Oyetola courts Danish investors for Nigeria’s marine, blue economy
Omeiza Bilal
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, has urged Danish investors to seize the vast opportunities in Nigeria’s maritime sector, assuring them of attractive incentives, strong returns, and a business environment increasingly open to private-sector participation.
Oyetola made the call during a bilateral meeting with Denmark’s Minister for Business and Competitiveness, Martin Lidegaard.
The meeting, according to a statement by the minister’s Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola, focused on deepening commercial ties and identifying bankable projects within Nigeria’s blue economy.
The minister explained that Nigeria has moved beyond establishing institutional frameworks and is now entering a phase centred on project development, investment mobilisation, improved sector performance, and capacity building.
“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 highlighted investment opportunities across ports and logistics, shipbuilding and repair, maritime services, digital technology, fisheries, green shipping, renewable energy, marine infrastructure, financing, and multimodal connectivity.
According to him, Nigeria’s extensive coastline, inland waterways, large consumer market, and strategic location within West and Central Africa provide investors with access to a wide range of opportunities across the maritime value chain, with significant potential for long-term commercial returns.
Oyetola noted that the presence of Danish-origin companies already operating in Nigeria’s maritime sector demonstrates the viability of the market and provides a solid foundation for expanding commercial relations.
“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.
He urged Danish businesses to look beyond existing investments and explore emerging opportunities, stressing the need for strategic partners capable of bringing capital, technology, expertise, and innovation into the sector.
On his part, Lidegaard welcomed the prospect of closer engagement with Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy agenda. He emphasised the importance of practical partnerships involving businesses, government institutions, technology providers, and knowledge centres, noting that such collaborations would be critical to developing solutions that are implementable, scalable, and commercially sustainable in both countries.
