Dangote: Blue Economy Can Generate Over 500,000 Jobs in Nigeria

President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has called for increased private sector investment in Nigeria's marine and blue economy, saying strategic investments across the fisheries value chain could create more than 500,000 jobs and reduce the country's dependence on fish imports.

Speaking through the Managing Director of Dangote Port Operations, Simeon Omole, at the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy's Second Quarter 2026 Citizens' and Stakeholders' Engagement in Lagos, Dangote said investments in aquaculture, hatcheries, fish feed production, cold-chain logistics, processing and export infrastructure would strengthen food security, conserve foreign exchange and position Nigeria as a leading exporter of fisheries products.

He stressed that the successful implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy depends on sustained collaboration between the government and the private sector. According to him, the policy aims to create three million jobs within four years, achieve annual sector growth of seven percent and ensure that at least half of new jobs benefit young Nigerians.

Dangote also highlighted infrastructure development, value-chain expansion and strong public-private partnerships as key drivers of industrial growth. He noted that ongoing deep seaport projects across the country would support industrial clusters, improve logistics and enhance Nigeria's competitiveness in regional and global trade.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, urged state governments to align their development plans with the national blue economy policy, describing sub-national participation as essential for unlocking investment, creating jobs and promoting sustainable development.

Oyetola added that ongoing port modernisation, improved maritime safety and new deep seaport projects in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Lagos and Ondo states would strengthen Nigeria's position as West Africa's preferred maritime hub.

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Duoye Diri, also commended the Federal Government for establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. He said Bayelsa had already launched its own state ministry and expanded fish production and marine transport while pursuing the proposed Agge Deep Seaport project to boost economic development in the Niger Delta.

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