The President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has said that strategic investments in aquaculture, hatcheries, feed production, fish processing, cold-chain logistics, and export infrastructure could significantly reduce imports, conserve foreign exchange, create more than 500,000 jobs, and position Nigeria as a leading exporter of fisheries products.

Dangote made the remarks in Lagos while speaking at the Second Quarter 2026 Citizens’ and Stakeholders’ Engagement organised by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

The engagement, themed “From Policy to Action: Mobilising Sub-National Governments for Effective Implementation of Nigeria’s National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy,” brought together government officials, diplomats, development partners, industry leaders, academics, and representatives of state governments to discuss strategies for advancing the implementation of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy policy.

In his paper presentation titled, “Driving Private Sector Investment and Industrialisation in Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy: Opportunities for Sustainable Economic Growth,” Dangote, who was represented by the Managing Director of Dangote Port Operations, Simeon Omole, said, “This is not merely a food security challenge; it is an industrial and investment opportunity.

“Strategic investment across the fisheries value chain, from aquaculture and hatcheries to feed production, cold-chain logistics, processing, and export infrastructure, supported by private sector leadership and an enabling government environment, can strengthen food security, reduce imports, conserve foreign exchange, create over 500,000 jobs, and position Nigeria as a competitive exporter of fisheries products.”

Dangote said the successful implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy would depend largely on sustained private sector participation.

He noted that the policy aims to create three million jobs within its first four years, achieve annual sectoral growth of seven per cent, and reserve at least 50 per cent of the new jobs for young people between the ages of 18 and 35.

Dangote identified the fisheries value chain as one of the country’s most promising investment opportunities, noting that despite rising domestic production, Nigeria still imports nearly $1 billion worth of fish annually due to a significant supply deficit.

He also stressed that public-private partnerships should extend beyond financing arrangements to become strategic collaborations involving government, investors, research institutions, and coastal communities.

According to him, developing coastal industrial clusters supported by modern ports, Special Economic Zones, and digital infrastructure would attract long-term investment and accelerate industrialisation.

Earlier, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, called for stronger collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, the private sector, and development partners to accelerate the implementation of Nigeria’s National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy.

He described active participation by sub-national governments as critical to unlocking the sector’s vast economic potential.

Oyetola said Nigeria had moved beyond policy formulation and must now focus on effective implementation capable of delivering measurable economic benefits.

He noted that the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy provides a strategic framework for harnessing the country’s oceans, inland waterways, fisheries, and coastal resources, but stressed that its success would depend on coordinated action across all levels of government.

“Many of the country’s blue economy assets are located within states and communities, making sub-national governments indispensable partners in driving investment, creating jobs, improving food security and promoting environmental sustainability,” Oyetola said.

Oyetola said reforms implemented under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda had strengthened stakeholder engagement, attracted greater investment, improved maritime safety, and enhanced the competitiveness of Nigeria’s ports.

He added that ongoing port modernisation efforts and plans to develop new deep seaports in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Lagos, and Ondo states would further reinforce Nigeria’s position as West Africa’s preferred maritime hub.

In his keynote address, Duoye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, describing the move as a strategic step towards diversifying Nigeria’s economy.

He said Bayelsa followed suit by establishing its own Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in June 2024 to drive the blue economy component of the state’s A-S-S-U-R-E-D Prosperity Agenda.