Stakeholders rally behind NIMASA’s plan to strengthen Nigeria’s shipyard industry

Maureen Aguta

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has renewed its commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s shipbuilding and shipyard development, outlining plans to deploy targeted funding models, policy incentives and stakeholder collaboration to strengthen domestic capacity and reduce capital flight.

The Agency reaffirmed this position at a stakeholders’ breakfast meeting themed, “Dissecting the Issues, Challenges, and Prospects in the Shipbuilding Segment – Discussing Funding Models, Incentives, and Policy Support for Shipyards Growth,” held at the Nigerian Maritime Resource Development Centre (NMRDC), Kirikiri, Lagos.

Chairman of the occasion and NIMASA Executive Director, Operations, Engr. Fatai Taiye Adeyemi, described shipbuilding as a capital-intensive and technically demanding industry that requires deliberate policy direction and sustained financial intervention to achieve competitiveness and long-term viability.

Represented by the Director of Marine Environment Management, Dr. Oma Offodile, Adeyemi said the engagement was designed to critically assess structural bottlenecks confronting the sector and chart practical pathways for growth.

“Shipbuilding is a strategic pillar of Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy aspirations. It is capital-intensive, technically demanding and highly competitive, which is why deliberate funding models, targeted incentives and consistent policies are critical,” he stated.

According to him, NIMASA is leveraging stakeholder engagement to address systemic constraints, strengthen indigenous technical capacity, and position Nigerian shipyards for sustainable competitiveness. He added that a robust shipbuilding ecosystem would also support maritime decarbonisation, job creation and Nigeria’s obligations under the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Adeyemi noted that global shifts — including decarbonisation targets, alternative fuel transition, supply chain vulnerabilities and geopolitical tensions — have significantly altered the shipbuilding landscape, increasing the urgency for stronger domestic capability in shipping, offshore energy and maritime security assets.

He identified limited access to long-term capital, driven by high capital expenditure and cyclical revenue patterns, as a major impediment. Other challenges include shortage of skilled manpower, underinvestment in automation and green technologies, inadequate scale to compete globally, and policy inconsistencies that create procurement uncertainty.

Emphasising the strategic importance of shipyards to maritime decarbonisation, Adeyemi said they play a central role in constructing energy-efficient vessels that comply with evolving IMO standards. He stressed that sustaining Nigeria’s recent return to Category C of the IMO Council requires strong domestic industrial capacity.

Delivering the keynote address, the Managing Director of Starz Marine Limited, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, lauded the Federal Government for establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, describing it as a transformative move capable of unlocking greater investment and policy coherence in the sector.

Ogbeifun, however, urged government to provide structured support for shipyard operators to boost productivity, expand capacity and improve competitiveness in regional and global markets.

Shipyard owners, in their goodwill messages, expressed readiness to collaborate with NIMASA to curb capital flight and expand local shipbuilding capabilities. They underscored the need for policy stability, access to financing and sustained skills development to enhance industry resilience.

Stakeholders at the meeting broadly endorsed NIMASA’s renewed drive, calling for coordinated funding mechanisms, fiscal incentives and long-term policy consistency to address immediate, medium-term and structural challenges facing the sector.

The Agency’s focus on shipyard development aligns with the provisions of the NIMASA Act, 2007, which mandate it to promote maritime safety, shipping development and capacity building. Strengthening indigenous shipbuilding capacity, officials noted, remains central to advancing Nigeria’s blue economy objectives and ensuring sustainable growth in the maritime industry.