ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Nigeria and China have agreed to strengthen collaboration in the marine and blue economy sector, with a focus on advancing port infrastructure and expanding market access for Nigerian aquaculture exports.
This agreement was reached during a meeting between the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, held on Thursday at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Oyetola underscored Nigeria’s significant maritime resources, pointing to its 853 kilometers of Atlantic Ocean coastline and more than 10,000 kilometers of inland waterways.
He noted that the country’s maritime sector offers vast potential in shipping, port operations, fisheries, renewable ocean energy, marine tourism, and coastal infrastructure.
“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,” Oyetola said.
Ambassador Yu praised Nigeria’s maritime wealth and restated China’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in maximizing its marine and blue economy prospects.
He cited the Lekki Deep Seaport, built by China Harbour Engineering Company, as a prime example of successful Sino-Nigerian cooperation.
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The port, designed to handle ultra-large container ships, has boosted Nigeria’s trade volume, eased congestion at Lagos ports, and created thousands of direct and indirect jobs, firmly establishing Nigeria as a strategic maritime hub in West and Central Africa.
Ambassador Yu further disclosed that a new agreement is underway to facilitate the export of Nigerian aquaculture products to China, opening fresh markets for local producers and strengthening food trade between both countries.
He also noted that China has already approved zero tariffs on Nigeria’s aquaculture exports, underscoring its dedication to deeper economic ties.
Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to consolidate the strong foundation of China-Nigeria relations.
Oyetola expressed optimism about future opportunities, stating, “Nigeria’s marine and blue economy holds tremendous opportunities for investors, and with China’s cooperation, we are confident of unlocking this potential for the benefit of our people.”
In a related development, Nigeria and China have signed a $2bn maritime investment agreement aimed at boosting indigenous vessel ownership and reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a regional maritime hub.
The initiative is projected to deliver $2bn in vessel investments, $20bn in freight contracts for Nigerian operators, $200m dedicated to maritime training, and $50m for training vessels.
It is also expected to generate more than 2,000 maritime jobs annually, train 25,000 globally certified Nigerian seafarers, and build a sustainable local shipping industry.