Nigeria and Denmark have moved to deepen cooperation in the maritime and blue economy sectors, with Nigeria seeking increased Danish investment, technology and expertise to accelerate the development of its maritime industry.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, made the call during a bilateral meeting with Denmark’s Minister for Business and Competitiveness, Martin Lidegaard, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The meeting formed part of activities of the Nigerian ministerial delegation to Denmark on maritime and the blue economy, led by Oyetola.
Discussions centred on investment, maritime infrastructure, technology, green transition, port efficiency, skills development and sustainable economic growth.
The minister and members of his delegation also engaged senior Danish government officials and representatives of the country’s maritime sector as part of efforts to strengthen economic cooperation between both countries.
Oyetola said Nigeria had moved beyond establishing the institutional framework for the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry 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,” Oyetola said.
He said Nigeria’s marine and blue economy remained open to investment, identifying ports and logistics, shipbuilding and repair, maritime services, digital technology, fisheries, green shipping, renewable energy, marine infrastructure, financing and multimodal connectivity as key areas of opportunity.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s extensive coastline, inland waterways, large consumer market and strategic position in West and Central Africa offer investors opportunities across the maritime value chain.
Oyetola also pointed to the presence of Danish-origin companies already operating in Nigeria’s maritime sector, describing it as a foundation for expanding commercial relations between both countries.
“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.
The minister urged Danish businesses to look beyond their existing investments and explore emerging opportunities across Nigeria’s maritime value chain.
He said Nigeria required strategic partners capable of bringing capital, technology, expertise and innovation into the sector.
Oyetola added that the engagement between Nigeria and Denmark was intended to move beyond broad diplomatic commitments by identifying bankable projects and practical partnerships capable of producing measurable economic outcomes.
He said Denmark’s expertise in shipping, maritime services, logistics, green technologies and sustainable ocean industries could complement Nigeria’s market size and maritime potential.
According to him, the partnership could combine Danish technology and expertise with the scale and commercial opportunities available in Nigeria and across the African market.
Responding, Lidegaard welcomed closer engagement with Nigeria’s 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, expanded and commercially sustained in both countries.
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.
The engagement is part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to attract private-sector participation and investment into the maritime and blue economy sectors while improving infrastructure, technology, skills and sustainability.
