Oyetola Inaugurates NIMBEX Committee to Drive Maritime Investment and Trade

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has inaugurated an organizing committee for the Nigeria Marine and Blue Economy Expo (NIMBEX), in a strategic move to position Nigeria as a premier destination for maritime investment, innovation, and trade in Africa.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, the minister said the expo will convene policymakers, international investors, industry leaders, and technology innovators to advance the Federal Government’s agenda to unlock the vast economic potential of the sector.

Oyetola, who was represented at the inauguration by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood, noted that the initiative will serve as a platform to translate the country’s maritime advantages into tangible investment opportunities, economic growth, and job creation.

“Nigeria’s marine and blue economy holds enormous potential to drive economic diversification, attract investment and create sustainable employment. NIMBEX will provide a strategic platform to bring together the capital, expertise and partnerships needed to unlock these opportunities,” Oyetola said.

He emphasized that the expo will bridge the gap between Nigeria’s vast maritime resources and the investments required to harness them for national development. He cited the country’s 853-kilometre coastline, more than 10,000 kilometres of navigable inland waterways spanning 28 states, and a substantial domestic market as significant assets to bolster its position in regional and international maritime trade.

The NIMBEX Organising Committee is chaired by Mr. Husseini Shettima, Director of Marine Conservation, Innovation and Technology at the ministry. Hajia Kalthum Ibrahim, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, and Professor Busayo Fakinlede, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Marine and Blue Economy, will serve as co-chairpersons. Dr. Bolaji Akinola will serve as a committee member and Chief Operating Officer of the expo.

Other committee members include representatives from key technical departments and major maritime agencies, such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.

Also represented are the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron; the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research; the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology; the National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, New Bussa; and the Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology in New Bussa and Baga.

The committee is further rounded out by representatives from coastal states, terminal operators, shipowners, freight forwarders, barge operators, and other key industry stakeholders.