By Palma Ileye
Nigeria is seeking to attract more Danish investment, technology and expertise into its marine and blue economy as the Federal Government moves to accelerate development of the sector.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, made the appeal in Copenhagen during a bilateral meeting with Denmark’s Minister for Business and Competitiveness, Martin Lidegaard.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister, Dr. Bolaji Akinola and made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
The meeting formed part of a Nigerian ministerial delegation to Denmark, led by Oyetola, to deepen cooperation in maritime infrastructure, port efficiency, green shipping, technology, skills development and sustainable economic growth.
Oyetola said Nigeria had moved beyond establishing the institutional framework for the marine and blue economy and was now focused on developing projects, mobilising investment and improving the performance of the sector.
He urged Danish companies and investors to explore opportunities across ports and logistics, shipbuilding and repairs, maritime services, digital technology, fisheries, renewable energy, green shipping, marine infrastructure, financing and multimodal transportation.
“Nigeria is looking for partnerships that can improve sector performance, attract investment, deploy technology, strengthen skills and safety, advance sustainability and create quality jobs,” he said.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s extensive coastline, inland waterways, large consumer market and strategic position in West and Central Africa offer significant opportunities for investors seeking long-term returns
He noted that the presence of Danish companies already operating in Nigeria demonstrated the viability of the market, saying the Federal Government was determined to build on the existing relationship.
“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,” Oyetola said.
The minister said the engagement with Denmark was intended to move beyond diplomatic discussions towards identifying bankable projects and practical partnerships capable of delivering measurable economic benefits.
He also called on Danish businesses to look beyond existing investments and consider emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s maritime value chain, particularly projects requiring capital, technology, technical expertise and innovation.
Lidegaard welcomed Nigeria’s initiative and expressed Denmark’s readiness to strengthen cooperation under the country’s Marine and Blue Economy agenda.
He stressed the importance of practical partnerships involving governments, businesses, technology providers and knowledge institutions, saying such collaborations would help develop solutions capable of being implemented, scaled and sustained commercially.
