In a strategic move to position Nigeria as a regional maritime hub and accelerate national economic diversification, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has inaugurated the multi-stakeholder organizing committee for the inaugural Nigeria Marine and Blue Economy Expo (NIMBEX).
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja—where he was represented by the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood—the Minister emphasized that the global exposition aims to bridge the gap between Nigeria's vast natural marine assets and the domestic and international capital required to fully commercialize them.
The event is designed to connect global investors, technology innovators, financial institutions, and public sector policymakers to explore high-growth opportunities across shipping, port logistics, offshore energy, and sustainable marine resource development.
To ensure coordinated operational execution and cross-sectoral engagement, the newly inaugurated committee incorporates representatives from federal ministries, state governments, research bodies, and key private-sector maritime operators.
Chairman: Mr. Husseini Shettima (Director of Marine Conservation, Innovation and Technology).
Co-Chairpersons: Hajia Kalthum Ibrahim (Director of Planning, Research and Statistics) and Prof. Busayo Fakinlede (Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Marine and Blue Economy).
Stakeholder Representation: Coastal state governments, terminal operators, shipowners, freight forwarders, barge operators, maritime research institutes, and international trade bodies.
Highlighting Nigeria’s 853-kilometer coastline and over 10,000 kilometers of inland waterways across 28 states, Oyetola noted that NIMBEX will showcase key sub-sectors to drive foreign direct investment (FDI) and create sustainable local employment:
The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to creating a transparent regulatory framework, enhancing maritime security, and offering policy-backed guarantees to protect incoming private sector investments across the blue economy ecosystem.