Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has thrown the full weight of Africa's largest industrial conglomerate behind Nigeria's emerging blue economy, declaring that strategic private-sector investments in the fisheries value chain could slash annual fish imports, conserve billions in foreign exchange, and create more than 500,000 jobs while positioning Nigeria as a leading exporter of fisheries products.
Dangote made the declaration on Thursday, July 2, 2026, while speaking at the Second Quarter 2026 Citizens' and Stakeholders' Engagement of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos . The event was themed "From Policy to Action: Mobilising Sub-National Governments for Effective Implementation of Nigeria's National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy" .
Represented by the Managing Director of Dangote Port Operations, Simeon Omole, Dangote delivered a paper titled "Driving Private Sector Investment and Industrialisation in Nigeria's Marine and Blue Economy: Opportunities for Sustainable Economic Growth," in which he argued that Nigeria must move decisively beyond policy announcements and focus on coordinated execution. "This is not merely a food security challenge; it is an industrial and investment opportunity," he said. "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 noted that the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, which was adopted by the Federal Government, sets ambitious targets: the creation of three million jobs within its first four years, annual sectoral growth of seven per cent, and the reservation of at least 50 per cent of new jobs for young people aged 18 to 35. However, he cautioned that the successful implementation of the policy would depend largely on sustained private-sector participation, and that industrial transformation required policy consistency, quality infrastructure, access to finance, and investor confidence.
A major focus of Dangote's presentation was the fisheries value chain, which he described as a significant investment opportunity. Despite rising domestic production, Nigeria still imports fish worth nearly $1 billion annually because of a significant supply deficit. Dangote argued that a stronger fisheries value chain could reduce imports, create jobs and build new coastal and inland-waterway industries. He urged the government to create an enabling environment for private-sector investment in aquaculture, feed production, cold-chain logistics, and processing facilities.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who also addressed the engagement, called for stronger collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, the private sector, and development partners to accelerate the implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy. Oyetola said Nigeria had moved beyond policy formulation and must now focus on implementation capable of delivering measurable economic benefits. "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.
He noted that ongoing port modernisation and plans for new deep seaports in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Lagos, and Ondo states would strengthen Nigeria's ambition of becoming West Africa's leading maritime hub. The minister also said reforms under President Bola Tinubu had improved maritime safety, attracted investment, and enhanced the competitiveness of Nigerian ports.
The engagement, which brought together government officials, diplomats, development partners, industry leaders, academics, and representatives of state governments, was clear in its message: Nigeria's blue economy has reached the point where policy ambition must give way to projects, capital, and measurable commercial outcomes. For Dangote, the message was equally clear: the private sector is ready to invest, but it needs policy consistency, infrastructure, and a government that is serious about execution. As he put it, the challenge is not a shortage of opportunities, but the ability to turn those opportunities into bankable projects. With the country's coastline, market scale, and industrial ambition, Nigeria has everything it needs to succeed—except, perhaps, the willingness to act.
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