By Ibrahim Nasiru
“It is a tragedy to build the finest house in the village only for your neighbours to own the keys to the front door.”
If the first phase of our maritime reform is about fixing the “leaking bucket” of our physical Ports, this second chapter is about who fills that bucket.
A world-class Port at Apapa or Tin Can is a hollow victory if every ship docking there flies a foreign flag and every dollar in freight
charges leaves our shores.
The $1.1 billion anchor must extend beyond concrete and cranes; it must reach into the pockets of indigenous shipowners through the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) and the long-awaited birth of a New National Shipping Line.
The tragedy of the Nigerian maritime space hasn’t just been crumbling quay walls, but the sidelined Nigerian shipowner. The CVFF, a fund that has grown to over $700 million from the contributions of local operators—has been locked for too long, leaving our maritime players as spectators in their own waters.
However, the tide is finally turning. As of this week, NIMASA has confirmed that over 60 indigenous shipowners have already submitted applications through the new CVFF portal.
To ensure these funds hit the water, Minister Adegboyega Oyetola reinforced this commitment just days ago by signing a 2026 Performance Bond with maritime heads, mandating a transparent and urgent disbursement process.
Crucially, this push for local ownership is backed by a historic security achievement: Nigeria has now sustained zero piracy incidents in its territorial waters for four consecutive years.
This milestone is the ultimate “de-risking” tool, giving both local banks and global partners the confidence to invest in Nigerian hulls.
To truly anchor our gateway Ports, the administration is ensuring this fund helps Nigerians buy the very ships that will use our modernized docks.
By partnering with global giants like AD Ports Group and DP World to refloat a national carrier under a Public-Private Partnership, Nigeria is finally moving toward economic sovereignty.
This isn’t just about national pride; it is about reclaiming a slice of the $10 billion annual ship charter market currently dominated by foreign firms.
Keeping these billions within our borders is the most direct way to stabilize the Naira and create thousands of specialized seafaring jobs for our youth.
Ultimately, the $1.1 billion modernization and the empowerment of local shipping are two sides of the same coin. We cannot abandon our gateway Ports, but we also cannot afford to be spectators in our own waters.
By plugging the leaks, securing our seas, and empowering our people, Nigeria finally anchors its status as the maritime hub of Africa, ensuring that the wealth of our seas truly belongs to Nigerians.
We’ve spent decades building the stadium; it’s finally time to let the home team play the game.
*Chief Ibrahim Nasiru – a Public Affairs Analyst writes from Abuja.
