Ehingbeti Summit Seeks Coastal Resilience Fund to Protect Communities, Unlock Blue Economy

Experts and stakeholders at the 4th Ehingbeti Maritime Hub Summit have called for the establishment of a dedicated Coastal Resilience Fund to finance coastal protection, infrastructure development and community empowerment across Nigeria.

The call was made on Thursday at the 4th Ehingbeti Maritime Hub Summit held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, where participants examined the legal, regulatory, security and investment frameworks needed to unlock Nigeria’s blue economy potential and promote sustainable development of coastal communities.

The keynote address, President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Chief Jean Chiazor Anishere, SAN, said a dedicated financing mechanism was urgently required to tackle infrastructure deficits and improve the living conditions of people living in coastal communities.

Anishere urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to explore international financing opportunities through climate funds, development banks and multilateral organisations to scale up investments in coastal resilience and community development.

She noted that sustained investment in coastal resilience would strengthen infrastructure, protect livelihoods and create an enabling environment for coastal residents to participate meaningfully in the emerging blue economy.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria stressed that Nigeria’s blue economy must be supported by effective governance, saying the country needed strong legal and institutional frameworks capable of promoting innovation, attracting investment and ensuring the sustainable exploitation of marine resources.

She called for a regulatory system that would provide certainty and security for investors while remaining flexible enough to encourage innovation, environmentally responsible enough to protect marine resources and inclusive enough to ensure that coastal populations benefit from economic opportunities.

According to Anishere, security, sustainability and good governance remain critical pillars for the successful development of Nigeria’s blue economy.

She also advocated improved waste-management infrastructure, sustainable fishing practices, recycling education and environmental stewardship programmes that would deliver direct benefits to coastal communities.

The keynote speaker further called for increased private-sector participation in blue tourism, resilient infrastructure and marine-based enterprises through appropriate incentives, streamlined regulations and stronger public-private partnerships.

Representing the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, said the state remained committed to an inclusive approach to blue economy development.

She explained that although the history of Ehingbeti is closely associated with Lagos Island, the state’s broader blue economy agenda would extend to coastal and waterfront communities across Lagos.

Oyekan-Ismaila said Governor Sanwo-Olu encouraged participants at the summit to work together and develop a communiqué capable of advancing the blue economy agenda of Lagos State.

The Convener of the Ehingbeti Maritime Hub and Founder of the Ocean Ambassadors Foundation, Hon. Olaitan Violet Williams, said the Hub was established in 2023 to trace and reconnect with the historical roots of maritime activities in Lagos.

Williams said Ehingbeti represented an important chapter in Lagos’ transformation from its early trading history to the modern-day Eko.

She identified inland waterways as one of the low-hanging fruits of Nigeria’s blue economy, calling for greater investment and stronger legal protection for investors in the sector.

According to her, Nigeria’s estimated 10,000 kilometres of waterways cannot deliver their full economic potential if large portions remain largely unnavigable.

The Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of the NIWA Governing Board, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, who was represented by a NIWA Board Member, Capt. Tajudeen Alao, commended Williams for her commitment to the development of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.

Shagari stressed that coastal communities must remain at the centre of blue economy policies and programmes, while advocating an appropriate legal framework for the sustainable development of Nigeria’s littoral states.

Representing the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, Rear Admiral N.C. Okon called for stronger maritime regulation and effective enforcement of existing laws.

Okon identified “sea blindness” as one of the factors limiting Nigeria’s ability to fully harness its maritime potential, stressing that collaboration among government agencies, coastal communities and development partners remained essential.

He warned that a thriving blue economy could not be sustained in an environment characterised by insecurity, environmental degradation, illicit activities and regulatory uncertainty.

The Naval representative reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to providing the secure maritime environment required to support commerce, investment and sustainable exploitation of Nigeria’s maritime resources.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Ekeoma Ezeibe, described insurance as a critical component of maritime and blue economy development.

She said adequate insurance protection was necessary to safeguard maritime assets, infrastructure and businesses against the numerous risks associated with maritime operations and investments.

A major highlight of the summit was the official launch of the 28 Inland Waterways Investment Jigsaw, an initiative designed to identify and showcase viable investment opportunities across Nigeria’s inland waterways while providing a structured pathway for greater private-sector participation.

The initiative is expected to support efforts to identify commercially viable opportunities in the inland waterways sector and encourage private investment in water transportation and other marine-related businesses.

The 4th Ehingbeti Maritime Hub Summit attracted government representatives, maritime professionals, security stakeholders, legal practitioners, insurers, traditional rulers, academics, private-sector operators and representatives of coastal communities.

The summit ultimately underscored the need for stronger regulation, improved maritime security, sustainable financing, resilient infrastructure and meaningful community inclusion as Nigeria seeks to translate its vast blue economy potential into sustainable economic growth and improved livelihoods.