Blue Economy: We have shifted focus from threat response to wealth creation — FG

The Federal Government has noted that the focus in the country’s maritime sector has shifted from threat response to wealth creation.

A statement issued by Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy revealed.

While speaking in Nairobi, Kenya, at the Africa Forward Summit 2026, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared that piracy has been eradicated within Nigerian waters, crediting the milestone to consistent investment in maritime security through the Federal Government’s Deep Blue Project.

Addressing the high-level Roundtable on Maritime Sovereignty and Ocean Governance, Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria has achieved remarkable success in suppressing maritime crimes and enhancing security across the Gulf of Guinea.

He noted that the international maritime community has formally recognized the total absence of piracy in Nigeria’s territorial waters and the significant drop in regional attacks.

President Tinubu explained that the Deep Blue Project utilizes a sophisticated network of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets.

This integrated system includes specialized command-and-control centers, mission vessels, fast intervention boats, and various aerial platforms.

The President highlighted a strategic evolution in Nigeria’s maritime policy, which has transitioned from a reactive threat-response model to a proactive strategy focused on creating economic opportunities through secure waterways.

He maintained that maritime safety is a prerequisite for unlocking Africa’s blue economy, as secure sea lanes and stable regulations are essential to attracting private investment.

For too long, the President noted, a lack of maritime focus or sea blindness caused nations to view their waters as either empty voids or sources of danger.

He asserted that Nigeria is now changing that narrative by treating its maritime domain as sovereign territory that must be properly governed and institutionalized.

The President further urged Gulf of Guinea nations to strengthen regional cooperation, warning that individual efforts are insufficient to tackle maritime crime effectively.

He pointed to the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy as a clear sign of Nigeria’s intent to use ocean governance as a primary driver of national economic growth.

He further reaffirmed that as Nigeria endorses the Nairobi Declaration, it views maritime sovereignty as the essential foundation for Africa’s blue economy transformation.