The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved maritime infrastructure and safety projects valued at about ₦286 billion to modernise Nigeria’s ports, enhance navigational safety, and boost the economic potential of the maritime sector.
The approval, granted during Monday’s FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, comes weeks after concerns were raised over the need to strengthen the country’s maritime infrastructure to support its blue economy agenda.
The projects include the procurement of marine pollution control vessels, pilot cutter boats, firefighting vessels, as well as capital and maintenance dredging of the Escravos Channel.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, represented by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said the initiatives are part of the Federal Government’s efforts to improve port operations, enhance navigational safety, and bring Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure in line with global standards.
According to him, the council approved the procurement of two state-of-the-art marine pollution control vessels valued at about N59.05bn to combat plastic pollution, oil spills and other marine waste across Nigeria’s territorial waters, creeks and inland waterways.
He said the vessels would enhance environmental protection efforts while improving navigational safety within the country’s maritime domain.
The council also approved the acquisition of six pilot cutter boats worth about N80.03bn to facilitate the safe movement of marine pilots to and from vessels entering Nigerian ports.
Lawal explained that the boats would improve pilotage services, support vessel navigation through port channels and enhance operational efficiency in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority.
To strengthen emergency response capacity, the council equally approved the procurement of two firefighting boats valued at about N34.06bn, equivalent to approximately $16.46m.
According to the minister, the specialised vessels would improve Nigeria’s ability to respond swiftly to fires involving ships, oil terminals, jetties and other critical maritime infrastructure, thereby reducing risks to lives, property and the marine environment.
The largest approval was for the capital and maintenance dredging of the Escravos Channel at a cost of N112.85bn under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement involving the Nigerian Ports Authority and private sector operators.
Lawal said the dredging project would improve navigational access to the channel by removing silt and other obstructions, maintaining critical navigational aids and strengthening marine pollution surveillance.
He added that the project was expected to improve vessel turnaround time, increase port efficiency and reinforce Nigeria’s competitiveness as a maritime and shipping hub in West Africa.
Describing the four projects as strategic investments, the minister said they would deepen maritime safety, protect Nigeria’s coastal ecosystem and stimulate trade and investment within the country’s expanding blue economy.
“The approvals underscore the Federal Government’s commitment to building a modern, safe and environmentally sustainable maritime sector capable of supporting economic growth, facilitating international trade and creating new opportunities across the blue economy value chain,” he said.
The approvals come shortly after PUNCH Online reported from the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, that environmental experts had warned Nigeria’s blue economy ambitions could be undermined by weak ocean governance, deteriorating coastal ecosystems and inadequate maritime infrastructure.
The newspaper also reported Tinubu’s commitment to creating five million ocean-based jobs through investments in the blue economy and stronger maritime governance.
