Blue Economy holds key to export, growth, job creation — Senator Sanni
By Maureen Aguta
Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni, has said that Nigeria’s blue economy offers a golden opportunity to grow exports, create jobs, and diversify the economy — if anchored on modern infrastructure, coherent policy, and strong public-private collaboration.
Delivering a keynote address titled “Harnessing Nigeria’s Blue Economy Potential, Boosting Export and Multimodal Cargo Transport,” the lawmaker said the maritime sector remains one of the country’s most underutilized assets despite its capacity to drive inclusive growth and foreign exchange earnings.
He commended the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a strategic move, but stressed that the new ministry must be guided by a clear national policy, measurable targets, and institutional synergy.
“The blue economy is Nigeria’s next frontier for sustainable prosperity. But to unlock it, we must modernize our ports, develop multimodal transport links, and enforce a coherent policy framework that encourages investment and efficiency,” Sanni stated.
Infrastructure: Foundation of the Blue Economy
Senator Sanni identified infrastructure as the backbone of maritime reform, urging the modernization of existing ports and the development of new deep-sea ports to handle higher cargo volumes. He emphasized that inland and coastal waterways must be dredged and upgraded to serve as cost-effective cargo routes connecting Nigeria’s hinterland to the coast.
He also called for the completion of rail and road links to ports to support multimodal transport and reduce the nation’s dependence on road haulage.
“Our ports must connect seamlessly to the hinterland through rail and road networks,” he said. “That is how we can achieve efficient cargo evacuation, reduce delays, and make Nigerian exports globally competitive.”
The Senator further highlighted the role of digital innovation, urging the implementation of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) and similar technologies to enhance transparency, traceability, and security in the cargo supply chain.
Strategic Policy and Institutional Reform
According to Sanni, a National Blue Economy Policy aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is urgently needed to guide development, attract investment, and ensure sustainability.
He urged stronger coordination among key maritime agencies — the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) — saying fragmentation had hindered past progress.
“Inter-agency collaboration is non-negotiable,” he said. “A shared vision and accountability framework are critical if Nigeria must compete with regional maritime hubs like Ghana and South Africa.”