With Nigeria’s Blue Economy gaining traction following the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, maritime experts are calling for a governance model that will secure the sustainable use of the country’s vast marine spaces.
At the first quarterly paper presentation organized by the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) last weekend, a renowned Master Mariner Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu in his lecture titled “Governance of Marine Spaces in a Marine and Blue Economy Model – Issues, Challenges and Approach”, emphasized that marine spaces—Nigeria’s inland waters, coastal zones, and offshore territories—are not just natural assets but vital economic spaces that must be sustainably managed to unlock the full potential of the Blue Economy.
Capt. Ebubeogu dissected the interconnectedness of marine resources and economic activities, noting that poorly coordinated efforts across ministries and agencies often lead to regulatory overlap, stakeholder conflict, and environmental degradation.
Despite the recent approval of the National Marine and Blue Economy Policy by the Federal Executive Council, Capt. Ebubeogu argued that implementation will fall short unless governance challenges are decisively addressed. These challenges include legal ambiguity, overlapping jurisdictions, lack of reliable data, and the absence of an integrated administrative framework for managing stakeholder interests across marine zones.
“Marine spaces are the bedrock of the Blue Economy. Without effective governance of these areas, our ambitions for job creation, climate resilience, and economic growth will remain unfulfilled,” he stated.
He proposed the creation of two specialized departments under the Ministry—one focusing on Blue Economy development and the other on Marine Space Administration—as a way to separate economic exploitation from regulatory oversight while fostering synergy.
Capt. Ebubeogu’s call is also rooted in the growing international embrace of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), a global best practice endorsed by UNESCO, which allows nations to organize human activities in marine environments while safeguarding biodiversity and promoting equitable access.
The lecture made clear that achieving sustainability in Nigeria’s marine domain will depend not only on policy documents but on bold administrative reforms, stakeholder engagement, and adaptive, science-driven decision-making
