Senator Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, has emphasised the need for deliberate infrastructure development, strategic planning, and sustainable practices to unlock Nigeria’s vast maritime potential and boost export trade.
Speaking at the 2025 Conference and Award of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), Senator Sanni highlighted key areas for improvement in the maritime sector.
He stressed the importance of modernising ports and developing new deep-sea ports to handle higher cargo volumes.
The senator also highlighted the need for improving multimodal transport links and adopting digital technologies to achieve efficiency and competitiveness in the sector.
According to him, the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s maritime development, but it must be backed by a comprehensive national policy, strong institutional capacity, and collaboration between public and private stakeholders.
He called for a clear national blue economy policy aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Senator Sanni also advocated for investment in dredging and upgrading inland waterways, improving road and rail connections to ports, and deploying technologies such as the International Cargo Tracking Notes (ICTN) to enhance visibility, security, and efficiency in cargo movement.
He stressed the need for public-private partnerships (PPPs) to attract investments, drive innovation, and bring in modern technology across the maritime value chain.
The Senator underscored the importance of sustainability and environmental protection in developing the blue economy, noting that protecting marine biodiversity and ensuring environmental balance is not just an obligation but a necessity for long-term prosperity.
Senator Sanni commended AMJON for its continued advocacy and contribution to maritime sector development, describing the 2025 conference as timely in advancing discourse on Nigeria’s blue economy potential.
The Acting President of AMJON, Vera Osokpo, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to promoting national discourse and policy action toward harnessing Nigeria’s blue economy for sustainable growth and export diversification.
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