Ehingbeti Summit Seeks Coastal Resilience Fund, Stronger Maritime Laws to Unlock Nigeria’s Blue Economy

By Stella Okocha 

Stakeholders at the 4th Ehingbeti Maritime Hub Summit have called for the establishment of a dedicated Coastal Resilience Fund to finance coastal protection, resilient infrastructure and community development as Nigeria seeks to unlock the full potential of its blue economy.

The call was made at the summit held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, where government officials, maritime experts, security agencies, legal practitioners, insurers and private-sector operators examined the regulatory, investment and security frameworks needed to drive sustainable development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.

Delivering the keynote address, President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Chief Jean Chiazor Anishere, SAN, said the proposed fund would help address persistent infrastructure deficits and improve living conditions in coastal communities.

Anishere urged Nigeria to take advantage of international financing opportunities available through climate funds, development banks and multilateral institutions to scale up coastal resilience and community development.

She said sustained investment in coastal infrastructure would not only protect livelihoods but also create opportunities for coastal communities to participate meaningfully in the emerging blue economy.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria stressed that Nigeria’s blue economy must be supported by effective governance, noting that clear and predictable legal and institutional frameworks were essential to attracting investment, encouraging innovation and ensuring the sustainable exploitation of marine resources.

She identified security, sustainability and good governance as critical pillars for the growth of Nigeria’s blue economy.

Anishere also advocated improved waste-management infrastructure, sustainable fishing practices, recycling education and environmental stewardship programmes that would deliver tangible benefits to coastal communities.

She called for increased private-sector participation in blue tourism, resilient infrastructure and marine-based enterprises, urging government to deploy appropriate incentives, streamline regulations and expand public-private partnerships.

Representing Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, said the state remained committed to an inclusive approach to blue economy development.

She noted that although the history of Ehingbeti was closely linked to Lagos Island, the state’s current blue economy agenda would extend to coastal communities across Lagos.

According to her, Governor Sanwo-Olu encouraged participants to work together towards producing a communiqué capable of advancing the blue economy agenda of the state.

The Convener of the Ehingbeti Maritime Hub and Founder of the Ocean Ambassadors Foundation, Hon. Olaitan Violet Williams, said the Hub was established in 2023 to reconnect Lagos with the historical roots of its maritime activities.

Williams described Ehingbeti as an important chapter in Lagos’ evolution from its early trading era to modern-day Eko.

She identified Nigeria’s inland waterways as one of the quickest opportunities for expanding the country’s blue economy, calling for increased investment and stronger legal protection for investors.

According to her, Nigeria’s estimated 10,000 kilometres of waterways cannot deliver their full economic value if they remain largely unnavigable.

The Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of the NIWA Governing Board, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, represented by NIWA Board Member, Capt. Tajudeen Alao, commended the summit’s organisers for their commitment to advancing Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy.

Shagari stressed that coastal communities must remain at the centre of blue economy policies and called for an appropriate legal framework to support the development of Nigeria’s littoral states.

Representing the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, Rear Admiral N.C. Okon called for stronger maritime regulation and more effective enforcement of existing laws.

Okon identified “sea blindness” as one of the factors limiting Nigeria’s ability to fully exploit its maritime potential, stressing the need for closer collaboration among government agencies, coastal communities and development partners.

He warned that a thriving blue economy could not be sustained in an environment characterised by insecurity, environmental degradation, illicit activities and regulatory uncertainty.

The Nigerian Navy, he said, remained committed to providing the secure maritime environment necessary for commerce, investment and sustainable exploitation of the country’s marine resources.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Ekeoma Ezeibe, described insurance as an essential component of maritime and blue economy development.

She said adequate insurance protection was necessary to safeguard maritime assets, infrastructure and businesses against the diverse risks associated with the sector.

A major highlight of the summit was the official launch of the 28 Inland Waterways Investment Jigsaw, an initiative designed to identify viable investment opportunities across Nigeria’s inland waterways and provide a structured pathway for private-sector participation.

The initiative is expected to promote investment in water transportation and other marine-related businesses while helping stakeholders identify commercially viable opportunities across the country’s inland waterways.

The 4th Ehingbeti Maritime Hub Summit brought together government representatives, maritime professionals, security agencies, legal practitioners, insurers, traditional rulers, academics, private-sector operators and representatives of coastal communities.

The summit reaffirmed calls for stronger regulation, improved maritime security, sustainable financing, resilient infrastructure and greater community inclusion as Nigeria seeks to convert its vast maritime resources into sustainable economic and social development.