In a significant step towards strengthening bilateral ties, Nigeria and China have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in the marine and blue economy sector.
This followed a high-level meeting on Thursday between the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, and the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Yu Dunhai, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Minister Oyetola praised the long-standing diplomatic and economic relationship between both nations, describing it as “mutually beneficial and vital to sustainable growth.” He noted that Nigeria’s extensive maritime endowments, including 853 kilometres of Atlantic coastline, over 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways, and vast marine biodiversity, position the country as a potential hub for maritime trade, logistics, and investments in Africa.
“Nigeria has immense opportunities in shipping, port operations, fisheries, renewable ocean energy, marine tourism, and coastal infrastructure development,” Oyetola stated. “Our Ministry is committed to creating the right framework for investment and believes Nigeria has a lot to learn from China’s successful marine and blue economy development model.”
The Minister stressed that the sector, if fully harnessed, could unlock massive job creation, strengthen food security, and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings. He also expressed the government’s readiness to collaborate with China on tackling illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which continues to undermine Nigeria’s economic and food security efforts.
Ambassador Yu Dunhai, in his remarks, described his visit as a follow-up to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to China last year, which he said has already yielded “tangible benefits” in trade, infrastructure, and industrial development.
“Marine and blue economy is the future, and China is ready to support Nigeria in unlocking its full potential,” Yu said.
He highlighted the Lekki Deep Seaport, constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company, as a prime example of Sino-Nigerian collaboration. The port, Nigeria’s first deep seaport and one of the largest in West Africa, has boosted the country’s trade capacity, eased port congestion in Lagos, and created thousands of direct and indirect jobs. Yu disclosed that the facility is projected to generate billions of dollars in revenue over its concession period, solidifying Nigeria’s status as a major maritime hub in the region.
In a major development, the Ambassador also revealed that China has approved zero tariffs on Nigerian aquaculture exports, paving the way for increased trade and access to the Chinese market. Discussions are underway to finalize an agreement that will open new opportunities for Nigerian fish farmers and exporters.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to exploring new avenues for collaboration, particularly in marine resource management, port development, capacity building, and investment facilitation.
Minister Oyetola expressed optimism about the future of the partnership, 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.”
The visit underscores the growing recognition of the marine and blue economy as a key driver of sustainable growth and a cornerstone of the Nigeria-China strategic partnership.
