Nigeria, China Strengthen Ties On Marine Sector Development

The federal government of Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China have agreed to partner on projects and policies to ensure the development of Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy sector.

This was revealed when the minister of Marine and Blue Economy,  Adegboyega Oyetola, received the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

Welcoming the envoy, Oyetola commended the long-standing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and China, describing it as mutually beneficial and pivotal to both nations’ economic growth.

He noted that Nigeria, with its extensive coastline and rich maritime resources, is strategically positioned to become a hub for marine trade, logistics, and investment in Africa.

Oyetola spoke extensively about Nigeria’s maritime endowments, highlighting the country’s 853 kilometres of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, its vast inland waterways spanning over 10,000 kilometres, and the abundant marine biodiversity that supports aquaculture, fishing, and other blue economy activities.

He explained that Nigeria’s maritime domain holds immense potential for shipping, port operations, fisheries, renewable ocean energy, marine tourism, and coastal infrastructure development.

According to him, if properly harnessed, the marine and blue economy sector is a frontier for wealth creation, job opportunities, and sustainable development.

He said, “Our ministry is determined to create the right framework for investment and partnership, and we believe that Nigeria has a lot to learn from China’s marine and blue economy development model.”

Speaking earlier, Ambassador Dunhai noted that his visit to the ministry was to further the strong partnership between China and Nigeria.

He recalled that it had been exactly one year since President Bola Tinubu paid a state visit to China, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. That visit produced significant economic benefits for both nations, including deepened cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and industrial development.

The Ambassador highlighted the Lekki Deep Seaport, constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company, as a shining example of Sino-Nigerian collaboration.

He noted that the port, Nigeria’s first deep seaport and one of the largest in West Africa, is capable of handling ultra-large container vessels and significantly boosting Nigeria’s trade volume.

He stressed that the project has created thousands of direct and indirect jobs, eased congestion at Lagos ports, ensured faster cargo clearance, and positioned Nigeria as a key maritime hub in West and Central Africa.