As Nigeria works to diversify its economy beyond oil, attention is turning to a vast but largely untapped frontier, the ocean. With the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the United Nations’ recent approval of Nigeria’s extended continental shelf by an additional 16,300 square kilometres, experts say the country is beginning to unlock a new source of national wealth.
But for Musa Animashaun, hydrographic scientist, the real work has only just begun.
‘The creation of the blue economy ministry was a major policy shift. It shows Nigeria is starting to see the ocean not just as a trade route, but as an economic frontier,’ Animashaun told BusinessDay. ‘However, we must back that up with investments in data, bathymetry, seabed classification, marine geology, or the vision will remain abstract.’
Nigeria’s marine and blue economy sector needs about $10 billion in investment over the next decade to modernise ports and logistics, expand aquaculture and cold-chain systems for fisheries, restore mangroves and wetlands, and upgrade wastewater and pollution-control systems to tap into the $5 trillion global marine industry.
In May 2025, the Federal Government approved the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, a 10-year roadmap to develop the country’s ocean and inland water resources for growth, jobs, and sustainability. The policy aims to attract private investment into key areas such as shipping, offshore energy, fisheries, and tourism.
Animashaun welcomed the policy, describing it as ‘a crucial step towards building a science-based and investment-ready blue economy.’
Adegboyega Oyetola, Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, said the next important task is to mobilise the funding required to deliver results.
‘With collective commitment and innovative financing, Nigeria is well placed to secure leadership in Africa’s marine and blue economy and to create prosperity, jobs, and environmental resilience,’ Oyetola said.
Nigeria could access more than $1.5 trillion in global blue economy opportunities by 2030, creating millions of jobs and supporting livelihoods in coastal communities. But Animashaun warned that ‘potential without mapping remains a guess.’
‘Every dataset we collect on the seafloor can support multiple sectors, from shipping and offshore energy to aquaculture and coastal resilience,’ he said. ‘That’s why seafloor intelligence is national infrastructure.’
Unlocking the ocean frontier
Animashaun, International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) Category-A Hydrographer, completed his postgraduate studies through the Joint International Hydrographic Applied Science Program, a collaboration between the University of Southern Mississippi and the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office. He has worked on seabed mapping operations along the U.S. East Coast, supporting the offshore wind and dredging industries, where accurate seafloor intelligence is treated as critical national infrastructure.
He said Nigeria’s approval to extend its continental shelf in 2024 is ‘a once-in-a-generation opportunity’ to explore new areas of ocean wealth.
‘We’re talking about a wide seabed with reserves of cobalt, nickel, manganese, and polymetallic nodules, all key to the global energy transition,’ he said. ‘But these resources can’t be extracted safely or sustainably without hydrographic data. That’s the entry point.’
Mapping and national securityFor Animashaun, hydrography, the science of mapping and understanding the ocean floor supports everything from trade and offshore energy to national security.
‘You cannot secure or manage waters you have not mapped,’ he said. ‘Nor can you deploy offshore turbines, lay submarine cables, or extract seabed minerals without accurate mapping.’
He urged the government to see seafloor mapping as part of national infrastructure and to invest in technologies such as multibeam sonar systems, survey vessels, unmanned platforms, and marine data systems. ‘No serious maritime economy operates without detailed knowledge of its underwater territory,’ he said. ‘Seafloor data is like a road network or power grid. Without it, we’re blind.’
He also called for more public-private partnerships to speed up seafloor data collection across Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone and extended continental shelf, saying collaboration will be key to building a sustainable blue economy.
Building institutions and capacity
The National Hydrographic Agency (NHA), established in 2022, has improved Nigeria’s hydrographic capacity and promoted safe navigation. But Animashaun believes the next step is to create a central marine data hub where survey information can be shared and reused across sectors.
‘When a hydrographic survey is done, the same data that ensures safe navigation can also support offshore wind farms, fisheries management, and coastal defences,’ he said. ‘That’s how countries build efficiency, one dataset serving many uses.’
He also encouraged universities and maritime institutions to train new marine scientists, engineers, and hydrographers. ‘Our coastline is one of the richest in West Africa,’ he said. ‘The question is whether we have the data and skills to manage it. If we don’t invest in those now, we risk falling behind while others define the blue economy for us.’
Execution will determine success
Looking ahead, He said Nigeria’s success will depend on execution, turning policy into practical results through coordination, funding, and scientific planning.
Oyetola shared that view. He noted that the government alone cannot bear the cost of modernising ports, maintaining maritime security, expanding aquaculture, or building climate-resilient infrastructure.
‘It will take partnerships, long-term private capital, and international financing to turn the national policy into real outcomes,’ the minister said.
Animashaun agreed, ‘Nigeria is making the right moves, from creating a ministry to securing our maritime territory. What comes next is execution. We need a clear marine geospatial strategy, strong coordination among agencies, and partnerships with international experts.’
He remains hopeful. ‘As a hydrographer, I see great potential. I look forward to a future where our oceans drive jobs, innovation, sustainability, and national progress.’