The Federal Government has launched a new security and economic framework aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s vast marine and aquatic resources under the blue economy.
The blueprint was unveiled on Wednesday during a Presidential Parley with participants of Senior Executive Course 47 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu described the marine sector as one of Nigeria’s most critical areas for national transformation.
He directed relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately review and implement recommendations from the NIPSS comprehensive study on blue economy development.
“The blue economy offers a strategic pathway for diversifying our revenue base, creating sustainable employment, and revitalising the ecosystems that sustain national development,” Tinubu said.
“If properly harnessed, this sector could become an anchor of shared prosperity for generations.”
The President welcomed the findings of the NIPSS report, titled “Blue Economy and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities”, describing it as a timely resource that identifies opportunities, challenges, and policy reforms necessary for growth.
He commended NIPSS for its analytical rigor, creativity, and patriotic commitment.
Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s 853-kilometre coastline, rich fisheries, inland waterways, and strategic location in the Gulf of Guinea as key assets for developing the sector.
The administration is prioritising aquaculture expansion, port and maritime corridor modernisation, coastal tourism, marine biotechnology, and renewable ocean energy.
He also emphasised the importance of a safe and stable environment for the sector’s growth, noting that while piracy has reduced through the Deep Blue Project, threats such as oil theft, illegal fishing, smuggling, vandalism, and kidnapping continue to undermine national revenue and investor confidence.
In a broader mandate, Tinubu tasked NIPSS with conducting a nationwide security diagnosis and producing actionable recommendations to guide reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture, promising that the policy paper would receive “utmost attention” once submitted.
Earlier, NIPSS Director-General Prof. Ayo Omotayo thanked the President for the institution’s support and acknowledged Finance Minister Wale Edun for funding SEC 47. Col. Muktar Dauda, Monitor General of Course 47, noted that the federal government was already addressing systemic gaps identified in the blue economy report and commended Tinubu for his “visionary leadership” in driving economic transformation.
The initiative marks a strategic step towards leveraging Nigeria’s maritime assets for economic diversification, job creation, and long-term national prosperity.