The Management of the Regional Maritime Development Bank (RMDB) met with top officials of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, along with key stakeholders from relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), in Abuja, where it unveiled its implementation strategy and priority areas for advancing Nigeria’s blue economy.

The initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s position as a maritime hub in West and Central Africa. During the meeting, which focused on aligning national efforts toward maritime sector growth and infrastructure development, the
President/Chief Executive Officer of RMDB, Adeniran Aderogba, delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining the Bank’s strategy and priority focus areas.

His presentation sparked a series of robust discussions and stakeholder contributions geared toward fostering institutional synergy. Aderogba explained that the RMDB’s strategic implementation plan is designed to address critical gaps in maritime infrastructure and capacity.

Key focus areas include establishing a national carrier to bolster Nigeria’s presence in international shipping, financing cabotage vessels to enhance indigenous participation, and investing in shipbuilding and repair yards to reduce capital flight.

Aderogba disclosed that the RMDB’s strategic focus also includes the development of port construction and modernisation, inland waterways transportation, and multimodal logistics integration.

He emphasised the importance of these interventions in driving sustainable economic growth, regional trade competitiveness, job creation and enhancing Nigeria’s position as a maritime hub in West and Central Africa.

“This is not just about financing projects; it’s about creating a legacy of maritime excellence, resilience, and regional integration. Collaboration with all relevant government agencies and private sector actors is central to our mission,” he stated.

The meeting brought together key maritime and economic development stakeholders including officials from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

Participants commended the RMDB for its visionary plan and reaffirmed their readiness to collaborate with the Bank in achieving shared national objectives.

The meeting also identified areas of potential synergy, particularly in policy alignment, infrastructure investment, regulatory support, and access to finance for local maritime operators.

An inter-ministerial committee is to be set up to provide immediate policy support for project implementation.