Experts and stakeholders at the 4th Ehingbeti Maritime Hub Summit have called for a dedicated Coastal Resilience Fund to address infrastructure deficits and improve living conditions in coastal communities across Nigeria. The summit, held in Lagos, examined the legal, regulatory, security, and investment frameworks required to unlock the blue economy potential and promote sustainable coastal development.
Chief Jean Chiazor Anishere, president of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN), delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the need for a dedicated financing mechanism to address infrastructure deficits and improve living conditions in coastal communities. Anishere urged Nigeria to explore international financing opportunities through climate funds, development banks, and multilateral organizations to scale up coastal resilience and community development.
Anishere stressed that Nigeria's blue economy should be underpinned by effective governance, noting that the country needs to establish the legal and institutional conditions required for innovation, investment, and sustainable exploitation of marine resources. She called for a regulatory system that provides certainty and security for investors while remaining flexible enough to encourage innovation and environmentally responsible enough to protect marine resources.
The keynote speaker identified security, sustainability, and governance as critical pillars for the future of Nigeria's blue economy. Anishere also advocated for improved waste-management infrastructure, sustainable fishing practices, recycling education, and environmental stewardship initiatives that directly benefit coastal communities. She further called for increased private-sector participation in blue tourism, resilient infrastructure, and marine-based enterprises through appropriate incentives and public-private partnerships.
Representing the Lagos State Governor, Mr. 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 while Ehingbeti's history was closely associated with Lagos Island, the state's blue economy development agenda would encompass communities across Lagos.
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 with the historical roots of maritime activities in Lagos. Williams identified inland waterways as one of the low-hanging fruits of Nigeria's blue economy and called for greater investment and stronger legal protection for investors.
A major highlight of the summit was the official launch of the 28 Inland Waterways Investment Jigsaw, an initiative designed to highlight viable investment opportunities across Nigeria's inland waterways and provide a structured pathway for private-sector participation. The initiative is expected to support efforts to identify investment opportunities across the country's inland waterways while encouraging greater private-sector involvement in water transportation and other marine-related businesses.
Key points
- Experts advocate for a dedicated Coastal Resilience Fund to address infrastructure deficits in coastal communities.
- Effective governance and regulatory frameworks are necessary for Nigeria's blue economy development.
- Increased private-sector participation is crucial for the growth of Nigeria's blue economy.
