Rakiya A. Muhammad
From sustainable fisheries and offshore wind farms to ecotourism and marine biotechnology, these innovative industries have the power to ignite progress while protecting the wonders of our planet’s blue heart.
Maritime expert Ms Chika Chukwudi champions this vision, highlighting that with responsible management, the oceans and waterways can continue to inspire and sustain future generations.
The maritime administrator and safety agent calls on the Nigerian Government to champion bold investments in the blue economy, urging leaders to make it the cornerstone of the nation’s future strategy.
Chukwudi, author of Blue Economy: Gateway to a Sustainable Future, stated that Nigeria can develop a blue economy that creates prosperity now while safeguarding the interests of future generations.
Investing heavily in the maritime sector, she adds, sparks a ripple effect, multiplying benefits across the entire economy.
She pointed out that shipyards thrive on a steady supply of steel, skilled engineers, and technical know-how. Ports, on the other hand, rely on seamless road and rail links, while fisheries count on efficient cold storage, smart packaging, and reliable logistics to keep their catch fresh.
The maritime expert emphasises that every naira spent on maritime infrastructure sets wider economic activity in motion. The blue economy stands apart by weaving together transportation, manufacturing, trade, energy, tourism, and environmental stewardship into a single, powerful engine for national progress.
She painted Nigeria as a maritime powerhouse, boasting more than 850 kilometres of Atlantic coastline and a gateway to the Gulf of Guinea, anchoring the nation on one of Africa’s busiest sea routes.
Chukwudi noted that Nigeria has extensive inland waterways, including the River Niger and River Benue systems, as well as numerous lakes and dams.
Despite these resources, the maritime sector barely scratches the surface of its economic potential, she observed. Idle ports, quiet waterways, untapped fisheries, and dormant coastal tourism all point to a sleeping giant.
Chukwudi insists that a nation encircled by water should never settle for economic stagnation.
She reiterated that as Nigeria seeks sustainable economic stability, poverty reduction, and mass job creation, ‘it has become increasingly clear that the nation must rethink its development priorities.’
Chukwudi argues that although agriculture, oil and gas, technology, and manufacturing all contribute value, it is the blue economy and maritime sector that hold the key to Nigeria’s most expansive and untapped path for transformative growth.
She urges the Federal Government to invest in the blue economy with greater urgency than any other sector, treating it as a national mission rather than a trial run. She maintained that no other industry can create jobs for such a wide spectrum of skills.
Blue economy opportunities, she highlights, include artisanal fisheries, industrial aquaculture, shipbuilding, maritime logistics, port management, and marine biotechnology, covering both formal and informal sectors.
Chukwudi points out that, unlike capital-heavy industries that hire only a select few, the maritime sector can open doors for millions, from fishermen and boat builders to marine engineers, dockworkers, scientists, processors, exporters, and entrepreneurs.
With the right vision, the blue economy could become Nigeria’s leading job creator, she highlights, adding that even focusing on fisheries and aquaculture could slash Nigeria’s reliance on imported fish and spark job creation in rural communities.
Building shipyards and maintenance hubs could ignite a new wave of industrial growth, while expanding coastal tourism would uplift local communities, adds maritime specialist.
