By Peter Omopo | July 14, 2025
The Federal Government has commenced an official understudy of Lagos State’s acclaimed Blue Economy initiatives as part of a broader strategy to shape Nigeria’s national development agenda.
The study, led by participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC 57) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, was formally launched on Monday in Ikeja, Lagos.
The theme of the study tour is “Blue Economy and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Prospects.”
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), highlighted Lagos’ strategic commitment to sustainable economic growth through the harnessing of water-based resources.
“The Blue Economy is not an abstract concept for us in Lagos. It is a living and breathing part of our present and strategic future,” she stated.
Salu-Hundeyin emphasized that Lagos, with over 180 kilometres of coastline, vast lagoons, and creeks, is uniquely positioned to lead Nigeria’s blue economy revolution. She noted that over 25 million residents rely on water-based infrastructure for transportation, commerce, and livelihood.
Under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES PLUS Agenda, she said the state had implemented several bold initiatives to tap into the potential of the blue economy in inclusive, innovative, and sustainable ways.
Key Developments Highlighted:
- Lekki Deep Sea Port: Inaugurated in 2023, the port is now West Africa’s most advanced, easing congestion at Apapa Port, attracting global maritime trade, and transforming Lagos into a logistics hub.
- Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA): The state has expanded ferry services, constructed modern jetties, enforced safety regulations, and enhanced marine emergency response under the Inland Waterway Transportation Plan.
- Ferry Services (“Omi-Eko”): These have reduced traffic congestion, enhanced economic productivity, and helped the state meet its carbon reduction goals by promoting greener mobility.
- Shoreline Protection: The state has invested significantly in erosion and flood defense projects, particularly in vulnerable coastal areas like Lekki and Badagry, to shield communities and infrastructure from climate change impacts.
- Marine and Coastal Tourism: The administration is promoting local tourism by creating opportunities for entrepreneurship, cultural engagement, and sustainable hospitality along the Lagos coastline.
Salu-Hundeyin noted that Lagos’ progress in leveraging its aquatic assets serves as a model for national replication, urging federal policymakers to adopt similar strategies across Nigeria’s coastal and riverine states.
The NIPSS team is expected to submit a policy advisory at the end of its tour, which will contribute to the Federal Government’s efforts to develop a comprehensive national framework for the Blue Economy sector.
The initiative reflects growing recognition of the blue economy as a vital driver of job creation, climate resilience, transport efficiency, and economic diversification in Nigeria’s long-term development trajectory.
