Stakeholders seek dedicated fund for coastal resilience

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Experts and stakeholders at the 4th Ehingbeti Maritime Hub Summit have called for the establishment of a dedicated Coastal Resilience Fund to support coastal protection, infrastructure development and community empowerment across Nigeria.

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According to a recent statement, the call was made during the 4th Ehingbeti Maritime Hub Summit held in Lagos. The event brought stakeholders together to examine the legal, regulatory, security and investment frameworks required to unlock Nigeria’s blue economy potential and promote sustainable coastal development.

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Delivering the keynote address, the President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria, Jean Anishere, SAN, said, “A dedicated financing mechanism was necessary to address infrastructure deficits and improve the living conditions of people in coastal communities.”

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Anishere urged Nigeria to explore international financing opportunities through climate funds, development banks and multilateral organisations to scale up coastal resilience and community development.

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She said sustained investment in coastal resilience would help strengthen infrastructure, protect livelihoods and create an enabling environment for coastal communities to participate meaningfully in the emerging blue economy.

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Anishere stressed that Nigeria’s blue economy must be underpinned by effective governance, noting that the country needed to the legal and institutional conditions required for innovation, investment and sustainable exploitation of marine resources.

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She called for a regulatory system that provides certainty and security for investors while remaining flexible enough to encourage innovation, environmentally responsible enough to protect marine resources and inclusive enough to benefit coastal populations.

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Anishere identified security, sustainability and governance as critical pillars for the future of Nigeria’s blue economy.

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She also advocated improved waste-management infrastructure, sustainable fishing practices, recycling education and environmental stewardship initiatives that directly benefit coastal communities.

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Anishere further called for increased private-sector participation in blue tourism, resilient infrastructure and marine-based enterprises through appropriate incentives, streamlined regulations and public-private partnerships.

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Representing the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, said the state remained committed to an inclusive approach to blue economy development.

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She noted that while Ehingbeti’s history was closely associated with Lagos Island, the state’s blue economy development agenda would encompass communities across Lagos.

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According to her, Governor Sanwo-Olu encouraged participants to collaborate and develop a communiqué capable of advancing the blue economy agenda of Lagos State.

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The Convener of the Ehingbeti Maritime Hub and Founder of the Ocean Ambassadors Foundation, Olaitan Williams, said the Hub was established in 2023 to trace and reconnect with the historical roots of maritime activities in Lagos.

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Williams said Ehingbeti represented an important chapter in Lagos’ evolution from its early trading history to modern-day Eko.

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She identified inland waterways as one of the low-hanging fruits of Nigeria’s blue economy and called for greater investment and stronger legal protection for investors.

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According to her, Nigeria’s estimated 10,000 kilometres of waterways could not deliver their full economic potential if they remained largely unnavigable.

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The Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of the NIWA Governing Board, Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, represented by NIWA Board Member, Capt. Tajudeen Alao, commended the convener for her commitment to the development of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.

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Shagari stressed that coastal communities must remain central to the implementation of blue economy policies, while advocating an appropriate legal framework for the development of Nigeria’s littoral states.

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Representing the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, Rear Admiral N.C. Okon called for stronger maritime regulation and effective enforcement of existing laws.

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Okon identified sea blindness as a factor limiting Nigeria’s ability to fully harness its maritime potential and stressed that collaboration among government agencies, coastal communities and development partners was essential.

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He noted that a thriving blue economy could not be sustained amid insecurity, environmental degradation, illicit activities and regulatory uncertainty.

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The Naval representative reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to providing the secure maritime environment required for commerce, investment and sustainable exploitation of Nigeria’s maritime resources.

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Also speaking, Chairman of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, Ekeoma Ezeibe, identified insurance as a critical component of maritime and blue economy development.

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She said adequate insurance protection was necessary to safeguard maritime assets, infrastructure and businesses against the multiple risks associated with the sector.

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A major highlight of the summit was the official launch of the 28 Inland Waterways Investment Jigsaw, an initiative designed to highlight viable investment opportunities across Nigeria’s inland waterways and provide a structured pathway for private-sector participation.

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The initiative is expected to support efforts to identify investment opportunities across the country’s inland waterways while encouraging greater private-sector involvement in water transportation and other marine-related businesses.

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The 4th Ehingbeti Maritime Hub Summit brought together government representatives, maritime professionals, security stakeholders, legal practitioners, insurers, traditional rulers, academics, private-sector operators and representatives of coastal communities.

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The summit reaffirmed the need for stronger regulation, maritime security, sustainable financing, infrastructure development, and community inclusion as Nigeria works to translate its blue economy potential into sustainable economic and social development.

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