Nigeria is in danger of being left behind by regional competitors like Indonesia in the crucial competition to control the maritime economy, a leading industry expert has cautioned.
A Stark Warning from the Frontlines
Ms. Ronke Kosoko, the Chief Executive Officer of the Maritime Innovations Hub, issued this urgent alert during a media briefing held before the upcoming Blue Economy Investment Summit. She stressed that Nigeria is rapidly losing ground to its peers and emphasized that bridging this widening gap demands immediate and substantial investment, fresh innovation, and decisive strategic action.
"Talk is cheap; execution is expensive, and Nigeria cannot afford to waste another decade," Kosoko stated bluntly. Addressing a gathering that included lawmakers, government officials, investors, development partners, and journalists, she made it clear that the summit's focus must be on achieving tangible outcomes rather than just delivering speeches. "This is not just an event; it is a movement," she declared, drawing from her 15 years of experience in the maritime sector.
From Graduate Optimism to a Call for Action
Reflecting on her career, Kosoko recalled joining the industry in 2010 as a young economics graduate, full of hope that Nigeria had the potential to create up to 20 million jobs from its maritime resources. While acknowledging the current administration for breaking a cycle of stagnation, she underscored the need for accelerated progress.
She highlighted a promising start, noting that within just 72 hours of assuming office, the Honourable Minister of Transport called for a comprehensive stakeholder meeting that was notably free of the usual political obstacles. "Ministers often deliver speeches and exit without understanding operational realities. This time, the minister moved from table to table, listening directly to industry players across the value chain," Kosoko explained, praising the hands-on approach.
The Path Forward: Investment and Execution
The central message from Kosoko's warning is clear: Nigeria's window of opportunity in the global maritime economy is narrowing. To catch up with and potentially overtake nations like Indonesia, the country must transition from planning and discussion to concrete implementation and funding. The upcoming Blue Economy Investment Summit is positioned as a critical platform to catalyze this shift from rhetoric to real, measurable results that can harness Nigeria's vast maritime potential for economic growth and job creation.
