Business
Why African Nations Must Explore Deep-seabed Minerals
Statistics have revealed that African Coastal states have actually not taken any remarkable steps (s) towards realising the benefits derivable from the abundant potential of marine mineral resources which include noduiles sulptrides, phosphorites and cobalt rich ferromanganese crust within the area of national jurisdiction, even in area between states bordering the south Atlantic ocean.
This to some extend have become a source of concern to maritime experts, and of course notable authorities that are interested in African countries waking up to exploit as well as benefit in the abundance of mineral resources in the deep sea marine environment.
As part of this efforts to encourage African nations to explore the deep seabed mineral resources, the Secretary General of the international Seabed Authority (ISA) His Excellency, Nii Allotey Odunton has been scheduled to address the next Heads of State Meeting of the African union on the marine mineral resources and the need for the region to be actively engaged in the exploration and exploitation of the deep seabed mineral resources in the area.
The move was as a result of recommendation put forward by participants at an international sensitisation seminar on the works of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Abuja.
ISA Secretary General read the decisions and the 12 point recommendation reached at the seminar, and also announced that Africa member states of ISA should facilitate the immediate development of Intra-African and International cooperation to promote as well as develop marine exploration and exploitation.
Several players in the transport and indeed the maritime sub-sector have expressed the need for African countries to actually wake up to the challenge of exploiting the deep seabed mineral potentials, even though it has lagged behind in the past.
The Nigerians transport minister, Alhaji Ibrahim Isa Bio has opined that the inability of African countries and indeed government to explore the vast resources has contributed to underdevelopment of the region over the years, and has urged scientist to join other countries in exploring the seabed recourses, and also assured of governments readiness to support ISA towards ensuring that deep sea exploration mining licenses in the area are issued as soon as possible.
The minister stated “it is a known fact that in spite of all the challenges facing Africa, it is richly endowed on land and sea. That these natural resources have remained largely untapped is a great source of concern and part of the reasons for Africa’s underdevelopment.”
Also, the Nigeria’s permanent representative at the ISA, Ambassador Peter Oyedele has noted that the advances made in technological development in recent times, that mining of the nodules deposit in deep seabed will soon became a commercial reality and that African continent can not afford to be left out in this regards.
It is on record that the United Nations (UN) General assembly in 1970, adopted a resolution declaring the resources of the seabed and ocean floor beyond the limits of national jurisdiction to be “common heritage of mankind” for which no state or person could rightfully claim.
The time has now ripen for Nigerian Scientists, and indeed other scientist in African region to showcase their skills and ingenuity in exploring and exploiting the rich deep seabed mineral resources for the development of the region.
Going by the UN resolution of 1970, no nation can make claim to ownership of the seabed. It is our common wealth, and African should partake in the deal.
Corlins Walter
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has criticised Nigeria’s import ban on 25 categories of goods, claiming that the restrictions limit market access for American exporters.
This is the effect of President Donald Trump’s tariffs introduction on goods entering the United States, with Nigeria facing a 14 per cent duty.
The USTR highlighted the impact of Nigeria’s import ban on various sectors, particularly agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
The restrictions affect items such as beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and alcoholic beverages, which the United States sees as significant barriers to trade.
The agency argues that these limitations reduce export opportunities for United States businesses and lead to lost revenue.
“Nigeria’s import ban on 25 different product categories impacts United States exporters, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
“Restrictions on items like beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and spirits limit United States market access and reduce export opportunities.
“These policies create significant trade barriers that lead to lost revenue for United States businesses looking to expand in the Nigerian market”, the agency said .
In 2016, Nigeria implemented the ban on these 25 items as part of efforts to control imports and stimulate local production.
Some of the banned items include poultry, pork, refined vegetable oil, sugar, cocoa products, spaghetti, beer, and certain medicines.
On March 26, 2025, the Federal Government also announced plans to halt solar panel imports to encourage local manufacturing as part of its push for clean energy.
A leading agribusiness strategist and digital agriculture expert, Ayo Oluwa Okediji, has sought cooperative-driven investments in sustaining growth of poultry industry in Nigeria.
He said the poultry industry was at a defining moment and requires urgent structural reforms to secure its future and ensure long-term sustainability.
Speaking on the theme, “Strengthening Poultry Farming Through Cooperative Synergy and Strategic Investments”, at the recently concluded Oyo Mega Poultry Workshop 2025 in Ibadan, Okediji called on poultry farmers, cooperative leaders, financial institutions and policy makers to rethink the existing structure of the poultry sector.
He stressed the need to transition from fragmented, individually-driven operations to well-structured, cooperative-led enterprises capable of attracting sustainable financing and securing long-term viability.
He said, “Our poultry sector cannot thrive on individual effort alone. We need to organise ourselves into cooperative clusters, build strong governance systems and position ourselves to attract the level of investment needed to sustain this industry beyond this generation.”
Drawing on lessons from successful global cooperative models such as Rabobank in the Netherlands and Landus Cooperative in the United States, Okediji introduced the FarmClusters Poultry Model, a locally adapted solution developed by Agribusiness Dynamics Technology Limited (AgDyna), a subsidiary of AgroInfoTech Africa.
According to him, the model is currently being piloted in Oyo State in partnership with PANOY Agribusiness Limited and local poultry cooperatives.
The Rivers State Representative of the Nigeria Chambers of Commerce, Mines, Industries and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Erasmus Chukwundah, has urged palm oil farmers to consider hybrid seedlings for planting, if they must break even in palm oil business.
Chukwundah said this recently at the Free Oil Palm Business Climate Smart Best Management Practice/Assistance Training organized by Partnership Initiative In Niger Delta (PIND) for Palm Oil Farmers in Elele, Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The Rivers representative said until palm oil farmers begin to consider such hybrid oil palm seedlings, they may not meet up with the daily increasing demand of palm oil in the market.
According to him, the seedlings produce up to 30 bunches at once that ripen same time.
He said PIND decided to partner with Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN) to ensure that the message was received by the targeted audience.
According to him, palm oil remained a popular choice of industry operators as it could be converted to many other products such as vegetable cooking oil.
He also noted that products such as motor tyers, marine ropes and others are now gotten from the palm tree.
Chukwundah, who is the immediate past Director-General of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Mines, Industries, and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), further warned against use of unrecommended fertilisers in growing oil palms.
He noted that such practices could limit its export value or chances as the foreign marketers have a way of detecting such .
He reiterated the need for organic fertilizers, including poultry droppings, to enable them have a natural palm oil.
“People must reduce physical contact with palm oil production. That is why we are campaigning for hydrolic oil mills. The foreign markets are no longer interested in crude method of palm oil production”, he said.
Meanwhile, one of the farmers, Sonny Didia, who appreciated Chukwundah’s commitment towards the concern of farmers, appealed for an urgent need for loan opportunity with low interest rate in order to enable them beat the target.
King Onunwor