President Bola Tinubu has urged Africa to transition from a state of 'sea blindness' to 'ocean sovereignty,' positioning maritime governance and security as the cornerstone for unlocking the continent's blue economy potential. This call comes amid concerns over foreign dominance of Africa's maritime security frameworks.
Addressing the Africa Forward Summit
Speaking at the High-Level Roundtable on Maritime Sovereignty and Ocean Governance during the Africa Forward Summit 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, Tinubu highlighted Nigeria's transformation from a threat-focused maritime strategy to one centered on economic opportunity, regional security, and investment. The President's remarks were conveyed in a statement signed by Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.
Tinubu noted that 'sea blindness' has led Africa to perceive its vast jurisdictional waters as empty spaces or mere sources of threat. 'Nigeria is here to tell a different story: our maritime domain is a sovereign territory, and its governance must be asserted, resourced and institutionalised,' he stated.
Maritime Sovereignty as Economic Imperative
The President emphasized that maritime sovereignty is an economic necessity for Africa's future. He insisted that secure sea lanes and predictable regulations are essential prerequisites for attracting private investment into the blue economy. Tinubu also highlighted significant progress in Nigeria, stating that piracy incidents have been eliminated within Nigerian waters following sustained investments in maritime security infrastructure under the Deep Blue Project.
This initiative involves an integrated network of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets, including command-and-control centers, special mission vessels, fast intervention boats, and aerial platforms. Tinubu noted that the global maritime community has acknowledged the elimination of piracy in Nigerian waters and the substantial reduction of attacks across the Gulf of Guinea.
Institutional Reforms and Regional Coordination
Tinubu also pointed to Nigeria's recent institutional reforms, particularly the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, as evidence that ocean governance has become a central pillar of state policy. He called for deeper regional coordination across the Gulf of Guinea, warning that maritime crime cannot be effectively tackled by countries acting in isolation.
'As we endorse the Nairobi Declaration, Nigeria affirms that maritime sovereignty and ocean governance are the non-negotiable foundations of Africa's blue economy transformation,' Tinubu said.
A Generational Responsibility
Concluding his address, Tinubu urged African states to treat ocean governance as a generational responsibility, declaring that 'the oceans have no duplicate as a common heritage of mankind.'
