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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.
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Analyses

The invisible toll gates:Why National Single Window is Nigeria’s ultimate economic battleground

Monday Discourse with  Ibrahim Nasiru
Walk into any market in Nigeria today, from the commercial hubs of Lagos to the roadside stalls in Yola, and ask why a bag of rice or an imported spare part costs three times what it did last year.
The typical public commentator will blame global inflation, floating currencies, or macro-economic shocks.
But those who understand logistics know the real truth lies buried under layers of paper, manual stamps, and artificial delays at our seaports.
Nigeria’s international trade is suffocating not from a lack of deep water, but from a deliberate design of convenience.
The recent operational rollout of the National Single Window (NSW) has triggered behind-the-scenes panic among Port cartels, and for good reason.
For decades, keeping our clearing processes fragmented, manual, and dependent on desk-to-desk human interaction was the perfect business model for syndicates.
When cargo dwell times drag on for 21 days, those delays are money in the pockets of the gatekeepers and a death sentence for local businesses.
Let us look at the raw field realities. The push by the Nigeria Customs Service to aggressively crash clearance times down to global 48-hour standards is meeting fierce internal resistance.
Why? Because a unified digital ecosystem means you cannot easily manipulate documentation, hide illicit cargo, or demand “mobilization fees” before signing off a container.
The outcry and protests from certain freight-forwarding syndicates aren’t about technical glitches; they are about the sudden closure of invisible toll gates.
This is exactly why governance at our national gateways can no longer be left to the mercy of transactional bureaucratic habits.
Building deep-sea infrastructure like Lekki Port is a massive physical achievement, but concrete and cranes are useless if the administrative processes at the gate remain backward.
 Real structural reform requires turning our Ports into automated, friction-free pipelines that prioritize production over rent-seeking.
If Nigeria wants to survive this fiscal squeeze, the National Single Window cannot just be treated as another glossy IT project launched in Abuja.
 It requires unyielding administrative enforcement to completely dismantle the corrupt cartels managing the manual desk chains.
The invisible toll gates at our Ports must be completely demolished, and that exact same structural discipline must be scaled across our border stations and trade corridors.
The era of managing international trade with 20th-century paper trails is dying. The future belongs to the builders of automated, transparent systems.
Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs analyst,  writes from Abuja 
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Headlines

NANTA Exco embarks on seven-day Ghana retreat, fam trip to deepen regional tourism partnership

Gloria Odion, Reporter

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has commenced a seven-day executive retreat and familiarisation (fam) trip to Ghana, hosted by Safari World, as part of efforts to strengthen regional tourism partnerships and expand cross-border travel opportunities.

The NANTA delegation was received at Safari World Homes in Accra by the Chairman of the Safari World Group, Mr. Ernest Gyekye, who expressed delight at hosting the Nigerian travel trade leaders.

He assured the delegation of a memorable experience throughout their week-long stay.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, NANTA President, Mr. Yinka Folami, described the retreat and familiarisation tour as a strategic initiative aimed at fostering stronger business relationships and promoting collaborative tourism development across Africa.

“This mission is not a leisure trip,” Folami said. “It is a deliberate step to implement and expand our association’s marketing advocacy for Nigerian brands across borders.”

He noted that Nigeria and Ghana share deep historical, cultural and commercial ties that should be leveraged to drive tourism growth on the continent.

“Nigeria and Ghana share history, culture, trade and people. The future of our tourism cannot be built in silos,” he said.

“This retreat is about moving from policy to practice—creating real products, real partnerships and real movement of travellers between Accra and Lagos.”

As part of the programme, the NANTA executives will engage in strategic business-to-business (B2B) meetings with their Ghanaian counterparts, tour key tourism destinations under the Safari World brand, and participate in cultural exchange activities designed to promote stronger bilateral tourism cooperation.

The itinerary spans Safari World’s three flagship destinations, including Safari Homes in Accra, the Aqua Safari riverfront experience, Safari Island Cruise, Safari Nautica, and Safari Recreation and Sports facilities in Ada, as well as the Safari Valley Eco Resort and Safari Eco Park in Dawu.

Operating under the brand promise, “One World, Three Destinations, Over 20 Unique Experiences,” Safari World is leveraging the visit to strengthen its footprint in the Nigerian travel market while positioning Ghana as a premier destination for leisure tourism, conferences, group travel, family holidays and premium tourism experiences.

A major highlight of the visit will be the Executive Dinner scheduled for July 21 at the Safari Valley Eco Resort, where key stakeholders from Nigeria and Ghana’s tourism industries will deliberate on strategies for deepening travel trade and advancing regional tourism development.

The familiarisation tour is expected to provide NANTA’s leadership with first-hand knowledge of Safari World’s tourism offerings, paving the way for the development of attractive travel packages and stronger business partnerships that will benefit Nigerian travellers and the wider West African tourism industry.

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Customs

Ogun Customs spurns claims of Smugglers’ takeover of Idiroko–Sango Ota trading Route

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed as false reports alleging that smugglers had taken over the Idiroko–Sango Ota trading route in Ogun State, describing the claims as a deliberate misrepresentation of a traffic incident.
In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs (SC) Chado, the Command clarified that the traffic gridlock on the route resulted from the breakdown of an articulated commercial trailer after it fell into a badly deteriorated section of Atan Road, temporarily obstructing the free flow of traffic.
According to the Command, the vehicles caught in the ensuing congestion were legitimate commercial trucks transporting red palm oil to various local markets and had no connection whatsoever with smuggling activities.
It explained that the large number of heavy-duty trucks trapped in the gridlock may have led some members of the public to wrongly conclude that smugglers had taken over the road.
“The reports that smugglers blocked the road are inaccurate. The disruption resulted from a road accident and poor road conditions. The vehicles involved were lawful commercial vehicles transporting red palm oil for legitimate trade,” Chado stated.
The Command urged journalists, social media users and the general public to verify information before disseminating reports capable of creating unnecessary panic or undermining public confidence in security agencies.
Observers within the border trade sector noted that the allegation does not reflect the prevailing security situation within the Ogun I Area Command, where anti-smuggling operations have been intensified under the leadership of the Acting Customs Area Controller, Comptroller O.O. Afeni.
Since assuming office, Comptroller Afeni has strengthened intelligence-driven surveillance, enhanced collaboration with other security agencies and host communities, and sustained pressure on economic saboteurs operating along the Ogun border corridors.
These measures, according to stakeholders, have resulted in significant seizures of prohibited goods and reinforced the Command’s resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s economy and territorial integrity.
Maritime and border trade stakeholders also cautioned against the spread of unverified information capable of undermining the efforts of security personnel or creating a false impression of lawlessness in border communities.
They stressed that while combating smuggling remains an ongoing responsibility, responsible and accurate reporting is equally critical to ensuring that operational achievements are not overshadowed by misinformation.
The Ogun I Area Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining its anti-smuggling campaign while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade in line with the statutory mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.

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