The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening shipbuilding and shipyard development in Nigeria as part of efforts to deepen the blue economy, curb capital flight and boost local capacity in the maritime sector.
The assurance was given at a stakeholders’ breakfast meeting organised by the Agency with the theme, “Dissecting the Issues, Challenges, and Prospects in the Shipbuilding Segment – Discussing Funding Models, Incentives, and Policy Support for Shipyards Growth.” The event was held at the Nigerian Maritime Resource Development Centre (NMRDC), Kirikiri, Lagos.
Delivering the welcome address as Chairman of the occasion, the Executive Director, Operations, NIMASA, Engr. Fatai Taiye Adeyemi, described shipbuilding as a capital-intensive, cyclical and technically demanding sector that requires deliberate policy direction and sustained financial support to achieve long-term growth.
Adeyemi, who was represented by the Director, Marine Environment Management, Dr. Oma Offodile, said the breakfast meeting was designed to provide a clear assessment of the structural challenges confronting the shipbuilding segment and to collectively agree on pragmatic funding models, incentives and policy options capable of driving competitive shipyard growth in Nigeria.
“Shipbuilding is a strategic pillar of Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy aspirations. It is capital-intensive, technically demanding and highly competitive, which is why deliberate funding models, targeted incentives and consistent policies are critical.
“Through engagements like these, NIMASA is working with industry stakeholders to address structural constraints, build local capacity, curb capital flight and position Nigerian shipyards to compete sustainably, while supporting decarbonisation, job creation and our obligations at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO),” he said.
Adeyemi noted that recent global developments, including maritime decarbonisation and fuel transition, supply chain fragility and geopolitical tensions, have reshaped the global shipbuilding landscape, increasing the demand for strong domestic capacity to support shipping, offshore energy, defence and other critical maritime assets.
He identified key challenges facing Nigeria’s shipbuilding sector to include restricted access to capital due to high capital expenditure and cyclical revenues, shortage of skilled manpower, underinvestment in automation and green technologies, insufficient scale to compete globally, as well as policy inconsistency and procurement uncertainty.
He further stressed that shipyards play a critical role in maritime decarbonisation, as they are responsible for building energy-efficient vessels that meet IMO standards. According to him, sustaining Nigeria’s recent return to Category C of the IMO Council requires deliberate investment in local shipbuilding and ship repair capacity. He added that a vibrant shipbuilding industry remains vital to job creation and the overall success of the blue economy agenda.
Delivering the keynote address, the Managing Director of Starz Marine Limited, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, commended the Federal Government for establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, describing it as a strategic step toward unlocking the full potential of the maritime sector. He called for deliberate government support for shipyard operators to enhance capacity, improve competitiveness and attract investment into the sector.
Earlier, in their goodwill messages, shipyard owners across the country expressed readiness to collaborate with NIMASA to curb capital flight and build local capacity in shipbuilding and ship repair. They emphasised the need for targeted support, skills development and policy stability to enable Nigerian shipyards compete effectively at regional and global levels.
Overall, stakeholders at the meeting expressed strong support for NIMASA’s renewed drive to strengthen shipyard operations and deepen indigenous shipbuilding capacity. Participants agreed on the need for coordinated funding mechanisms, incentives and policy consistency to address the sector’s short-, medium- and long-term challenges.
NIMASA’s renewed focus on shipyard development, stakeholders noted, aligns with the provisions of the NIMASA Act, 2007, which mandates the Agency to promote maritime safety, shipping development and capacity building within Nigeria’s maritime industry.
Supporting shipyard operations, indigenous shipbuilding capacity and associated infrastructure therefore remains central to its statutory responsibility to facilitate sustainable growth of the sector and advance Nigeria’s blue economy objectives.
