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OYETOLA: MARITIME AGENCIES GENERATED N1.8TRN IN 2025 AS FG, JUDICIARY, NASS PUSH BLUE ECONOMY REFORMS
By prince Benson Davies
Nigeria’s maritime agencies have generated more than ₦1.8 trillion in 2025, while the country also marks four consecutive years without piracy in its territorial waters, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has disclosed.
Oyetola announced this at the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges in Abuja, organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the National Judicial Institute. The event drew the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, members of the National Assembly, regional Chief Justices, and other key maritime stakeholders.
The Minister said the revenue was collectively remitted by the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the National Inland Waterways Authority. He attributed the performance to improved compliance, digitalisation and stronger policy coordination within the ministry.
On security, Oyetola said the sustained implementation of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, known as the Deep Blue Project, has kept Nigerian waters safe for four years. He also revealed that domestic fish production has grown from about 1.1 million metric tonnes to over 1.4 million metric tonnes.
He told the gathering that the next phase of growth in the blue economy will be driven by technology and will require a judiciary equipped to handle new categories of disputes. According to him, issues around autonomous ships, digital bills of lading, blockchain cargo documentation and global decarbonisation are already changing the landscape of maritime law.
“A predictable, well-reasoned, and internationally informed judiciary is itself an instrument of economic competitiveness. It lowers transaction costs, enhances commercial confidence, encourages parties to choose Nigerian courts and Nigerian arbitration centres for the resolution of maritime disputes, and reinforces Nigeria’s reputation as a credible destination for maritime investment,” Oyetola said.
The Minister said the Federal Government would support the expansion of specialised maritime divisions within the Federal High Court, align domestic legislation with contemporary international conventions and promote alternative dispute resolution, particularly maritime arbitration. He described judicial excellence as a strategic economic asset and said investments in judicial capacity are investments in Nigeria’s future competitiveness.
Oyetola also announced major infrastructure and financing interventions. He said the Federal Government has secured a £746 million financing agreement with the United Kingdom for the modernisation of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports. He further disclosed that the approved disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund would enable Nigerian shipowners to acquire vessels, expand coastal shipping and create an estimated 30,000 jobs.
He warned that the expansion of offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed resources and coastal tourism would inevitably generate more disputes involving investors, regulators, host communities and commercial operators.
“The marine and blue economy cannot flourish in a legal vacuum,” he said, adding that Nigeria requires courts with “the courage to uphold the rule of law, the wisdom to balance the legitimate interests of commerce with the demands of justice, and the expertise to interpret and apply increasingly sophisticated international maritime legal instruments.”
He stressed that efficient and timely resolution of disputes is essential to maintaining confidence in the sector and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness as a regional trade and shipping hub.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who chaired the event, underscored the strategic importance of the maritime sector to the economy. He cautioned government agencies against operating in silos, saying the complex nature of the maritime and blue economy requires effective coordination. He assured participants of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency cooperation to promote trade, improve port efficiency, streamline operations and support sectoral growth.
Declaring the seminar open, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, said the maritime sector serves as a vital channel for the movement of goods and services, facilitates international trade and contributes significantly to employment and national revenue.
She emphasised the importance of prompt dispensation of admiralty justice, noting that maritime disputes often involve complex, time-sensitive and cross-border transactions. She warned that delays could disrupt commercial operations, increase costs and undermine investor confidence.
The CJN called for a responsive, efficient and specialised system of admiralty justice and stressed the need for collaboration across jurisdictions. She said ships, cargoes and disputes frequently involve multiple countries and legal systems, making cooperation among courts, judicial officers, regulators and practitioners essential.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka, said disruptions in maritime trade reverberate across economies, affecting supply chains, cost of goods and industrial production. He assured that the House would continue to enact appropriate legislation and perform oversight functions to support the development of the sector.
Other dignitaries at the seminar included Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood; NSC Governing Board Chairman, Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema; NSC Executive Secretary, Dr. Pius Akutah; Chief Justices from The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and Sierra Leone; Justices of the Supreme and Appeal Courts; Federal and State High Court Judges; legal scholars, arbitrators and maritime law practitioner
