By Obiabin Onukwugha
The Federal Government and Neherlands have reiterated their commitment to sustainable and climate-responsive initiatives as core pillars for the development of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy sector.
This comes as a delegation from Invest International, a state-owned development finance institution under the Dutch Ministry of Finance, led by Fenna Zoe Howkamp visited the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in Abuja, on Tuesday.
Receiving the delegation, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Fatima Sugra Mahmood, highlighted that the Ministry was actively integrating climate considerations into its policies and programmes, “with a strong focus on reducing carbon footprints, conserving marine ecosystems, and promoting environmentally responsible resource utilisation.”
The Permanent Secretary in a statement by the Ministry’s Director, Information and Public Relations Anastasia Ogbonna, also reiterated the Ministry’s openness to strategic partnerships, particularly in port services and marine infrastructure.
He said the ministry is committed to unlocking long-term investment required for sustainable development. He also assured the delegation of Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with international partners to drive innovation, investment, and sustainability in the blue economy.
Earlier, Fenna Zoe Howkamp, reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to deepening collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, highlighting the organisation’s expertise in marine and water management.
He also presented specific project proposals, including a coastal protection initiative with an accompanying feasibility study, as well as nature-based solutions for drainage and water supply systems.
Howkamp underscored the shared interest in developing resilient public infrastructure within the blue economy and expressed readiness to align proposed initiatives with the Ministry’s priority areas. He outlined Invest International’s financing options, which include up to 35% funding support for public infrastructure projects valued between One Hundred and One Hundred and Fifty million euros.
He added that these can be structured through co-financing arrangements with institutions such as the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, or through direct lending to the Ministry.
