Lagos State Government has announced its plan to develop a formal blue economy policy that will integrate environmental sustainability with economic growth and social inclusion.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, disclosed this, yesterday while welcoming participants of the 2025 Senior Executive Course 47 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, who are on a local study tour themed “Blue Economy and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Prospects.”

Salu-Hundeyin, who spoke during the opening ceremony held in Alausa, Ikeja, described the visit as timely and significant, with the state’s ongoing efforts to develop its marine economy and coastal infrastructure.

She said: “Lagos is the heartbeat of Nigeria and the gateway of Africa to the world.

“We are proud to host you in a city that is not only the largest economy in Nigeria but also the third largest in West Africa and the fifth on the continent.”

Earlier, Acting Director of the NIPSS, Nima Sama, said the weeklong study tour in Lagos would explore the blue economy as a pathway to Nigeria’s sustainable development and economic diversification.

She said that the tour was part of the 10-month Senior Executive Course (SEC 47, 2025), which has been tasked by President Bola Tinubu to research critical national issues with this year’s focus on reducing Nigeria’s overdependence on oil.

Sama, who described Lagos State as an indispensable hub of knowledge and innovation, said: “No meaningful study on the blue economy can be complete without Lagos. The state is the cradle of development, rich in both human and marine resources.”

She added that 14 high-ranking participants from diverse professional backgrounds would engage with key institutions and stakeholders in the state throughout the tour, saying that their findings will contribute to a comprehensive report aimed at guiding national policy.