The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is fully committed to maritime safety and modernisation of Nigeria’s port infrastructure.

Mr Oyetola disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos during his keynote address at the opening of the Lagos International Maritime Week and the 9th International Maritime Business-to-Business Conference and Exhibition.

The theme of the conference is “Navigating the future of Africa’s marine and blue economy: Safety first.”

The minister, represented by the Director Legal, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Chinedu Mbam, said that the administration was fully committed to driving the modernisation of the ports and maritime infrastructure.

He said, “We understand that port efficiency and safety are not options; they are imperatives for unlocking the full potential of the blue economy. By upgrading our ports to global standards, we are positioning Nigeria and Africa to become leaders in international maritime trade, ensuring that our ports are gateways of prosperity, not bottlenecks.

“The theme of this conference is, especially, significant because safety remains the cornerstone upon which all maritime operations and business success rest. In the maritime world, safety is not merely a regulatory obligation; it is a critical component and an enabler of economic growth, trade and investment.’’

Mr Oyetola added that ensuring the safety of the waters was crucial for securing Africa’s economic future and unlocking the vast potential of the blue economy.

According to him, in the absence of safety, businesses encounter heightened risks, operational disruptions and diminished investor confidence.

He said, “However, when safety is prioritised, it fosters a secure and stable environment where commerce prospers, investments grow and innovation thrives. This administration, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, recognises the compelling need for enhanced maritime security.

“Through key initiatives such as the Deep Blue Project, we have recorded a quantum leap in reducing maritime crimes, including piracy and smuggling, in Nigerian waters and across the Gulf of Guinea.”

The minister noted that the significance of the conference’s theme was beyond the immediate concerns of crime reduction.

He stressed that a safe maritime environment had far-reaching implications for trade, especially intra-African trade.

Mr Oyetola added that it held enormous potential for regional economic integration and growth.

“By ensuring the safety of our waters, we open new shipping routes, strengthen logistics networks and expand the flow of goods across the continent. This, in turn, promotes trade facilitation, increases cargo throughput and elevates Africa’s competitiveness in the global maritime space,” Mr Oyetola said.

The Chief Executive Officer, ZOE Maritime Resources Ltd., Oritsematosan Edodo-Emore, said that maritime safety was key to the actualisation of Africa’s blue economy.

In her welcome, Ms Edodo-Emore said that she mirrored the theme of the World Maritime Day, as determined by the International Maritime Organisation.

“This year, we are dealing with ‘Navigating the future of Africa’s marine and blue economy—Safety first.’’

“Maritime safety is key to the actualisation of Africa’s blue economy,” she said.

Ms Edodo-Emore said that with the establishment of the ministry of marine and blue economy by the present administration, Nigeria now possessed the impetus to focus on its blue economy development.

She added that the conference opened with a roundtable on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

She stated “We are honoured to welcome the British Royal Navy to this auspicious roundtable, which is always led by the Chief of Naval Staff of the Nigerian Navy. In the past, we had welcomed the French and the US Navy. It is important for us to continue to keep abreast of regional and international cooperation in securing the Gulf of Guinea.

Mr Edodo-Emore said that the Lagos International Maritime Week continued to play a pivotal role in the development of the maritime industry in Nigeria and beyond.

“We are delighted this year to be able to take delegates on an excursion to the Lekki Deep Sea Port, which is one of the newest developments in Nigeria’s blue economy. It showcases maritime assets that will transform the sector,” she said.

(NAN)