By Abbas Nazil
Nigeria’s failure to harness the potential of its vast maritime resources continues to undermine its economic sustainability and growth, experts warn.
At an executive media training on blue economy organized by the Nigerian Navy’s International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION) in Apapa, stakeholders expressed deep concern over what they described as the country’s enduring “sea blindness”—a collective ignorance of the vital role the ocean plays in national development.
Rear Admiral Francis Dan Akpan (rtd), Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Maritime Security Practitioners Association of Nigeria, in his lecture titled *Introduction to the Blue Economy*, said despite Nigeria’s control of more than 54,000 square nautical miles of maritime domain, the country remains economically and culturally disconnected from the sea.
He explained that sea blindness exists not only among citizens but also among policymakers, scholars, and even industry professionals.
He noted that the recently unveiled Marine and Blue Economy Policy (2025–2035) is a commendable step toward correcting this disconnect.
The policy aims to create three million jobs, establish six modern fish processing plants, promote coastal tourism, and attract \$2 billion in offshore renewable energy investments by 2025.
However, Akpan lamented that Nigeria’s fishing industry has collapsed due to unregulated access granted to foreign vessels, depletion of fish stocks, and a lack of modern fishing vessels and cold chain infrastructure.
He contrasted the Nigerian situation with thriving fishing ports in Asia and Europe where trawlers operate daily, while in Nigeria, the industry is nearly extinct.
Funke Agbor, President of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA), also spoke at the training, praising the National Policy on Blue Economy as “a beautiful document,” but criticized Nigeria’s track record of poor implementation.
She said Nigeria is a naturally blessed coastal nation but continues to overlook key economic opportunities in maritime tourism, sea transportation, and ocean-based industries.
Dr. Obiora Madu, founder of Multimix Academy, called for immediate reforms to reclaim Nigeria’s leadership position in West and Central African maritime trade.
He pointed to the rise of Togo’s Lome seaport as the region’s new shipping hub, a development he said should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria.
He blamed environmental neglect, outdated infrastructure, and poor policy execution for the country’s declining relevance in regional maritime logistics.
Director General of IMION, Thaddeus Udofia (rtd), in his opening remarks, emphasized that oceans are critical to sustaining life, livelihoods, and global economies.
He warned that Nigeria’s marine resources are under serious threat due to unsustainable practices and the growing impacts of climate change.
Udofia said the executive course aims to equip media professionals with the knowledge to better report on marine conservation, blue energy, sustainable fisheries, and the socio-economic dimensions of ocean governance.
He urged journalists to use their platforms not only to uncover economic opportunities in Nigeria’s ocean spaces, but also to educate the public, influence decision-making, and promote environmental protection.
Experts agreed that unless urgent steps are taken to address the country’s sea blindness, the vision for a prosperous blue economy may remain an unfulfilled promise.