The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reiterated the federal government’s commitment to strengthening maritime safety, environmental protection, and regional cooperation within the framework of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Abuja MoU).

Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Communications, Dr Bolaji Akinola, made this known in a Statement made available to Newsmen, in Abuja, at the Weekend

According to the statement, Oyetola, who spoke at the 3rd Bureau of Ministers Meeting of the Abuja MoU in Conakry, Republic of Guinea, advancing the collective interests of West and Central Africa in global shipping underscored Nigeria’s determination to align its maritime governance with international standards.

In his address, the Minister commended the Government and people of the Republic of Guinea for their hospitality and for successfully hosting the 15th Port State Control Committee Meeting, which concluded the previous day.

He noted that the technical deliberations of the Committee provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in port state control across the region.

Oyetola reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering support for the objectives of the Abuja MoU, highlighting the concrete steps taken by Nigeria to improve its maritime administration, including the enforcement of port state control and the removal of substandard vessels from its waters.

He highlighted the recent approval of Nigeria’s National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy by the Federal Executive Council, a policy, which serves as a comprehensive framework for safer, cleaner, and more sustainable maritime operations, aligns with global best practices and the ideals of the Abuja MoU.

According to the Minister, the policy demonstrates Nigeria’s determination to build a thriving blue economy that balances economic growth with ocean health, job creation, and maritime safety.

Oyetola called on all member states of the Abuja MoU to strengthen enforcement mechanisms within their respective jurisdictions and to support the institutional resilience of the Secretariat.

He cautioned against allowing the region to become a dumping ground for substandard vessels emphasising that poor compliance could lead to accidents and incidents with far-reaching national, regional, and even global implications.

The Minister further noted that effective port state control remains fundamental to unlocking the full potential of the blue economy, particularly in a region where the majority of ships calling at ports are foreign-flagged rather than locally owned.

The Bureau of Ministers, Oyetola explained, would review and endorse the records of the 15th Port State Control Committee Meeting to ensure that officers are well empowered to fulfil their statutory duties, reiterating that the Abuja MoU must continue to act as a catalyst for safer shipping practices, stronger compliance, and deeper technical cooperation among member states.

He assured that Nigeria remains ready to share its expertise and collaborate on initiatives aimed at improving the effectiveness of port state control in West and Central Africa.

The Minister also underscored the need to strengthen the Abuja MoU Secretariat, calling on member states to meet their financial obligations and demonstrate readiness to host its programmes. These contributions, he noted, are vital to sustaining the Secretariat’s efficiency and ensuring that it can effectively coordinate regional efforts.

As part of Nigeria’s broader maritime diplomacy, Oyetola used the opportunity to seek the support of fellow African ministers for Nigeria’s candidature in the forthcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council elections under Category C.

He stressed that Nigeria’s inclusion on the IMO Council would provide a platform to advance the objectives of the Abuja MoU and amplify Africa’s collective voice in global maritime governance.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, has said that Abuja’s central location and agro-allied endowments are crucial to boosting Nigeria’s non-oil revenue and strengthening port–hinterland trade connectivity.

Speaking at the “NPA Special Day” of the ongoing Abuja International Trade Fair, Dantsoho stressed that the capital’s position at the centre of the country makes it strategic for connecting local producers in the non-oil value chain to international markets.

Dantsoho said “As Nigeria’s foremost trade facilitation platform, the authority is always proud to be associated with the noble cause the Abuja International Trade Fair represents, especially as trade remains the most veritable tool for actualising most of Nigeria’s economic aspirations”.

The NPA MD noted that in line with the agency’s commitment to support the Federal Government’s non-oil revenue drive, it had established Export Processing Terminals, EPTs, to streamline the previously burdensome export process.

He explained that the EPTs serve as one-stop shops for cargo consolidation, documentation, packaging, certification, and shipment, eliminating duplication and delays that previously rendered Nigerian goods uncompetitive.

“To facilitate port–hinterland connectivity and create pathways for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to play in the export value chain, the EPTs have been structured to integrate seamlessly with Domestic Export Warehouses (DEWs) in synergy with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and Inland Dry Ports,” Mr Dantsoho added.

Dantsoho also revealed that the NPA is unifying its operations into a single digital transaction gateway known as the Ports Community System, PCS.

He said the PCS provides the groundwork for the implementation of the National Single Window, NSW, a global best practice platform that links all trade value chain stakeholders for real-time, seamless interaction at the push of a button.

“To align with the Federal Government’s economic stabilization efforts and the fair’s theme, ‘Sustainability: Consumption, Incentives and Taxation,’ we are harmonising our operational channels into PCS, which sustainably eliminates opacity and undue delays associated with human interference,” he said.

According to him, this digital integration will connect value creators in Nigeria’s remotest hinterlands with demand clusters across the globe.

Open Doors to Partnerships
Dantsoho assured investors, traders, and exporters that the NPA remains open to partnerships beyond the trade fair.

He encouraged stakeholders to explore the authority’s growth offerings through its fully interactive website, www.nigerianports.gov.ng, designed to provide real-time services to users across the world.”

The Chairman of Global Transport Policy (GTP), Dr Olusegun Musa, has urged the Federal Government to link 28 states in the country to waterways transport for economic transformation.

Musa made the call during the 10th Lagos International Maritime Week (LIMWEEK), a two-day event held in Lagos, and themed ‘Our Oceans, Our Seas, Our Obligation – Maximising Africa’s Ocean’.

According to Musa, Nigeria has about 853 kilometres of coastline offering opportunities in fisheries, oil and gas, shipping, and tourism.

He stressed that 28 of Nigeria’s 36 states possess water bodies which, if linked, could yield huge economic benefits.

Musa said Africa’s Blue Economy was not a distant dream but an immediate opportunity, noting that data on its potential remained under utilised.

He emphasised that fisheries and aquaculture contribute significantly to Gross Domestic Product GDP and food security, adding that aquaculture could address a projected 12-million-tonne fish deficit by 2050.

He cited Egypt’s aquaculture drive and Ghana’s Aquaculture for Food and Jobs Programme as examples of meeting rising protein demands while reducing imports.

Musa said improved regulation could make Africa a net fish exporter, creating livelihoods and boosting nutritional security for its fast-growing population describing maritime trade, logistics, and ports as Africa’s trade lifeblood, with 90 per cent of international trade passing through them.

He warned that Africa’s blue economy faced severe threats, including climate change, sea-level rise, and overfishing, which could destabilise economies and displace communities.

He also warned of declining fisheries, with West Africa’s catch potential expected to drop 30 per cent by 2050, worsened by Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

He said IUU fishing deprived local communities, fuelling insecurity and radicalisation, as seen in regions such as Somalia.

On pollution, Musa highlighted persistent oil spills in the Niger Delta and rising marine waste from Africa’s growing coastal populations.

He stressed that oceans should be treated as partners in prosperity, not plundered resources.

Earlier, Zoe Maritime Resources Chief Executive, Mrs Edodo Emore, said the International Maritime Business-to-Business Conference was part of World Maritime Day celebrations.

The Convener noted that developing Africa’s ocean resources was crucial to tackling poverty, adding that development could not exist without maritime security.

She said a roundtable on Gulf of Guinea security would examine threats and opportunities for developing Africa’s ocean economy.

Edodo-Emore added that African ports must embrace digitalisation, with Smart Ports reducing vessel turnaround times, improving customs clearance, and ending manual processes.

She said a roundtable on maritime transport and port development would advance discussions on Smart Ports, their opportunities, and challenges.

By:  Chinedu Wosu