Nigeria, China deepen cooperation in marine sector

Nigeria and China have committed to enhancing their collaboration within the marine and blue economy, particularly aimed at advancing port development and creating new avenues for Nigerian aquaculture exports.

This agreement was established during a discussion held on Thursday at the Abuja ministry headquarters, attended by Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, and Yu Dunhai, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria.

Oyetola pointed out Nigeria's extensive maritime resources, which include an 853-kilometer coastline along the Atlantic and over 10,000 kilometers of waterways inland.

He stressed the significant opportunities within Nigeria’s marine sector for shipping, port activities, fisheries, renewable ocean energy, tourism related to the sea, and the development of coastal infrastructure. "Our ministry aims to establish a solid foundation for investment and collaboration, and we see great potential in learning from China’s approach to developing its marine and blue economy," Oyetola remarked.

Ambassador Yu Dunhai praised Nigeria's rich maritime resources and confirmed China’s willingness to assist Nigeria in maximizing its marine and blue economy capabilities. He cited the Lekki Deep Seaport, built by China Harbour Engineering Company, as an excellent example of the fruitful partnership between the two nations. This port can accommodate ultra-large container ships and significantly enhance Nigeria's trade capacity. Ambassador Yu noted that the project has generated thousands of jobs, alleviated congestion at Lagos ports, and positioned Nigeria as a significant maritime center in West and Central Africa.

He also mentioned that negotiations are underway for an agreement facilitating the export of aquaculture products from Nigeria to China, which would create new market opportunities for local producers and strengthen food trade relations between the countries. China has already implemented zero tariffs on aquaculture exports from Nigeria to its market, reflecting its commitment to enhancing economic collaboration.