Findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that out of the ₦149 billion appropriated to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for the 2026 fiscal year, the Ministry has earmarked billions of naira for ‘non-tangible’ assets, repairs, maintenance, and miscellaneous expenditures.
A detailed analysis of the Ministry’s headquarters budget contained in the Appropriation Bill shows that ₦2.9 billion has been allocated to the acquisition of non-tangible assets alone, making it one of the most significant expenditure lines within the capital budget. Breakdown of the figures shows that ₦2.35 billion is proposed for research and development, ₦420.6 million for monitoring and evaluation activities, ₦68.9 million for computer software acquisition, while ₦63 million is set aside for anniversaries and celebrations. All the items fall under non-tangible assets, expenditures whose impact, analysts say, may be difficult to measure in concrete sectoral outcomes.
In contrast, allocations for the repair and rehabilitation of physical infrastructure remain comparatively modest. The Ministry plans to spend ₦134.06 million on rehabilitation and repairs in 2026, including ₦100.94 million for the rehabilitation of office buildings and ₦33.13 million for repairs of water facilities, despite recurring concerns over the condition of maritime assets and support infrastructure nationwide.
In addition to repairs, the Ministry has also earmarked ₦83.76 million for maintenance services, covering ₦23 million for maintenance of motor vehicles and transport equipment, ₦14 million for office buildings and residential quarters, ₦10 million for plants and generators, ₦8 million for office furniture, and ₦28.76 million listed as other maintenance services.
Further scrutiny of the budget shows that ₦128.6 million has been provided under miscellaneous expenditure, including ₦93 million for welfare packages, ₦25 million for annual budget expenses and administration, ₦6.6 million for honorarium and sitting allowances, and ₦4 million for refreshment and meals. On asset acquisition, the Ministry plans to spend ₦561.5 million on fixed assets, including ₦273 million for the purchase of sea boats, ₦233.5 million for motor vehicles, ₦21 million for health and medical equipment, ₦9.16 million for computers, and ₦7.7 million for security equipment.
Meanwhile, capital provision for construction stands at ₦4.6 billion, with ₦4.45 billion allocated to the construction and provision of waterways, ₦129.9 million for electricity projects, and ₦17.1 million for hospitals and health centres. Personnel-related costs at the headquarters level amount to ₦1.81 billion, made up of ₦1.26 billion for salaries and wages and ₦541.8 million for allowances and statutory social contributions, including pensions and health insurance.
A stakeholder who reviewed the budget figures expressed concern that the heavy allocation to intangible assets, miscellaneous items, and administrative spending may not sufficiently address pressing sectoral needs such as inland waterways safety, port connectivity, maritime security enforcement, and navigational infrastructure. They warned that without clear performance indicators, large votes for research, monitoring, welfare, and celebrations could dilute the impact of public spending in a sector expected to drive trade facilitation, employment, and economic diversification.
Dr. Kayode Farinto, former Acting President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), noted that while the proposed budget for 2026 is significantly higher than the ₦12.2 billion allocated in 2025, the disparity is misleading. According to him, “Many allocations in 2025 were not released, so implementation was far below expectations. Budget allocation without execution doesn’t solve the industry’s problems.”
He further stressed that the real challenge lies in translating large appropriation for intangible assets into measurable sectoral improvements, adding that physical infrastructure, maintenance of navigational aids, and operational assets remain underfunded despite the high capital outlay.
