Tinubu Orders NIMASA to Step Up as Nigeria Eyes Bigger Gains from Maritime Sector

The President gave the charge when he received the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, at the State House, Abuja, where they reviewed developments in Nigeria’s maritime sector and the progress recorded by the Agency over the past two years.

Mobereola used the meeting to brief the President on key developments within NIMASA, outlining the gains made under his leadership as well as some of the challenges still facing the maritime industry.

The discussion came against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s broader push to make the maritime sector a stronger contributor to Nigeria’s economy.

President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the continued development of the industry, stressing that the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy was a deliberate policy decision to unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s vast maritime resources.

According to the President, the sector must play a bigger role in driving national development and contributing meaningfully to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

While commending NIMASA for the progress recorded so far, Tinubu urged Mobereola and his management team not to become complacent.

The President’s message was clear: the gains already made should be the beginning of a stronger push, not a reason to slow down.

The maritime sector holds significant opportunities for Nigeria in areas such as shipping, shipbuilding and repairs, seafarer development, maritime security, logistics, port services and other aspects of the emerging Blue Economy.

For NIMASA, the challenge now is to build on the reforms and improvements highlighted during the briefing while addressing the issues that continue to limit the sector’s full potential.

The meeting also reinforced the administration’s expectation that Nigeria’s maritime industry must move beyond its traditional role as a support system for trade and become a stronger engine of jobs, investment, revenue and economic growth.

With the President’s renewed backing, attention will now be on NIMASA to translate the progress of the past two years into deeper reforms and measurable results across the maritime sector.