Nigeria’s ambition to build a thriving blue economy may remain out of reach unless the country strengthens maritime security, closes regulatory gaps and gives coastal communities a greater stake in the sector, the organisers of the 4th Ehingbeti Blue Economy Hub have said.
The forum, scheduled for September 17, 2026, at Lagos Oriental Hotel, will bring together policymakers, maritime professionals, investors and other stakeholders to examine how weaknesses in Nigeria’s legal and security architecture are limiting investment and sustainable development along the coast and inland waterways.
Themed “Securing Nigeria’s Blue Economy: Need to Strengthen Regulatory and Maritime Framework for Sustainable Coastal Development,” the event will be chaired by the Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Hon. Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, as Special Guest of Honour.
The forum will feature two principal speakers with expertise in the legal and maritime security dimensions of the sector: the President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Chief (Mrs.) Jean Chiazor Anishere, SAN, and the Executive Director, Technical and Operations, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh.
For Convener of the forum, Hon. Olaitan Williams, the central question is not simply how Nigeria can expand its maritime economy, but how it can ensure that the communities living along its waterways are part of that expansion.
Williams, who is also Founder of Ocean Ambassadors Foundation (OAF), said the history of Ehingbeti itself demonstrates the longstanding maritime potential of Lagos and its coastal population.
She recalled the former Floating Bukka, a floating restaurant on the waterways, as part of the area’s maritime heritage and linked the evolution of the coastal settlement to the emergence of major maritime locations such as Apapa, Tin Can Island and the Marina.
According to her, coastal residents should not be viewed merely as beneficiaries of blue economy policies but as critical participants whose traditional knowledge, skills and proximity to the waterways can support economic development.
She argued that inadequate security remains one of the biggest obstacles to unlocking investment, particularly because insecurity raises risks for operators while making financial institutions and insurers more cautious about supporting inland waterways and coastal projects.
Williams also raised concerns about the adequacy of existing legal provisions for coastal community development. She said blue economy policies risk overlooking rural fisheries, indigenous maritime livelihoods and other informal activities that sustain communities along Nigeria’s extensive coastline and waterways.
She further argued that socioeconomic deprivation in coastal communities can contribute to maritime insecurity, even as residents of those same communities frequently play important roles in responding to boat accidents and emergencies on the waterways.
“The low-hanging fruits of the blue economy are 100 percent from the coast,” Williams said, emphasising the need to transform indigenous skills and knowledge into sustainable economic opportunities.
The Ehingbeti Hub will therefore focus on two interconnected areas, the legal framework and security architecture, with the aim of developing practical recommendations for Nigeria’s inland waterways and coastal communities.
Another issue expected to receive attention is illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Williams called for stronger enforcement and legal mechanisms to protect Nigeria’s fisheries and marine resources from exploitation by foreign operators.
She also advocated closer cooperation among government agencies, investors, financial institutions and insurers, arguing that predictable regulation and improved security would reduce investment risks and help unlock financing for blue economy projects.
Beyond fisheries, she pointed to opportunities in maritime transport, tourism, logistics and boat building, stressing that Nigeria could gain more from its waterways by integrating traditional boat builders, divers and other indigenous operators into the formal economy.
Williams cited previous youth training initiatives in coastal communities as examples of how local capabilities could be developed into employment and professional opportunities.
The 4th Ehingbeti Blue Economy Hub is consequently expected to push for a broader approach to Nigeria’s blue economy, one that combines stronger maritime laws and security with investment, job creation and the economic inclusion of the coastal communities whose livelihoods and knowledge are deeply connected to the waterways.
