…warn of setback to Nigeria’s Blue Economy vision
By Seun Ibiyemi
Stakeholders in the Maritime industry have cautioned that the federal government’s failure to adequately invest in coastal communities poses a major threat to Nigeria’s Blue Economy aspirations and could worsen poverty among indigenous populations.
Speaking at the 3rd Ehingbeti Blue Economy Hub in Lagos, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd), a former Minister of Communications, said Nigeria risks losing the full potential of its maritime wealth due to the continuous neglect of communities that line its coastlines.
According to him, these indigenous populations possess invaluable local knowledge and manpower essential for maritime development and national security, yet remain excluded from economic participation and policy benefits.
“Our coastal dwellers are the lifeblood of the Blue Economy,” Olanrewaju said. “Neglecting them undermines sustainability, security, and economic growth. We cannot continue to pursue maritime expansion while the people at the heart of it remain in poverty.”
Drawing parallels with countries like Singapore and the Philippines, which have recorded success through inclusive maritime policies, Olanrewaju stressed that Nigeria’s approach must shift from top-down development to people-centered engagement.
He also revisited the Ehingbeti era, a period in Lagos history when coastal commerce in textiles, crafts, food, gold, and other goods sustained the city’s economic and social relevance across West Africa.
He lamented that such prosperity has faded due to policy gaps and the exclusion of local communities from maritime decision-making.
“Ehingbeti stretched from Apongbon to Marina and down to Lekki, serving as a vibrant network of trade and innovation,” he recalled. “To revive that legacy, inclusivity must be our guiding principle.”
Olanrewaju, who chaired the event, urged policymakers to adopt an inclusive, locally-driven framework that integrates community knowledge and provides training for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the maritime sector.
Convener of the forum, Mrs. Violet Claitan Williams, described the 2025 edition themed “The Renaissance of Ehingbeti in Community Engagement and Inclusivity” as a call to action for all stakeholders to work together toward a sustainable and equitable Blue Economy.
“The development of our coastal communities is a collective responsibility,” Williams said. “The government cannot do it alone. We must ensure that the benefits of the Blue Economy are shared equitably and sustainably.”
Williams also announced the release of an audio-visual documentary and a book chronicling the historical and cultural importance of Ehingbeti to Lagos’ maritime growth.
In her remarks, Engr. Sarat Buraimoh, Lagos Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry, describing it as a bold step toward transforming Nigeria’s maritime fortunes.
Also speaking, Mrs. Jean Chiazor Anishere (SAN) proposed the establishment of an Ehingbeti Water Transportation Service to support indigenous livelihoods and deepen economic integration across coastal communities.
The forum ended with a united call for reforms that promote community inclusion, sustainable development, and indigenous participation in maritime policy to unlock Nigeria’s vast ocean economy potential.