The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s shipbuilding and shipyard development as part of efforts to deepen the nation’s blue economy and reduce capital flight.
The assurance was given at a stakeholders’ breakfast meeting organised by the Agency in Lagos with the theme: “Dissecting the Issues, Challenges, and Prospects in the Shipbuilding Segment – Discussing Funding Models, Incentives, and Policy Support for Shipyards Growth.” The event was held at the Nigerian Maritime Resource Development Centre (NMRDC), Kirikiri.
Delivering the welcome address as Chairman of the occasion, NIMASA’s Executive Director, Operations, Engr. Fatai Taiye Adeyemi, described shipbuilding as a capital-intensive, cyclical and technically demanding sector that requires deliberate policy direction and financial support to achieve sustainable growth.
Adeyemi was represented by the Director, Marine Environment Management, Dr. Oma Offodile.
He said the meeting was convened to assess structural challenges confronting the shipbuilding segment and to agree on pragmatic funding models, incentives and policy measures capable of driving competitive growth for Nigerian shipyards.
“Shipbuilding is a strategic pillar of Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy aspirations. It is capital-intensive, technically demanding and highly competitive, which is why deliberate funding models, targeted incentives and consistent policies are critical,” he said.
According to him, NIMASA is collaborating with industry stakeholders to address structural constraints, build local capacity, curb capital flight and position Nigerian shipyards for sustainable competitiveness, while supporting decarbonisation, job creation and Nigeria’s obligations at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Adeyemi noted that global trends such as maritime decarbonisation, fuel transition, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions have reshaped the shipbuilding landscape, increasing the need for strong domestic capacity to support shipping, offshore energy, defence and other maritime assets.
He identified key challenges facing the sector to include limited access to capital due to high capital expenditure and cyclical revenues, shortage of skilled manpower, underinvestment in automation and green technologies, inadequate scale to compete globally, as well as policy inconsistency and procurement uncertainty.
The NIMASA official added that shipyards play a critical role in maritime decarbonisation by constructing energy-efficient vessels that meet IMO standards. He stressed the importance of sustaining Nigeria’s recent return to Category C of the IMO Council, noting that a vibrant shipbuilding industry is essential for job creation and the overall growth of the blue economy.
In his keynote address, the Managing Director of Starz Marine Limited, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, commended the Federal Government for establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, describing it as a strategic move to unlock the full potential of the maritime sector.
He called for deliberate government support to enhance shipyard capacity, improve competitiveness and attract investment.
Shipyard owners who delivered goodwill messages expressed readiness to collaborate with NIMASA to curb capital flight and strengthen local capacity.
They emphasised the need for targeted support, skills development and policy stability to enable Nigerian shipyards compete effectively.
Stakeholders at the meeting expressed strong backing for NIMASA’s renewed drive to support shipyard operators and deepen indigenous shipbuilding capacity.
Participants agreed on the need for coordinated funding mechanisms, incentives and consistent policy implementation to address short-, medium- and long-term challenges in the sector.
NIMASA said its renewed focus on shipyard development aligns with the provisions of the NIMASA Act, 2007, which mandates the Agency to promote maritime safety, shipping development and capacity building within Nigeria’s maritime industry.
Supporting shipyard operations and indigenous shipbuilding infrastructure, it added, remains central to its statutory responsibility to drive sustainable growth in the maritime sector and advance Nigeria’s blue economy objectives.
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