Maritime stakeholders, government representatives, traditional rulers, and industry experts converged at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, for the 3rd Ehingbeti Blue Economy Hub themed “The Renaissance of Ehingbeti in Community Engagement and Inclusivity.”
The Lagos Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Engineer Mrs. Sarat Braimah, highlighted the enormous but underutilized potential of Nigeria’s inland waterways.
She noted that the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu underscores government’s renewed focus on maritime development.
She called for increased public and private sector investment in water transport infrastructure, noting that inland water development is capital-intensive but critical to easing congestion on roads and boosting coastal trade.
She urged all stakeholders to actively contribute to the growth and sustainable development of Nigeria’s emerging blue economy, emphasizing its vast potential to transform coastal livelihoods and national prosperity.
She further applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the visionary establishment of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, describing it as a strategic move and a potential game changer for Nigeria’s economic diversification and maritime advancement.
Braimah applauded the Lagos State Government for its growing investment in water transport, citing the success of ferry services and dredging projects that have improved connectivity across the state.