By Abdullahi Lukman
President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has called for increased private sector investment across Nigeria’s fisheries value chain, saying strategic investments could create more than 500,000 jobs, reduce fish imports, conserve foreign exchange and position the country as a major exporter of fisheries products.
Dangote made the call at the Second Quarter 2026 Citizens’ and Stakeholders’ Engagement organised by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in Lagos, where stakeholders discussed strategies for implementing Nigeria’s National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy.
Represented by the Managing Director of Dangote Port Operations, Simeon Omole, Dangote said investments in aquaculture, hatcheries, feed production, fish processing, cold-chain logistics and export infrastructure would strengthen food security while unlocking significant economic opportunities.
He stressed that sustained private sector participation would be critical to achieving the objectives of the national policy, which targets the creation of three million jobs within its first four years, annual sector growth of seven per cent and the reservation of at least half of new jobs for young people between 18 and 35 years.
According to him, policy consistency, quality infrastructure, access to finance and investor confidence remain essential for industrial transformation. He identified infrastructure development, value-chain expansion and stronger public-private partnerships as key drivers of growth in the marine and blue economy.
Dangote also said the Federal Government’s approval of new deep seaport projects would stimulate industrial clusters in agro-processing, petrochemicals, shipbuilding, maritime technology and logistics, while improving Nigeria’s competitiveness.
Highlighting opportunities in fisheries, he noted that Nigeria still spends nearly $1 billion annually on fish imports despite increasing domestic production, describing the sector as one with enormous investment potential.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said effective implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy would require stronger collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, the private sector and development partners.
He said the country had moved beyond policy formulation and must now focus on implementation capable of delivering measurable economic benefits, adding that sub-national governments would play a vital role because many of Nigeria’s marine resources are located within states and local communities.
Oyetola said reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration had improved stakeholder engagement, enhanced port competitiveness and strengthened maritime safety. He added that ongoing port modernisation and plans to develop deep seaports in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Lagos and Ondo states would reinforce Nigeria’s position as West Africa’s preferred maritime hub.
The minister also urged coastal states to align their development plans with the national policy and encourage private investment in fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, tourism, shipbuilding, renewable energy and marine biotechnology.
In his keynote address, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, said the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy had opened new opportunities for economic diversification. He noted that Bayelsa established its own Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2024 and had expanded investments in aquaculture, marine transportation and the proposed Agge Deep Seaport to boost jobs and economic growth.
Diri also urged coastal states to establish dedicated marine ministries, enact supportive legislation, strengthen maritime security, improve data collection and invest in skills development and logistics infrastructure to maximise opportunities in the blue economy.