The Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) said the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, beyond its vast oil and gas resources, holds significant prospects for development through maritime transport, fishing, tourism, underwater mining and other profitable ventures.

The Secretary-General, MOWCA, Dr Paul Adalikwu, stated this when he received a high-level delegation from the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) at the organisation’s secretariat in Abidjan.

Adalikwu described the natural marine endowments in most parts of Africa, including Nigeria’s Niger Delta, as a divine blessing that could only be harnessed through strategic and enduring policies and practices.

He added that the region, if strategically positioned with sustainable public-private partnerships, could attract more foreign direct investment to enhance job creation and development.

Adalikwu acknowledged the Niger Delta’s strategic maritime and economic potential, stressing the need to leverage the region’s waterways, coastal location and access to the Gulf of Guinea to build an integrated platform for investment and job creation.

MOWCA, he said, is interested in initiatives that advance regional maritime cooperation, blue economy development, infrastructure, renewable energy and sustainable growth across West and Central Africa.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the NDCCITMA’s Board Secretary, Dr Solomon Edebiri, highlighted the Niger Delta’s extensive coastline, waterways, ports, fishing resources and strategic position on the Gulf of Guinea as assets that could drive employment, trade and industrial growth if properly developed.

Edebiri also highlighted the region’s wider opportunities in agriculture and agro-processing, compressed natural gas (CNG), industrial development, logistics, warehousing, packaging, export production, renewable energy and maritime activities.

He expressed NDCCITMA’s interest in attracting international technical cooperation, investment and partnerships to move the region beyond heavy dependence on hydrocarbons towards sustainable ocean-based activities, fisheries, aquaculture, marine transport and coastal infrastructure.

The delegation identified possible areas of future collaboration to include blue economy projects, maritime infrastructure, renewable energy, investment mobilisation, regional cooperation within the Gulf of Guinea, technical capacity building, maritime trade and logistics, and linkages with international development partners.

The delegation also solicited the participation of MOWCA in the inaugural Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit and Exhibition (NDEIS), scheduled for September 15 to 17 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to the NDCCITMA delegation, the three-day summit, organised in partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is designed as a practical investment platform rather than a talk shop, to convert the region’s natural and economic potential into bankable projects.