By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has urged Danish investors and businesses to take advantage of the vast opportunities in Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
Oyetola made the call in Copenhagen, Denmark, during a bilateral meeting with Denmark’s Minister for Business and Competitiveness, Martin Lidegaard, as Nigeria intensified efforts to attract Danish investment, technology and expertise into its maritime sector.
The meeting was part of the activities of the Nigerian Ministerial Delegation to Denmark on Maritime and the Blue Economy, led by Oyetola. Discussions focused on investment, maritime infrastructure, technology, green transition, port efficiency, skills development and sustainable economic growth.
Oyetola said Nigeria had moved beyond establishing the institutional framework for the Marine and Blue Economy and was now focused on developing projects, mobilising investment, improving sector performance and building capacity.
“Nigeria is looking for partnerships that can improve sector performance, attract investment, deploy technology, strengthen skills and safety, advance sustainability and create quality jobs,” he said.
The minister identified opportunities in ports and logistics, shipbuilding and repairs, maritime services, digital technology, fisheries, green shipping, renewable energy, marine infrastructure, financing and multimodal connectivity.
He said Nigeria’s extensive coastline, inland waterways, large consumer market and strategic location within West and Central Africa offered significant opportunities for investors across the maritime value chain.
Oyetola also noted that the presence of Danish companies already operating in Nigeria’s maritime sector demonstrated the viability of the Nigerian market and provided a foundation for deeper commercial relations.
“The presence of some Danish companies in Nigeria provides a strong foundation on which we can build. We want to deepen that relationship and create the conditions for more Danish businesses, investors and technology providers to participate in Nigeria’s maritime transformation,” he said.
He urged Danish businesses to look beyond existing investments and explore emerging opportunities across Nigeria’s maritime value chain, stressing the need for partners capable of providing capital, technology, expertise and innovation.
According to him, the Nigeria-Denmark engagement was designed to move beyond broad diplomatic commitments towards identifying bankable projects and practical partnerships capable of delivering measurable economic outcomes.
Oyetola said Denmark’s expertise in shipping, maritime services, logistics, green technologies and sustainable ocean industries could complement Nigeria’s market size and strategic position as Africa’s largest economy.
Lidegaard welcomed closer cooperation with Nigeria under its Marine and Blue Economy agenda, stressing the importance of practical partnerships involving businesses, government institutions, technology providers and knowledge institutions.
He said such partnerships would be critical to developing solutions that could be implemented, scaled and commercially sustained in both countries.
Members of the Nigerian delegation included the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs Fatima Mahmood; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Marine and Blue Economy, Professor Busayo Fakinlede; Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho; Director-General of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, Dr Pius Akutah; and Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr Dayo Mobereola, among others.