Linking Nigeria’s Waterways: A Blueprint for Economic Transformation, Says Segun Musa
At the 10th Lagos International Maritime Week (LIMWEEK) 2025, themed “Our Oceans, Our Seas, Our Obligation – Maximizing Africa’s Ocean,” Dr. Olusegun Musa, Chairman of Global Transport Policy (GTP), proposed a bold vision: connecting 28 Nigerian states via inland waterways to unlock massive economic potential.
With a coastline stretching 853 kilometers, Segun Musa believes that Nigeria is primed to harness its maritime assets for fisheries and aquaculture: Strategic aquaculture could bridge a projected 12-million-tonne fish deficit by 2050. Egypt and Ghana are already scaling up efforts to meet protein demands and reduce imports.
Africa’s oceans offer vast energy potential for renewable energy. He stated that South Africa alone could produce 900 GW of offshore wind energy, dwarfing current continental output.
The transport consultant noted that Coastal and maritime tourism generated $80 billion and supported 24 million jobs in 2018, adding that a shift to eco-friendly tourism could further boost growth.
He held that with 90% of Africa’s international trade flowing through maritime routes, efficient ports and logistics are vital.
Dr. Musa however warned of mounting threats of Climate Change as rising sea levels could displace a third of Lagos’s population under a 3°C warming scenario, adding that damages to 12 African coastal cities may reach $65–$86.5 billion by 2050.
He also decried illegal fishing, noting that billions are lost annually to IUU fishing, undermining food security and local economies.
On pollution, he emphasized that oil spills in the Niger Delta and rapid coastal population growth (projected 143 million more by 2035) are worsening marine pollution.
He stressed that overfishing and economic instability are linked to radicalization, especially in vulnerable regions like Somalia.
Edodo-Emore, CEO of Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd. and LIMWEEK convener, emphasized the need to secure the Gulf of Guinea to protect Africa’s maritime infrastructure.
She dwelt on the importance of Smart Ports to improve vessel turnaround, customs clearance, and embrace digital innovation.
This call to action highlights the urgency of investing in Africa’s ocean economy, securing its maritime borders, and modernizing infrastructure to drive sustainable growth.
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