By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has presented Nigeria’s Blue Economy Agenda at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, where he outlined the Federal Government’s strategy to unlock the country’s vast maritime resources.
The minister delivered the presentation during a high-level panel discussion on the blue economy at the summit themed “Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth.”
The event, which brought together African leaders, policymakers, investors and development partners, focused on advancing innovation, economic growth and strategic collaboration across the continent.
His Special Adviser on Media, Dr Bolaji Akinola, disclosed this in a statement issued Tuesday, 12 May, 2026 in Lagos, noting that Oyetola spoke on the topic “Blue Economy: Maritime Sovereignty & Sustainable Valorisation.”
According to Akinola, the minister highlighted key reforms introduced by the Federal Government, stressing that the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in August 2023 was a deliberate policy move to harness opportunities in the maritime sector.
“Since its establishment, the ministry has recorded notable milestones, including the development of Nigeria’s first National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, designed to provide a strategic framework for sustainable sectoral growth,” Oyetola said.
He further disclosed that agencies under the ministry recorded a combined revenue of N1.83 trillion in the 2025 fiscal year, describing the performance as evidence of the sector’s expanding economic value.
“The agencies under the ministry have also achieved record revenue performance, generating N1.83 trillion in the 2025 fiscal year,” he stated.
Building on this, Oyetola said the Federal Government had approved a comprehensive port modernisation and upgrade programme aimed at attracting larger vessels and boosting job creation within the maritime industry.
He added that the initiative would further position Nigeria as the leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa.
The minister also noted that the panel session featured the French Minister of the Sea and Fisheries, Catherine Chabaud, alongside other prominent maritime stakeholders from across Africa.
He explained that the summit, co-hosted by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron, had President Bola Tinubu in attendance alongside other African leaders.
Oyetola stressed that the engagement marked a significant milestone in Africa-France relations, describing it as a new phase of economic and diplomatic cooperation.
He further noted that the summit was particularly historic as it was the first Africa-France edition hosted in an English-speaking, non-Francophone African country.
