Headlines

Deep Seabed Mining: Open vista to economic prosperity for Nigeria

Funso OLOJO

Since independence, the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy has been oil and gas.

The country has relied so much on oil that any slightest jolt in the industry will reverberate through the country’s economic arteries.

The reason is that Nigeria gets about 90 percent of its revenue from oil.

However, the country has neglected its other vast God-given resources buried beneath the ocean.

More than oil, which is fast losing international appeal due to the emerging alternative to oil, the country’s resources in the deep Seabed are a gold mine waiting to be explored and exploited.

Apart from the surface mining activities going on around the country but which were unfortunately not well harnessed, Nigeria, over the years, paid no attention to seabed mining activities which are even more lucrative than oil exploration.

According to the International Seabed Authority(ISA), an intergovernmental United Nations autonomous body charged with overseeing and regulating seabed mining activities, deep Seabed mining can only take place outside the limit of the nautical jurisdiction of a member state, that is, beyond the outer limit of the continental shelf.

With Nigeria’s 200 nautical continental shelf with the latest addition of 16,300 square kilometers granted by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelf (CLCS), Nigeria has the potential for a great economic boom if these opportunities are exploited.

Good enough, the country is among the 167 – member states of ISA which regulates Seabed mining in the area referred to as common heritage.

But sadly, since Nigeria joined the organisation at inception in November 1994, the country has not exploited the benefits of such membership.

The nonchalant attitude of the country was probably because of the fortunes it gets from oil.

Now that the oil revenue is dwindling, the Nigerian government has suddenly woken up to the realization that there is a new opportunity to grow the economy through the exploration and exploitation of the vast resources in the deep Seabed.

To demonstrate its desire to explore and exploit seabed resources, the federal government through the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in conjunction with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) organized a two-day awareness workshop where it sensitized relevant stakeholders.

From September 18th and 19th 2024, in Abuja, the government rallied the support of relevant stakeholders who brainstormed on the benefits and challenges of seabed mining and how Nigeria could leverage the opportunity to grow its economy.

Stakeholders perspectives:

At the sensitization workshop, stakeholders, drawn from the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, NIMASA, who are the hosts, the Nigeria Navy, the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Nigeria Boundary Commission, environmentalists and the Academia.

The stakeholders were unanimous in their views that seabed mining is an energiser of the economy and encouraged the Nigerian govenment to take the opportunities it offers.

However, they lamented the long-term neglect of the sector by Nigeria.

Beyond the rhetorics of government representatives, other stakeholders reprimanded the government for its inaction in the International Seabed Authority(ISA) and by extension lack of interest in exploring the vast potential of seabed resources.

Dr Maureen Tamuno, the former Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the ISA, was emotional about the dormant membership of Nigeria in ISA.

According to her, Nigeria has always been an onlooker at the different meetings of the ISA at its headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.

” At the last ISA meeting in July 2024, Nigeria had the largest entourage among the member states to the event but the people didn’t participate in the proceedings because they didn’t understand the concept and objective of the meeting.

She wanted the Nigerian government to ensure that the country participates fully in the organization in order to enjoy the inherent opportunities.

Abba Nurudeen, the Director of Maritime Boundary at the Nigeria Boundary Commission revealed that Nigeria, though a member of ISA, is yet to get the ISA license that will qualify the country to partake in the exploration and exploitation of resources beneath the belly of the sea.

According to him, the country needs $500,000 as a licensing fee to secure the license and a processing fee of $50,000.

Without these, Nigeria will be a mere onlooker while other contractor countries and companies are busy harvesting the resources that are the common heritage.

Under the ISA laws, only licensed contractors can explore and exploit the deep Seabed resources.

Despite the massive coastal endowment of Nigeria spanning over 892 Km from Badagry to Bakassi, with a total shelf area of about 42,000 km2, including a territorial sea extending from the coastline to a breadth of 12 nautical miles, and the continental shelf extending to about 50 miles which make Nigeria one of the eight countries with a continental shelf that allows for the extension of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone from 200 miles to a further 150 miles, in addition to 4,000km of inland waterways, Nigeria cannot engage in deep seabed mining because if failed to get contract license for such purpose from ISA.

ISA has entered into 15-year contracts with 21 contractors for the exploration of polymetallic nodules, polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the international seabed area (the Area).

The explored areas are in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, the Indian Ocean, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Pacific Ocean.For polymetallic nodules, the entitled exploration area allocated to each contractor is 75,000 square kilometres.

For polymetallic sulphides, the entitled exploration area allocated to each contractor is 10,000 square kilometres and consists of 100 blocks. Each block is no greater than 100 square kilometres.

For cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, the entitled exploration area allocated to each contractor is 3,000 square kilometres and consists of 150 blocks. Each block is no greater than 20 square kilometres.

This is the opportunity Nigeria is missing by its failure to get the ISA license as a contract 30 years after it joined the UN body.

Both Dr. Tamuno and Mr Abba agreed that Nigeria should collaborate with relevant stakeholders and international bodies as well as pulling resources together to enable the country get ISA license.

According to them, achieving this milestone requires collaboration and advocacy, a position shared by Rear Admiral(rtd) Chukwuemeka Okafor, the immediate Hydrographer of the Nigerian Navy.

Benefits of ISA contract licence for Nigeria

The adoption of UNCLOS in 1982 was one of the greatest achievements of the United Nations. One of the Convention’s most important contributions is that it placed more than 50 percent of the seabed under international jurisdiction, beyond the reach of any single State.

If managed effectively, in accordance with the rule of law as set out in the Convention, deep sea mining has the potential to contribute to the economic recovery of Nigeria.

Challenges of Exploiting Deep-Seabed resources by Nigeria

Much as there are enormous benefits inherent in the exploration and exploitation of deep Seabed resources, Nigeria may be faced with an uphill task to maximize these undersea resources.

Apart from being capital intensive, the lack of focus and commitment steeped in tenacity of purpose by the government may hinder the process.

To achieve Nigeria’s quest for using seabed mining as a stimulant for economic recovery, there must be sincere collaboration, and mutual commitment between the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the lead ministry, NIMASA, the Designated Authority for Nigeria membership of ISA and the Ministry of Mines and Steel, including other relevant stakeholders.

Unfortunately, some stakeholders believed that the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, which is the country- designate for Nigeria’s membership of ISA, may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of responsibilities thrust on the young ministry.

The Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (Rtd) believed that Nigeria may not see immediate results from the efforts of the federal government to leverage seabed mining through the ministry of Marine and Blue to grow the economy.

According to him, the young ministry is already overburdened with too many tasks and responsibilities within a short time of its creation.

” It will take time for the ministry to deliver, say 4 to 5 years from now.

” I am not a spokesman for the ministry but a lot of work has been heaped on the ministry with so short a time of its creation.

” People have to be patient because the results cannot come immediately” Commodore(rtd) claimed.

He also raised the issue of finance needed to fund the deep Seabed mining activity if Nigeria eventually forays into the sector.

” Nigeria has no required funds to exploit the resources in the seabed. We can only explore because exploiting the resources in the Seabed is very expensive” MAN Oron Rector disclosed.

However, stakeholders believed that if the government could muster the required political will, funding and international collaboration towards leveraging vast resources beneath the belly of the ocean, then Nigeria would be on its way towards economic rebirth.

Headlines

Marine Platforms hails impact of Cabotage regime on indigenous shipping

—as NIMASA reiterates its commitment to its implementation

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to using Nigeria’s Cabotage regime to deepen indigenous participation in the maritime sector, with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) declaring the development of local shipping capacity a priority.

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, stated this during an inspection tour of the African Pioneer Lagos, a specialised offshore Diving Support Vessel (DSV) operated by Marine Platforms Limited.

The visit, according to the NIMASA DG, underscored the growing capacity of Nigerian-owned and Nigerian-flagged vessels to undertake highly specialised offshore operations that were traditionally dominated by foreign operators.

The African Pioneer Lagos, with IMO Number 9808613, is a Nigerian-flagged DSV measuring approximately 143 metres in length, with a deadweight of about 8,000 metric tonnes.

The vessel is equipped for specialised deep-water subsea construction, diving, inspection and offshore oil and gas operations.

Mobereola said he was impressed by the vessel’s capabilities, stressing that Nigerian-flagged vessels with such capacity should enjoy priority in the nation’s maritime space.

“I’m quite happy at what I have seen today after the tour of this 8,000 metric tonnes African Pioneer Specialised Vessel.

“A vessel such as this flying the Nigerian flag should have priority over any foreign vessel.

“We are automating the Nigerian Ship Registry to make it more attractive and to ensure that more vessels like this fly the Nigerian flag.”

The NIMASA boss said improving the attractiveness and efficiency of the Nigerian Ship Registry was critical to encouraging more shipowners to register their vessels under the Nigerian flag.

He added that strengthening the Cabotage regime remained central to the Federal Government’s efforts to build indigenous shipping capacity and ensure that Nigerian companies and professionals occupy a greater share of opportunities in the country’s maritime and offshore sectors.

For the Chief Executive Officer of Marine Platforms Limited, Mr. Taofeek Adegbite, the company’s experience demonstrates the impact that the Cabotage regime and Nigerian Content legislation can have on indigenous shipping companies.

Adegbite said Marine Platforms had benefited significantly from the policy since acquiring its first vessel, Mt. African Vision, in 2012.

He said the company was proud to operate its vessels under the Nigerian flag and encouraged other Nigerian shipowners to embrace the Nigerian Ship Registry.

“Since 2012, when we got our very first vessel, ‘Mt. African Vision’, we are happy and proud to say NIMASA’s Cabotage Regime and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board Act has played a major role in ensuring that our vessels have contracts on a regular basis.

“We have no regret flying the Nigerian flag and I will invite more ship owners to register their flags in the Nigerian Ship Registry.”

Adegbite, however, called for greater attention to the classification and certification of crews operating large and highly specialised vessels.

“At the moment, we would appreciate a classification in such a way that the crew who are operating very big vessels are given special attention so that more very large vessels can fly the Nigerian flag,” he said.

He commended NIMASA for its support, stressing that the African Pioneer Lagos demonstrated that Nigerian companies and maritime professionals possess the technical capacity to operate sophisticated vessels to international standards.

According to him, the continued development of Nigerian-flagged vessels would also create greater opportunities for indigenous maritime manpower and professional development.

Adegbite said Nigeria could learn from countries that had successfully developed specialised niches within the global maritime industry.

He cited the Philippines, which has established a strong global reputation in seafaring, and Norway, renowned for shipbuilding, arguing that Nigeria could equally develop a globally recognised area of maritime specialisation.

He stressed that sustained government policies, effective implementation of the Cabotage regime, access to finance, appropriate regulation and development of maritime manpower would be essential to achieving that objective.

Headlines

MAMAL 2026: Anishere, Ani demand stronger maritime media, more women in leadership

Gloria Odion, Maritme reporter

President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Chief Jean Chiazor Anishere, SAN, and President of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, Dr. Odunayo Ani, have called for a stronger and more professional maritime media and greater representation of women in leadership and decision-making positions across Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy sectors.

The two industry leaders made the call at the 4th Annual Maritime Lecture of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), where they stressed that credible journalism and inclusive leadership were critical to ensuring accountability, transparency and sustainable growth in the maritime industry.

Represented at the event by Mrs Oyeyemi Jimi-Salami, Anishere said an informed, independent and professionally grounded maritime press was indispensable to the development of the sector, particularly as Nigeria intensifies efforts to unlock the economic opportunities inherent in the Blue Economy.

She commended MARAN for its sustained engagement with critical maritime issues and what she described as its commitment to responsible reportage.

According to her, the association’s annual lecture had become an important platform for industry stakeholders to interrogate emerging challenges, exchange ideas and seek practical solutions to the problems confronting the maritime sector.

Anishere noted that although sound policies, effective regulation and infrastructure investment were essential to maritime development, these could not deliver the desired results without a knowledgeable media capable of educating the public, scrutinising government policies, promoting transparency and demanding accountability from industry players.

She urged MARAN to continue using its platform to promote professionalism, innovation, accountability and sustainable development in the maritime industry.

“Journalism remains a key pillar of a vibrant maritime sector because it strengthens public confidence, supports informed decision-making and ensures that critical industry issues receive the attention they deserve,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ani called for a fundamental shift in the approach to women’s participation in the maritime industry, arguing that it was no longer sufficient merely to promote inclusion without creating clear pathways for women to attain leadership and decision-making positions.

She said WISTA Nigeria would continue to expand its mentorship, networking, advocacy and leadership development programmes to equip women with the skills, experience and opportunities required to advance in the sector.

Ani challenged government agencies, private-sector operators and other maritime stakeholders to go beyond rhetoric by recruiting, retaining, promoting and sponsoring qualified women, while adopting inclusive workplace policies and setting measurable targets for gender diversity.

She also called for concerted action against discrimination, unequal access to opportunities and unsafe workplace practices which, she said, continued to impede the advancement of women in the maritime industry.

The WISTA Nigeria president further urged male professionals and industry leaders to become active allies in promoting gender equality by mentoring, sponsoring and advocating for women in their organisations.

Ani stressed that women should not be regarded as mere participants in Nigeria’s maritime development but as critical drivers of innovation, leadership and sustainable economic growth.

She argued that providing women with equal opportunities to lead and contribute would not only advance fairness but also strengthen Nigeria’s ability to fully harness the enormous economic potential of its maritime and blue economy.

The speakers’ interventions at the MARAN lecture underscored the growing recognition that Nigeria’s maritime transformation requires not only infrastructure, policy and investment, but also a credible media that can hold the industry to account and a leadership structure that draws fully on the talents of both men and women.

Commentaries

Blue Economy Engine: Decoding unstoppable rise of Nigeria’s maritime gateways

Monday Discourse with Ibrahim Nasiru

The latest operational data from Nigeria’s maritime sector shows a significant shift in trade capacity that deserves close attention.

In a period where national economic discourse is heavily focused on foreign exchange stability and trade balance, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) recently released its operational performance report for the second quarter of 2026.

The figures indicate clear, measurable progress across our major shipping channels.

Under the current management led by Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, total cargo throughput at the nation’s seaports grew by 12.3% year-on-year, moving from 31.83 million metric tonnes in the second quarter of 2025 to 35.74 million metric tonnes in Q2 2026.

This growth was closely supported by a 14.4% increase in ocean-going vessel traffic, which recorded 1,201 vessel calls during the three months under review.

These statistics are notable because they reflect actual operational changes rather than mere administrative adjustments.

For decades, Nigerian Ports were held back by slow container clearing times, heavy bureaucratic red tape, and severe traffic congestion around the Lagos Ports.

The current upward trend shows that the ongoing efforts toward Port modernization, including the digital integration of the National Single Window system, are beginning to show results on the ground.

By reducing physical bottlenecks and shortening the time cargo spends at the berths, terminal operations are becoming more reliable for international shipping lines and domestic businesses alike.

A highly encouraging aspect of the Q2 2026 data is the 22% increase recorded in export-related outward cargo.

For an economy that urgently needs to diversify away from absolute reliance on crude oil revenues, this rise in export volumes shows that the policy of establishing dedicated export terminals is functioning as intended.

Local manufacturing concerns, agricultural aggregators, and non-oil exporters are finding it relatively easier to move their goods out to global markets.

Additionally, the emergence of transshipment container traffic—which grew to 29,038 TEUs this quarter from zero in the same period last year—proves that Nigeria is regaining its position as a major logistics transit hub for the West African sub-region.

However, the report also highlights a persistent structural reality that economic planners must continue to address.

Out of the 35.74 million metric tonnes of cargo handled, inward cargo or imports still accounted for the larger share at 56.8%, while outward cargo stood at 41.9%.

While the gap is closing due to the 22% export growth, it reminds us that maritime efficiency must be backed by a strong domestic production base.

The Ports can only serve as efficient gateways; the real value lies in ensuring that what leaves our shores consists of processed, value-added Nigerian goods rather than just raw agricultural products or unrefined solid minerals.

The second-quarter performance numbers show that the maritime sector is currently serving as a stable and productive engine for the nation’s broader economic goals.

It demonstrates that clear policy direction and disciplined institutional management can stabilize critical national infrastructure even during periods of global trade volatility.

As the NPA works to sustain this momentum through the rest of the year, the priority must remain on full automation, eliminating unreceipted costs at the Ports, and strengthening rail connectivity to the hinterland.

By locking in these operational gains, Nigeria is steadily turning its maritime gateways into solid pillars of long-term commercial prosperity.

Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja