Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni, has urged the Federal Government to embark on an aggressive infrastructure overhaul and implement bold policy reforms to fully unlock Nigeria’s maritime capacity and harness the immense opportunities within the nation’s emerging blue economy.

Senator Sanni, represented by Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, made this call during the 2025 Conference and Awards of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) held on Thursday in Lagos. The conference, themed “Harnessing Nigeria’s Blue Economy Potentials, Boosting Export Trade, and Multimodal Cargo Transport,” assembled key industry players to discuss pathways for repositioning Nigeria’s maritime sector for global competitiveness.

Port Modernisation and Multimodal Transport Critical to Growth

The Senator stressed that Nigeria must modernise its ports, develop new deep-sea ports and strengthen multimodal transport connections to facilitate efficient cargo movement across the country. He described these investments as central to reducing logistics costs, boosting export competitiveness and transforming Nigeria into a regional maritime hub.

He emphasized the urgent need to enhance road and rail links to major ports, dredge and upgrade inland waterways, and deploy advanced digital tools—particularly the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN)—to improve security, visibility, and operational efficiency.

National Blue Economy Policy, Strong Institutions Needed

While acknowledging the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy as a milestone, Senator Sanni argued that the ministry’s success depends on a robust national blue economy policy aligned with the African Union Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He reiterated the need for stronger institutions, improved inter-agency collaboration, and clearer regulatory frameworks to tackle bottlenecks that have long hindered maritime sector optimization.

PPP Investments, Legal Reforms to Boost Investor Confidence

The Senator called for enhanced public–private partnerships (PPPs) to attract fresh investments, drive innovation, and deploy modern technologies across the maritime value chain. He equally advocated for reforms in Nigeria’s legal and judicial systems to ensure efficient resolution of trade disputes—an essential factor in boosting investor confidence.

Vast Opportunities in Fisheries, Marine Tourism, and Renewable Energy

Highlighting key growth areas, Senator Sanni identified fisheries and aquaculture as critical components capable of boosting food security and creating employment opportunities, especially for young people. He also encouraged investment in marine tourism, offshore renewable energy, biotechnology, and deep-sea mining—sectors he described as emerging engines of economic diversification.

He added that sustainability must remain central to Nigeria’s maritime growth strategy.
“Protecting marine biodiversity is not just an obligation but a necessity for long-term prosperity,” he said.

AMJON Reaffirms Commitment to Maritime Advocacy

In her welcome remarks, Vera Osokpo, Acting President of AMJON, reiterated the association’s commitment to advancing policy advocacy and public awareness on the importance of the blue economy to Nigeria’s development.

She lamented that despite Nigeria’s vast ocean resources and strategic coastal landscape, the country has yet to maximise its maritime potential.

“Our blue economy has the potential to be a game-changer,” Osokpo said. “With the right investments and policies, we can diversify our economy, create jobs and stimulate sustainable growth.”

She also urged journalists to remain steadfast in promoting accountability, transparency, and sector-wide reforms through accurate and impactful reporting

Senator Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni has called for major infrastructure upgrades, policy reforms, and sustainable investments to unlock Nigeria’s blue economy and improve maritime trade efficiency. Speaking at the AMJON 2025 Conference in Lagos, he outlined key priorities including port modernisation, digital technologies, PPPs, and national blue economy policy alignment.