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The weak regulatory framework and growing maritime security concerns threatening investment in Nigeria’s coastal economy will come under scrutiny as stakeholders converge on Lagos for the 4th Ehingbeti Blue Economy Hub.
The forum, which is expected to focus on how to unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s coastal communities, is themed “Securing Nigeria’s Blue Economy: Need to Strengthen Regulatory and Maritime Framework for Sustainable Coastal Development.”
Ahead of the event, the Convener, Olaitan Williams, said Nigeria would struggle to fully realise the potential of the blue economy unless coastal communities were deliberately integrated into government policies, investment decisions and development programmes.
Williams, who is also the Founder of Ocean Ambassadors Foundation, OAF, said the history of Ehingbeti itself demonstrated the enormous maritime potential embedded in Nigeria’s coastal communities.
She explained that Ehingbeti, an indigenous coastal settlement that predates modern Lagos, had long served as a hub of maritime and commercial activity, recalling the former Floating Bukka, a floating restaurant that operated on the waterways.
According to her, the maritime activities around the area contributed to the evolution of major maritime locations in Lagos, including Apapa, Tin Can Island and the Marina.
Williams, however, warned that the economic benefits of the blue economy would remain largely untapped if the communities that provide the manpower, indigenous knowledge and traditional skills underpinning many maritime activities continued to be excluded from policy formulation and investment decisions.
She identified maritime insecurity as one of the major threats to the development of the sector, arguing that insecurity not only puts lives and property at risk but also discourages investors and makes financial institutions and insurers reluctant to support inland waterways and coastal projects.
The OAF founder also raised concerns over what she described as inadequate legal provisions for the development of coastal communities, arguing that existing blue economy policies appear to focus more on formal commercial activities while paying insufficient attention to rural fisheries, traditional occupations and indigenous maritime livelihoods.
She linked some maritime security challenges to socio-economic conditions in coastal communities, stressing that communities often labelled as vulnerable to maritime crime were also the first to respond to boat accidents, emergencies and other incidents on the waterways.
According to Williams, Nigeria must therefore adopt an approach that treats coastal residents as partners in maritime security and economic development rather than merely as beneficiaries of government interventions.
She said the “low-hanging fruits” of the blue economy were concentrated in coastal areas, making it imperative for government to convert the skills, experience and indigenous knowledge of coastal residents into sustainable economic opportunities.
Williams disclosed that the forum would focus particularly on two critical areas—the legal framework and security architecture—with the aim of developing practical recommendations for Nigeria’s inland waterways and coastal communities.
She also identified illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU), fishing as an area requiring urgent government attention, stronger enforcement and adequate legal backing.
According to her, Nigeria must strengthen measures to protect its fisheries and other marine resources from exploitation by foreign operators, while ensuring that local fishing communities benefit from the resources within their environment.
Williams further called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, investors, financial institutions and insurance companies, saying a predictable regulatory environment and improved security would help restore investor confidence and unlock financing for coastal and inland-waterway projects.
With Nigeria’s vast network of inland waterways offering opportunities in maritime transportation, tourism, fisheries, boat building, logistics and other sectors, she urged authorities to deliberately integrate traditional boat builders, divers, fishermen and other indigenous operators into the emerging blue economy.
She cited previous initiatives that provided training for young people in coastal communities, saying similar programmes could transform indigenous skills into formal employment, entrepreneurship and professional careers.
The 4th Ehingbeti Blue Economy Hub will be chaired by the Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, Hon. Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, while the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, is expected to attend as Special Guest of Honour.
The two principal speakers will approach the theme from legal and maritime security perspectives. They are the President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria, MAAN, Chief (Mrs.) Jean Chiazor Anishere, SAN, and the Executive Director, Technical and Operations, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh.
The forum is expected to bring together government officials, maritime operators, coastal communities, investors, financial institutions, security agencies and other industry stakeholders to develop practical recommendations for strengthening Nigeria’s maritime legal and security framework.
For the organisers, the ultimate objective is clear: Nigeria cannot secure its blue economy without securing its coastal communities and cannot unlock the wealth of its waterways without giving those communities a central role in the process.
