Oyetola Inaugurates Committee To Drive Nigeria’s Maritime Investment Through NIMBEX

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, has inaugurated an organising committee for the Nigeria Marine and Blue Economy Expo (NIMBEX), as part of efforts to attract investment, promote innovation and strengthen Nigeria’s position in the African maritime industry.

The expo is expected to provide a platform for policymakers, international investors, industry stakeholders and technology innovators to explore opportunities within Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.

Oyetola said the initiative would help transform the country’s maritime resources and economic advantages into concrete investment opportunities, economic growth and employment generation.

The minister, who was represented at the inauguration by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs Fatima Mahmood, described NIMBEX as a strategic platform for mobilising the capital, expertise and partnerships required to unlock the sector’s economic potential.

He noted that Nigeria’s 853-kilometre coastline, over 10,000 kilometres of navigable inland waterways across 28 states and large domestic market provide significant opportunities for expanding maritime trade and attracting both local and foreign investments.

According to him, the expo would also help bridge the gap between the country’s abundant maritime resources and the investments needed to harness them for sustainable national development.

The organising committee will be chaired by the Director of Marine Conservation, Innovation and Technology in the ministry, Mr Husseini Shettima.

The Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Hajia Kalthum Ibrahim, and the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Marine and Blue Economy, Professor Busayo Fakinlede, will serve as co-chairpersons.

The minister’s Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola, will serve as a member of the committee and Chief Operating Officer of the expo.

Other members include representatives of the ministry’s technical departments and key maritime agencies and institutions, including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.

The initiative is expected to strengthen collaboration across the maritime industry, stimulate private-sector participation and position Nigeria as a major destination for maritime investment, innovation and trade in Africa.