The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, has inaugurated a committee to organise the Nigeria Marine and Blue Economy Expo (NIMBEX), as part of efforts to position Nigeria as a leading destination for maritime investment, innovation and trade in Africa.
The expo is expected to bring together policymakers, international investors, industry leaders and technology innovators to explore investment opportunities and support the federal government’s drive to unlock the economic potential of the marine and blue economy.
Oyetola said NIMBEX would provide a strategic platform for converting Nigeria’s maritime resources and advantages into tangible investment opportunities, economic growth and job creation.
“Nigeria’s marine and blue economy holds enormous potential to drive economic diversification, attract investment, and create sustainable employment. NIMBEX will provide a strategic platform to bring together the capital, expertise, and partnerships needed to unlock these opportunities,” the minister said.
The minister, who was represented at the inauguration by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs Fatima Mahmood, said the expo would bridge the gap between Nigeria’s vast maritime resources and the investments required to harness them for national development.
He noted that Nigeria’s 853-kilometre coastline, more than 10,000 kilometres of navigable inland waterways spanning 28 states, and a substantial domestic market offered significant opportunities to strengthen the country’s participation in regional and international maritime trade.
The NIMBEX Organising Committee is chaired by Mr Husseini Shettima, Director of Marine Conservation, Innovation, and Technology in the ministry.
Hajia Kalthum Ibrahim, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry, and Professor Busayo Fakinlede, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Marine and Blue Economy, will serve as co-chairpersons.
The minister’s Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola, is a member of the committee and will serve as Chief Operating Officer of the expo.
Other members include representatives of the ministry’s technical departments and key agencies and institutions across the maritime sector.
They include the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
Also represented are the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron; Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research; Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology; National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, New Bussa; and the Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology in New Bussa and Baga.
The committee further includes representatives of coastal states, terminal operators, shipowners, freight forwarders, barge operators and other stakeholders in the maritime industry.
The broad-based composition is designed to promote coordinated planning and execution while connecting investors with credible, policy-backed opportunities across the sector.
NIMBEX will focus on critical areas, including deep-sea mining, port development, shipping, inland waterway development, logistics, offshore energy, maritime finance, fisheries, marine biotechnology, maritime security and environmental sustainability.
The expo will also showcase emerging opportunities in marine renewable energy, green shipbuilding, artificial intelligence-driven logistics, subsea robotics and coastal tourism.
Beyond showcasing investment prospects, the initiative aims to strengthen collaboration among government institutions, private-sector operators, financial institutions and technology stakeholders while promoting sustainable approaches to harnessing Nigeria’s marine resources.
The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy expressed optimism that the expo would help attract investment, encourage innovation and accelerate the development of the sector as a contributor to Nigeria’s economic diversification and sustainable growth.
–Signed
Dr Bolaji Akinola
Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister
Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy
