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.

Analyses

National Single Window: Paper on glass(6)

Monday Discourse with Nasiru Ibrahim

The deployment of digital software portals across Nigeria’s maritime gateways has created a dangerous sense of administrative accomplishment.

On paper, policy declarations boast of automated workflows and modern interfaces designed to ease the cost of doing business. On the ground, however, the reality remains stubbornly archaic.

If the presidency and the newly minted National Single Window team believe that true automation begins and ends with front-end digital software portals like the new B’Odogwu Customs System, they are falling for an expensive trap.

True technological transformation cannot simply mean scanning old bureaucracies onto a computer screen. Cosmetic digitization does not eradicate systemic corruption; it merely moves the extortion from the physical Port gate onto a digital dashboard.

The structural flaw undermining our current modernization drive is the “scanned paper” reality. Clearing agents are routinely forced to upload digital documents onto unified portals, only to face the absurdity of printing out those exact same files to present them physically at various Port commands.

This duplication completely defeats the purpose of an automated gateway.
True single window success requires the total legal abolition of physical paper documentation within the Port perimeter.

We must transition from an era of “paper-on-glass” to pure, untampered digital data flows. A digital portal is utterly useless if the data it processes is still manually verified, delayed, or altered by human gatekeepers behind the scenes.

To break this cycle, the system must shift from human discretion to algorithmic risk profiling. We must enforce a machine-driven risk engine that automatically routes cargo through green, yellow, or red channels based entirely on hard data and compliance history.

Under this framework, once a container profile passes automated risk evaluation, an individual officer should not possess the arbitrary power to flag it for a manual “re-examination.”

Unauthorized human interventions on automated system routing must be treated as institutional sabotage and criminalized accordingly. Removing human delays from the logistics chain requires stripping human actors of the capacity to stall.

Furthermore, we must aggressively implement a single wallet mandate to clean up the financial architecture of our Ports. A true single window platform must consolidate all customs duties, agency fees, and terminal charges into one single electronic transaction.

This eradication of multi-layered payment checkpoints will instantly dry up the illicit cash demands that fuel the multi-billion-naira demurrage trap.

By deploying automated escrow systems, the central portal can instantly distribute revenues to the respective agency accounts—be it the Nigeria Customs Service, NPA, or NIMASA—only after automated cargo release metrics are met.

The ultimate structural shift, however, requires moving the entire national Port philosophy beyond the physical gate.

Top-tier maritime capitals like Singapore and Rotterdam do not stall their economies by interrogating cargo at the wharf; they rely on Post-Clearance Audits (PCA).

Nigeria must transition to a system where cargo is released instantly within a guaranteed 24-hour window based on automated risk profiles, while reserving heavy verification for robust, off-site corporate audits later.

Until we replace cosmetic upgrades with this level of raw process re-engineering, our software portals remain empty promises. True automation is not a software purchase; it is an uncompromising institutional discipline.

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

Headlines

Oyetola presents three-year score card as blue economy industry revenue hits ₦1.83trn

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has declared that Nigeria’s maritime sector has undergone a far-reaching transformation in the three years since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu created the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in August 2023.

Oyetola, while presenting the Ministry’s three-year scorecard, said the administration had made significant progress in unlocking the economic potential of Nigeria’s 853-kilometre coastline and extensive inland waterways, with the marine and blue economy increasingly emerging as a major driver of revenue, trade, security and employment.

According to him, the reform programme has produced measurable gains in revenue generation, port infrastructure, maritime security, regulation, indigenous shipping, human-capital development, fisheries and inland-waterway safety.

“At the heart of our mandate is a simple but powerful objective: to turn Nigeria’s vast marine resources into sustainable economic value for Nigerians,” Oyetola said.

Revenue climbs 160 per cent

The Minister identified revenue growth as one of the clearest indicators of the sector’s transformation.

Agencies under the Ministry generated ₦1.83 trillion in 2025, representing a 160 per cent increase over the ₦700.79 billion recorded in 2023.

Oyetola attributed the surge to regulatory reforms, stronger revenue assurance, digitisation and the systematic closure of financial leakages.

He said the improved revenue performance was part of a broader strategy to establish a more transparent, efficient and investment-friendly maritime economy.

Nigeria gets first blue economy policy

A major milestone of the reform programme, according to Oyetola, was the approval in May 2025 of Nigeria’s first National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy.

He said the policy provided, for the first time, a unified framework for developing shipping, fisheries, offshore energy, marine biotechnology and other emerging opportunities within the marine economy.

“This policy gives us a clear roadmap. It provides the predictability and transparency investors need while ensuring that our marine resources are developed sustainably,” he said.

The Minister said the policy would guide government intervention while providing greater certainty for private-sector investment across the marine and blue economy value chain.

Ports undergo major transformation

Port modernisation, Oyetola said, remained at the centre of the Ministry’s transformation agenda.

He said the Federal Government was implementing a comprehensive programme to upgrade major seaports, including Apapa, Tin Can Island, Onne, Rivers, Calabar and Warri.

The programme covers channel improvements, modern cargo-handling infrastructure and increased digitisation of terminal operations, aimed at improving efficiency and enabling Nigerian ports to handle larger volumes of international trade.

The reforms have also attracted international recognition.

The World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence ranked Tin Can Island Port 10th and Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, 12th among the world’s 20 most improved container ports between 2020 and 2025.

Oyetola said government had also made progress in tackling congestion around the Apapa port environment through the electronic truck call-up system, dedicated holding bays and expanded inland barging.

The acquisition of modern tugboats, pilot cutters and dredging equipment by the Nigerian Ports Authority, he added, had further strengthened port operations.

“We have moved from managing congestion to building a port system that can compete globally,” Oyetola said.

He said the Federal Government was also pursuing an expansion of port capacity through deep-seaport projects in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Ondo, Lagos and Rivers states.

The operationalisation of inland dry ports, including the Funtua Inland Dry Port in Katsina State, is similarly expected to take cargo-handling and clearance services closer to businesses in the hinterland and reduce pressure on coastal ports.

Regulation, lower costs for port users

The Minister said regulatory reforms had also delivered tangible benefits to businesses operating in the maritime sector.

According to him, the new Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Authority framework will strengthen economic regulation of the port sector, while interventions by the Ministry and its agencies have saved port users more than ₦86 billion in unjustified demurrage.

He added that nearly 300 commercial disputes had been resolved through Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Oyetola said government had introduced measures to eliminate unauthorised shipping charges and strengthen freight and foreign-exchange verification in an effort to reduce leakages and curb capital flight.

He said the objective was to create a maritime business environment where legitimate operators could compete on a level playing field while Nigerian businesses were protected from avoidable costs.

Maritime security records major gains

Improved port efficiency, Oyetola said, had been accompanied by significant gains in maritime security.

Nigeria has maintained zero piracy in its territorial waters for four consecutive years, according to the Minister, with maritime security assets deployed under the Deep Blue Project helping to secure the country’s waters.

He said the achievement had eliminated costly piracy-related surcharges on vessels calling at Nigerian ports while strengthening Nigeria’s reputation as a safer maritime corridor.

Nigeria also regained its seat on the International Maritime Organization Category C Council in November 2025, following a 14-year absence.

Through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the country also secured the lifting of the 12-year United States Coast Guard Condition of Entry restrictions affecting vessels arriving from Nigerian ports.

“These achievements demonstrate that Nigeria is not only reforming its maritime sector at home; we are reclaiming our rightful voice and influence internationally,” Oyetola said.

Indigenous shipping gets renewed attention

Oyetola said the Federal Government remained committed to increasing Nigerian participation in the shipping industry.

He disclosed that plans were at an advanced stage to revive a national shipping carrier through a public-private partnership, while the long-awaited process for disbursing the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) had commenced.

The fund, he said, would enable Nigerian shipowners to acquire modern vessels and strengthen indigenous capacity.

“We cannot build a truly blue economy if Nigerians remain spectators in their own maritime industry,” he said.

Human-capital development has also received increased attention, with seafarer training and sea-time placements expanded to create more opportunities for Nigerians seeking careers at sea.

According to Oyetola, the interventions have contributed to an increase of more than 80 per cent in average seafarer earnings.

He added that the Ministry, through the Nigeria Port Economic Regulatory Agency, facilitated a ₦200,000 monthly minimum wage for maritime and shipping workers.

Blue economy expands beyond ports

Oyetola said the Ministry’s transformation agenda extends beyond shipping and ports to fisheries, inland waterways, marine safety and environmental sustainability.

He said the Ministry supported the Federal Government’s Naira-for-Crude policy by streamlining marine logistics for domestic refineries.

On inland waterways, safety interventions have included the distribution of thousands of lifejackets and plans to replace unsafe wooden boats with modern fibreglass vessels.

The fisheries sector, he said, recorded further growth, with fish production reaching 1.4 million metric tonnes in 2025.

Nigeria also achieved 100 per cent compliance with Turtle Excluder Device requirements among inspected commercial shrimp trawlers, helping to protect marine biodiversity and preserve access to international markets.

Oyetola said the interventions reflected the Ministry’s broader philosophy that economic development and environmental sustainability should reinforce rather than undermine each other.

Digitisation and new institutions

Institutional reform has also featured prominently in the Ministry’s three-year programme.

Oyetola said the Ministry had digitised its internal operations through an Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability.

He also disclosed that the Ministry helped resolve a 16-year impasse that paved the way for the operationalisation of the Regional Maritime Development Bank (RMDB) in Nigeria.

According to him, the development would improve access to financing for businesses and projects across the maritime value chain.

Foundation for the next phase

Oyetola said the achievements recorded over the past three years should be regarded as the foundation for a much larger economic opportunity.

He said the ultimate objective was to establish a maritime ecosystem in which efficient ports support trade, stronger security attracts shipping, Nigerian businesses capture a greater share of the maritime value chain, coastal and inland communities benefit from new economic opportunities, and marine resources are developed sustainably.

According to him, the combination of rising revenues, a new national policy framework, port modernisation, improved maritime security, stronger regulation, investment in human capital and renewed international engagement had placed Nigeria’s marine and blue economy on a stronger trajectory.

“The blue economy is no longer an untapped frontier. It is becoming a major engine of national prosperity, regional competitiveness and sustainable growth,” Oyetola said.

Headlines

NIHOTOUR promotes culinary, cultural exchange at Nigeria-China food festival

Gloria Odion, Reporter

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), in collaboration with the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, has used the 2026 Nigeria-China Food Festival to promote culinary diplomacy, cultural exchange and stronger people-to-people relations between the two countries.

The festival, held on August 27 at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja, was themed “From Farm to Feast” and formed part of activities marking 55 years of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China.

The event brought together more than 200 participants, including hospitality professionals, chefs, tourism stakeholders, government officials, diplomats, entrepreneurs and cultural practitioners from both countries.

A major attraction of the festival was the presentation of 14 Chinese dishes representing seven regions of China alongside 12 Nigerian dishes reflecting the country’s six geopolitical zones.

The diverse selection offered guests an opportunity to experience the distinctive ingredients, preparation techniques and culinary traditions of both countries while learning about the communities and cultures behind the food.

For NIHOTOUR, the festival also served as a platform to showcase Nigerian cuisine as an important component of the country’s tourism proposition and draw attention to the wide range of people and enterprises that make up the food and hospitality value chain.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NIHOTOUR, Aare Abisoye Fagade, reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to developing the skills and human capacity needed to strengthen Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry.

Fagade said such initiatives could help create opportunities for young people, professionals and entrepreneurs while promoting Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage to domestic and international audiences.

The theme, “From Farm to Feast,” also highlighted the extensive value chain behind every meal—from farmers and food producers to processors, chefs, hospitality operators and businesses that ultimately serve consumers.

NIHOTOUR used the occasion to emphasise the tourism potential embedded in Nigeria’s diverse culinary traditions. Each of the country’s six geopolitical zones has distinctive dishes, ingredients and methods of preparation that can be developed into authentic cultural and tourism experiences.

The Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria, Mr. Zhou Hongyou, underscored the importance of food in promoting cross-cultural understanding and strengthening people-to-people relations.

Also in attendance was the Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy and Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Mr. Yang Jianxing.

Their participation reinforced the role of cultural diplomacy in deepening the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and China.

Beyond the food presentations, the festival featured cultural activities and opportunities for interaction between Nigerian and Chinese participants. It also opened avenues for potential collaboration in hospitality, tourism, culinary training, cultural exchange and enterprise development.

The event comes at a significant point in Nigeria-China relations, with both countries commemorating 55 years of diplomatic ties. While bilateral relations have expanded into areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure and education, cultural initiatives provide an important avenue for strengthening the relationship at the people-to-people level.

NIHOTOUR said it would continue to pursue partnerships capable of advancing Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism sector, strengthening professional capacity, supporting enterprise development and creating opportunities across the tourism value chain.

Through initiatives such as the Nigeria-China Food Festival, the Institute is positioning food and hospitality not only as avenues for economic development but also as powerful instruments of cultural diplomacy and international engagement.