Oyetola: Zero piracy spurs Deep Blue expansion, export drive
The Federal Government is moving to capitalise on four consecutive years of zero piracy in its waters, with plans to expand the Deep Blue Project and open new export revenue
The Federal Government is moving to capitalise on four consecutive years of zero piracy in its waters, with plans to expand the Deep Blue Project and open new export revenue streams, including a landmark United States certification that now clears Nigerian shrimp for both American and European markets.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, on Thursday confirmed that a proposal has been submitted to the Federal Government to upgrade the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure (Deep Blue Project), according to a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser, Dr. Bolaji Akinola.
The move, he said, seeks to translate the country's record maritime security gains into lasting economic benefits across shipping, ports, fisheries and trade,
Oyetola presented the planned expansion as a commercial imperative, while receiving the leadership of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) in Abuja.
He argued that Nigeria's Gulf of Guinea corridor, once ranked among the world's most dangerous maritime routes, had undergone a structural transformation that is already rewiring trade economics across the region.
"The project, which integrates air, land and sea assets alongside advanced surveillance systems, has significantly improved maritime domain awareness and response capability, restoring confidence among international shipping lines and investors," the minister said.
The commercial dividend of that security shift, he said, is already measurable. "Safer waters have led to increased shipping traffic, reduced insurance premiums, enhanced port activity and greater regional trade flows," Oyetola added, signalling that the next phase of the Deep Blue Project is designed to lock in and extend those gains.
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The expansion, according to the minister, is aimed at consolidating Nigeria's leadership in maritime security across West and Central Africa while strengthening its position as a regional hub for shipping and logistics investment.
On the fisheries front, Oyetola disclosed a milestone that industry operators say could reshape Nigeria's seafood trade balance: the United States has approved Nigeria's Turtle Excluder Device, a certification that removes a key regulatory barrier to exporting Nigerian shrimp to both the U.S. and European Union markets.
The minister said the approval "has unlocked significant foreign exchange earnings, improved the competitiveness of Nigeria's seafood industry and created jobs along the value chain, from fishing and processing to logistics and export services."
The certification arrives alongside the first increase in domestic fish production in a decade. Output climbed from 1.1 million metric tonnes to 1.4 million metric tonnes in 2025, driven by government efforts to support artisanal fish farmers and reactivate fishing terminals nationwide, progress Oyetola described as a foundation, not a ceiling.
"It is no longer acceptable that Nigeria continues to spend huge foreign exchange on fish importation," he said, making clear that ending fish imports is now an explicit federal policy objective.
According to the statement, the combined focus on strengthening maritime security and rapidly expanding fisheries production and export capacity signals a clear strategy to position the blue economy as a major driver of GDP growth, foreign exchange earnings and job creation, anchored on coordinated policies and strong private sector investment.
NESG Chief Executive Officer Dr. Tayo Aduloju reinforced that reading, commending the ministry for producing a National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy which he described as a critical framework for unlocking the sector's vast potential.
He said the policy provides a structured pathway for the sustainable exploitation of marine resources, improved governance, environmental protection and increased private sector participation, and that its effective implementation would boost GDP growth, create employment, enhance food security and position Nigeria as a competitive player in the global blue economy.
Aduloju also emphasised that the marine and blue economy sector sits at the centre of the Federal Government's job creation and poverty reduction agenda, and praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the ministry and pursuing bold economic reforms since taking office in May 2023.
The meeting was attended by the Ministry's Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Marine and Blue Economy, Professor Busayo Fakinlede, and other senior officials.
Established in 1996, the NESG is Nigeria’s leading private sector–driven think tank, facilitating structured public–private dialogue to promote a globally competitive and inclusive economy.
