The Federal Government has urged Danish investors and businesses to take advantage of the investment opportunities in Nigeria’s marine and blue economy, assuring them of attractive incentives, strong returns and an environment increasingly open to private-sector participation.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, made the call in Copenhagen, Denmark, during a bilateral meeting with Denmark’s Minister for Business and Competitiveness, Martin Lidegaard.
The meeting was part of activities of the Nigerian Ministerial Delegation to Denmark on Maritime and the Blue Economy, led by Oyetola, as Nigeria seeks to attract Danish investment, technology and expertise into its maritime sector.
Discussions at the meeting focused on investment, maritime infrastructure, technology, green transition, port efficiency, 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 entering a phase focused 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,’ he said.
The minister said the country’s marine and blue economy was open for investment, identifying opportunities in ports and logistics, shipbuilding and repair, maritime services, digital technology, fisheries, green shipping, renewable energy, marine infrastructure, financing and multimodal connectivity.
He said Nigeria’s extensive coastline, inland waterways, large consumer market and strategic location within West and Central Africa provided investors with opportunities across the maritime value chain, with potential for long-term commercial returns.
Oyetola noted that the presence of Danish-origin companies already operating in Nigeria’s maritime sector demonstrated the viability of the market and provided 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.
He urged Danish businesses to look beyond existing investments and explore emerging opportunities across Nigeria’s maritime value chain, stressing the need for strategic partners capable of bringing capital, technology, expertise and innovation into the sector.
According to him, the Nigeria-Denmark engagement was aimed at moving beyond broad diplomatic commitments towards identifying bankable projects and practical partnerships capable of delivering measurable economic outcomes.
Oyetola said Denmark’s internationally recognised expertise in shipping, maritime services, logistics, green technologies and sustainable ocean industries could complement Nigeria’s market size and commercial potential.
He said the partnership could combine Danish technology and expertise with the scale of opportunities available in Africa’s largest economy.
Lidegaard welcomed the prospect of 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.