The Senate Committee on Marine Transport has called for legal frameworks that clearly define the responsibilities of the federal, state and local governments in implementing the national policy on marine and blue economy with the aim of reducing inter-governmental overlaps and conflicts of interest.

The Chairman of the Committee, Wasiu Eshinlokun, stressed that many of Nigeria’s legal frameworks were designed for traditional maritime administration and do not adequately address sectors such as marine biotechnology, ocean renewable energy and blue carbon financing.

Speaking at the Second Quarter 2026 Citizens’ and Stakeholders’ Engagement of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in Lagos, Eshinlokun said existing maritime laws must be strengthened to reflect emerging opportunities in the blue economy.

The Committee Chairman advocated for stronger legislative support, effective policy implementation and greater participation by state governments to ensure the successful implementation of the 10-year National Marine and Blue Economy Policy.

The lawmaker said mobilising state governments was both necessary and urgent because many blue economy activities, including fisheries, inland waterways transportation, coastal tourism, marine conservation and port-linked industrialisation, are situated within states and local communities.

Describing the marine and blue economy as a strategic platform for job creation, industrial growth, food security and revenue generation, Eshinlokun warned that the policy would fall short of its objectives without the active support of sub-national governments.

Eshinlokun urged state Houses of Assembly to domesticate relevant policies and enact laws tailored to their respective maritime and inland waterways potential.

Eshinlokun also called for sustained fiscal and policy incentives to encourage states to invest in marine infrastructure, inland water transport systems and fisheries value chains, noting that legislative backing for investment guarantees and public-private partnerships would be critical to attracting private sector investment.

The lawmaker further stressed the need for community inclusion, urging lawmakers to enact policies that protect the interests of coastal and riverine communities and ensure they become active participants rather than mere beneficiaries of the blue economy.

Speaking on behalf of the states, the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, described the policy as long overdue, noting that many coastal states had been making efforts to domesticate it but lacked the necessary institutional support and implementation framework from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Marine and Blue Economy, Olu Aladenusi, lamented that the absence of a clear policy framework has led to resistance from state ministries handling agriculture, fisheries and environmental management, with many reluctant to relinquish responsibilities without formal directives from the Federal Government.

He stressed that although the transfer of fisheries responsibilities to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy had created new opportunities, many state agencies remained uncertain about their mandates because they had not received official implementation guidelines from the Federal Government.

The governor urged the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to provide clearer policy guidance to state governments to facilitate the domestication and implementation of the national policy.

Aiyedatiwa further appealed to the federal ministry to issue comprehensive implementation guidelines that would clearly define institutional roles.

He added that such guidance would eliminate confusion among state institutions, strengthen coordination and accelerate implementation across the country’s coastal states.