with the World Maritime University (WMU) to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime human capital and regulatory capacity.
The agreement, signed in Malmö, Sweden, will run for four years and is aimed at improving Nigeria’s performance in maritime safety, environmental management, and global shipping governance.
Why it matters
Nigeria depends heavily on maritime trade.
More than 80% of global trade moves by sea, and Nigeria’s ports serve as gateways for imports, exports, and oil shipments.
WMU was established in 1983 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to support maritime capacity building, especially in developing countries.
What the new agreement covers
Under the renewed Memorandum of Understanding, first signed in 2022, NIMASA will sponsor:
At least 10 officers annually for WMU’s 14-month Master of Science programme in Malmö between 2026 and 2029
At least one officer annually for a Master of Philosophy programme jointly delivered by WMU and the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) in Malta
The agreement also includes:
Distance learning programmes
Executive professional development courses
Research collaboration
Technical support in maritime safety, environmental compliance and seafarer certification
WMU will also seek additional fellowships from international donors for qualified Nigerian candidates.
NIMASA: ‘A strategic investment’
Speaking at the signing ceremony, NIMASA Director General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, described the partnership as central to Nigeria’s maritime development strategy.
“This collaboration has significantly strengthened our technical and regulatory capabilities over the years. Officers trained at WMU have enhanced our effectiveness in maritime safety administration, environmental compliance, maritime law, and shipping management. Their expertise has also reinforced Nigeria’s participation at the International Maritime Organization and other international maritime platforms,” he stated.
Officials from both institutions signed the agreement, with WMU President Professor Maximo Q. Mejia Jr representing the university.
What’s next?
The first batch under the renewed agreement is expected to join the 2026 academic intake.
If fully implemented, at least 40 NIMASA officers will undergo advanced postgraduate training in Sweden over the next four years.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has pledged regulatory leadership and technical coordination to develop and implement a National Maritime Decarbonization Action Plan.
The initiative is being driven under the International Maritime Organization’s IMO GreenVoyage2050 Project, which supports developing countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.
Why it matters
Shipping accounts for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the IMO.
For Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and a key maritime hub, the stakes are high.
Ports, offshore oil and gas, fisheries and coastal trade are central to the country’s blue economy ambitions.
Speaking at a national stakeholders’ workshop, NIMASA Director General Dr Dayo Mobereola described the action plan as a critical step toward meeting the Federal Government’s climate and economic goals.
Represented by Executive Director of Operations, Engr Fatai Taiye Adeyemi, he said the transition goes beyond global compliance.
“This transition is not merely about compliance with international obligations, it is about safeguarding our marine environment, protecting public health, strengthening the blue economy, and ensuring that our maritime industry remains competitive and future-ready,” he said.
He added that the National Action Plan would reflect Nigeria’s specific realities, leverage existing capacity and address gaps in policy and infrastructure.
L-R: Deputy Director, Marine Environment Management, MEM, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Kabiru Bello; Nigeria Treasurer, Anglophone, Women in Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa, WIMOWCA, Oritsematosan Edodo Emore; Executive Director Operations, NIMASA, Engr. Fatai Taiye Adeyemi; representative of the Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. John Ogwuche and Director, MEM, Dr Oma Offodile during the National Workshop on IMO GreenVoyage2050 programme in Lagos.
Global backing under IMO GreenVoyage2050
The GreenVoyage2050 Project provides technical expertise and institutional support to help countries align with the IMO’s greenhouse gas strategy.
Astrid Dispert, Technical Manager of the GreenVoyage2050 Project, said the goal is to create a coherent and globally aligned regulatory framework for maritime decarbonisation.
She noted that NIMASA plays a “pivotal role” in driving the initiative at national level.
The project is expected to encourage investment in clean technologies and build long-term institutional capacity for emissions reduction.
What’s next?
The workshop marks the start of consultations with shipping companies, port authorities, energy providers and environmental groups.
Officials say the finalised National Action Plan will align with broader federal economic and environmental priorities.
If effectively implemented, it could reshape vessel standards, fuel usage and port operations across Nigeria.
For coastal communities, that could mean cleaner air and improved public health.
For businesses, it may open new pathways for green investment.
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