LAGOS — Experts and key stakeholders at the 4th Ehingbeti Maritime Hub Summit have called for the establishment of a dedicated Coastal Resilience Fund to finance coastal protection, infrastructure development and community empowerment across Nigeria.
The call was made on Thursday at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, during the summit, where participants examined the legal, regulatory, security and investment frameworks needed to unlock Nigeria’s blue economy potential and promote sustainable development of coastal communities.
Delivering the keynote address, President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Chief Jean Chiazor Anishere, SAN, said a dedicated financing mechanism was critical to addressing infrastructure deficits and improving living conditions in coastal communities.
Anishere urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to leverage international financing opportunities through climate funds, development banks and multilateral institutions to scale up coastal resilience and community development.
According to her, sustained investment in coastal resilience would strengthen infrastructure, protect livelihoods and create opportunities for coastal communities to participate meaningfully in the emerging blue economy.
The Learned Silk also stressed the importance of effective governance, noting that Nigeria’s blue economy must be supported by sound legal and institutional frameworks capable of promoting innovation, attracting investment and ensuring the sustainable exploitation of marine resources.
She called for a regulatory environment that provides certainty and security for investors, while remaining flexible enough to encourage innovation, environmentally responsible enough to protect marine resources and inclusive enough to benefit coastal populations.
Anishere identified security, sustainability and good governance as critical pillars for the future of Nigeria’s blue economy.
She further advocated improved waste-management infrastructure, sustainable fishing practices, recycling education and environmental stewardship programmes that directly benefit coastal communities.
The MAAN President also called for greater private-sector participation in blue tourism, resilient infrastructure and marine-based enterprises through appropriate incentives, streamlined regulations and stronger public-private partnerships.
Representing 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 although Ehingbeti’s history was closely associated with Lagos Island, the state’s blue economy agenda would extend to communities across Lagos.
According to her, Governor Sanwo-Olu had encouraged participants to collaborate and develop a communiqué capable of advancing the blue economy agenda of Lagos 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 trace and reconnect with the historical roots of maritime activities in Lagos.
Williams described Ehingbeti as an important chapter in the evolution of Lagos, from its early trading history to the modern-day Eko.
She identified inland waterways as one of the low-hanging fruits of Nigeria’s blue economy and called for increased investment and stronger legal protection for investors.
According to Williams, Nigeria’s estimated 10,000 kilometres of waterways cannot deliver their full economic potential if a significant proportion remains 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 convener for her commitment to developing Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
Shagari stressed that coastal communities must remain at the centre of blue economy policies, while advocating an appropriate legal framework for the sustainable 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 effective enforcement of existing laws.
Okon identified “sea blindness” as one of the factors limiting Nigeria’s ability to fully harness its maritime potential, stressing the need for stronger collaboration among government agencies, coastal communities and development partners.
He noted that a thriving blue economy could not be sustained in an environment characterised by insecurity, environmental degradation, illicit activities and regulatory uncertainty.
The Naval representative reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to providing the secure maritime environment required to support commerce, investment and the sustainable exploitation of Nigeria’s maritime resources.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Ekeoma Ezeibe, described insurance as a critical component of maritime and blue economy development.
She stressed the importance of adequate insurance protection to safeguard maritime assets, infrastructure and businesses against the multiple 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 showcase viable investment opportunities across Nigeria’s inland waterways and provide a structured pathway for increased private-sector participation.
The initiative is expected to support the identification and development of investment opportunities in the country’s inland waterways while encouraging greater private-sector involvement in water transportation and other marine-related businesses.
The 4th Ehingbeti Maritime Hub Summit brought together government representatives, maritime professionals, security stakeholders, legal practitioners, insurers, traditional rulers, academics, private-sector operators and representatives of coastal communities.
The summit reaffirmed the need for stronger regulation, maritime security, sustainable financing, infrastructure development and community inclusion as Nigeria seeks to translate its vast blue economy potential into sustainable economic growth and improved social development.
This version is structured more like a publishable newspaper/online news report, with the Coastal Resilience Fund positioned clearly as the main news angle.
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