Head of Research at the Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC), Dr. Eugene Nweke, says Nigeria’s quest to harness the full potential of its Marine and Blue Economy will depend largely on how effectively government and private sector actors collaborate to implement policies.
According to Nweke, Nigeria must urgently deepen Public–Private Synergy (PPS) to convert maritime policies into measurable economic outcomes, industrial growth, and job creation.
He made the call while delivering a paper titled “The Essentials of Public-Private Synergy for Optimal Marine and Blue Economy Policy Implementation” at the 2025 Annual Conference of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) in Lagos on Thursday.
Nweke noted that although the Blue Economy contributes over US$2.5 trillion to global GDP and supports 350 million jobs, Nigeria’s contribution to the regional maritime economy remains below 1.5 per cent — a paradox considering the nation’s vast coastline, inland waterways, and Exclusive Economic Zone.
The maritime expert explained that PPS goes beyond traditional PPPs, describing it as a shared-governance model where government provides regulatory clarity and infrastructure; the private sector supplies innovation and finance; while communities and academia offer sustainability and human capacity. “It must be an alliance built on trust, transparency, and technology,” he said.
Highlighting the five pillars outlined by the Federal Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy, he identified fisheries, shipping and logistics, tourism, marine energy, and maritime research as growth drivers capable of unlocking billions of dollars in value.
He stated that closing the 2.1 million-tonne fish supply gap could create 500,000 jobs, while port efficiency and multimodal logistics reforms could save Nigeria up to ₦3 trillion annually.
He projected significant opportunities in scrap-to-steel industrial linkages, noting that regulated ship recycling and steel processing could generate 200,000 jobs and reduce import dependence for shipbuilding and marine infrastructure.
Nweke also stressed the strategic importance of reviving the Ajaokuta Steel Complex to supply marine-grade steel for shipyards, rail systems, and offshore structures.
On regulatory reforms, the SEREC scribe called for harmonisation of functions across NPA, NIMASA, NIWA, and the Shippers’ Council under a Unified Maritime Policy Implementation Framework. He also urged transparent PPP procedures, improved fiscal incentives, community inclusion, and the creation of Blue Innovation Hubs to drive technological adoption.
He further pointed out that digital transformation remains fundamental and emphasised that the National Single Window (NSW) and International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) are central to curbing revenue leakages, reducing clearance time by up to 40 per cent, and boosting investor confidence through data transparency.
He advocated the regulation and expansion of barge operations as part of a broader intermodal transport strategy, noting that standardised barge operations could decongest ports by up to 50 per cent and create 150,000 jobs while opening new inland industrial corridors.
Citing global examples, Nweke referenced Mauritius, Ghana, and Nigeria’s own Lekki Deep Sea Port to illustrate how structured PPP models attract investment, raise efficiency, and cut public expenditure.
He proposed the establishment of a National Blue Economy Council chaired by the Vice President, a Blue Economy Investment Code, quarterly Public–Private Blue Economy Roundtables, and the operationalisation of a National Maritime Data Repository.
Nweke concluded that Nigeria’s maritime progress will be judged not by the number of policies introduced but by the industries revived and the prosperity generated.
SEREC, he added, recommends creating a Public–Private Blue Economy Implementation Roundtable (PBBIR) to track investment flows, compliance, and job creation using ICTN and NSW data.