Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Marine and Blue Economy, Prof Busayo Fakinlade has attributed all transformational milestones recorded in Nigeria’s maritime sector to the foresight and vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
Prof. Fakinlede stated this in Abuja during an Executive Courtesy Visit and Strategic Dialogue with a high-level delegation of the Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER).
The ABER delegation was led by Dr. Amenya Kartay, Chief of Staff to the Convener and Founder of ABER and Head of the Abuja Liaison Bureau, who represented the Convener, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo. He was accompanied by Hajiya Medina Dauda Nadabo, Director of Communication & Public Affairs, and Prince Ibiok, Director of ICT, Blue Council Africa.
During the meeting, Prof. Fakinlede, a Professor of Maritime Technology and former World Bank Senior Adviser, outlined his strategic framework of Identify, Protect, Harness: complete spatial mapping of Nigeria’s maritime domain, institutional governance and protection, and safe exploitation of subsea minerals, offshore wind, subsea cabling, desalination and aquaculture.
He noted that the Gulf of Guinea is valued by the World Bank at $1 Trillion annually, with Nigeria accounting for 74% of activities, representing over $600 Billion in annual potential. He decried the capital flight where 80% of the 4,000 active vessels in Nigerian waters are serviced abroad, the underutilisation of over 10,000km of navigable inland waterways, and the fisheries deficit that still costs Nigeria over $2 Billion in imports yearly.
While commending President Bola Almed Tinubu and the pioneer Minister of Marine and Blue Economy ministry, he said: “First, everything that is happening in the sector happened because of the person that created the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose foresight and vision gave birth to the new ministry.
“Secondly, the person appointed to manage the ministry, His Excellency, Hon. Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON. His experience as former Governor of Osun State, being a private sector player and administrator, makes the Pioneer Minister the right person to man the affairs of the ministry, considering his pedigree and exposure. That is why we have all the gains we are talking about.
“All the praise and encomiums have to go to Mr. President and the Honourable Minister. I am just trying to catch up with what they are doing. When you have a very good leader leading you, all you have to do is run after that leadership.”
Earlier in his address, the Convener and Founder of ABER, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, represented by Dr. Kartay, briefed the SSA on the purpose of the visit, saying it was to commend President Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under Hon. Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, for what he described as a historic transformation in just three years.
“When Mr. President created this Ministry in August 2023, many saw it as merely administrative. Today, it has clearly proven to be an economic masterstroke,” he said.
He listed ten standout milestones, including revenue growth from N700.79bn in 2023 to N1.83trn in 2025 — a 160% increase; approval of Nigeria’s first National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy in May 2025; first holistic port rebuild in 50 years, with the 20-year Apapa gridlock cleared; commissioning of Funtua Inland Dry Port, with Moniya, Ijebu-Ode and Jos advancing to link inland trade to AfCFTA; and four consecutive years of zero piracy in the Gulf of Guinea through the Deep Blue Project.
Other milestones include the operationalisation of the Regional Maritime Development Bank after 16 years; Nigeria’s return to the IMO Category C Council after 14 years; implementation of the N200,000 minimum wage for shipping workers; 1.4 million metric tonnes fish production, 100% TED compliance and transition to fibreglass boats; and implementation of the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) digitisation and transformation of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council into the Port Economic Regulatory Agency.
The meeting also formally submitted three proposals: the nomination of President Tinubu as Grand Patron of ABER, the establishment of the Continental Blue Hall of Fame to be domiciled in Nigeria, and the Africa Blue Ocean Guardians youth initiative. It further resolved to prepare briefing notes for the Grand Patron investiture at a future date.
ABER announced the appointment of Prof. Fakinlede as Patron of the Roundtable and reaffirmed its readiness to partner with the Presidency in policy advocacy, youth and women inclusion, blue finance mobilisation and continental knowledge exchange.
