The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has called on Danish investors and businesses to take advantage of the vast opportunities in Nigeria’s maritime sector, assuring them of attractive incentives, strong returns and an increasingly investment-friendly environment.

Oyetola made the appeal in Copenhagen, Denmark, during a bilateral meeting with Denmark’s Minister for Business and Competitiveness, Martin Lidegaard, as Nigeria intensified efforts to attract Danish capital, technology and expertise into its marine and blue economy.

The engagement was part of the official Nigerian ministerial delegation’s visit to Denmark, during which the Federal Government sought partnerships in maritime infrastructure, port efficiency, green transition, technology, 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 focusing 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 identified opportunities in ports and logistics, shipbuilding and repairs, 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 offered investors opportunities across the maritime value chain, with significant potential for long-term commercial returns.

Oyetola also pointed to the presence of Danish-origin companies already operating in Nigeria’s maritime sector as evidence of the viability of the market, urging Danish businesses to deepen their investments.

“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.

The minister said Nigeria wanted strategic partners capable of bringing capital, technology, expertise and innovation into the maritime sector, stressing that the engagement with Denmark was designed to move beyond diplomatic commitments to bankable projects and practical partnerships.

His investment pitch came as the Federal Government stepped up efforts to attract private capital into port infrastructure. During the Denmark visit, APM Terminals signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Badagry Port Development Limited to enter exclusive negotiations on the proposed greenfield Badagry Deep-Seaport.

The proposed Badagry port is expected to provide additional deepwater capacity, accommodate larger container vessels and create transshipment opportunities for Nigeria and the wider West African market. Discussions also covered the possible extension of APM Terminals’ existing concessions at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and the West Africa Container Terminal, Onne.

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.

For his part, Lidegaard welcomed 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.

The minister’s delegation included the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Fatima Mahmood; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Marine and Blue Economy, Busayo Fakinlede; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Abubakar Dantsoho; Director-General, Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, Pius Akutah; and Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dayo Mobereola, among others.

The Danish engagement is part of the Federal Government‘s broader strategy to position the marine and blue economy as a major driver of investment, trade, job creation and economic diversification.