President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has identified Nigeria’s fisheries value chain as a major driver of economic growth, saying targeted investments across the sector could generate more than 500,000 jobs, cut fish imports, conserve foreign exchange and position the country as a leading exporter of fisheries products.
Dangote made the remarks in Lagos during the Second Quarter 2026 Citizens’ and Stakeholders’ Engagement organised by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
The event, themed “From Policy to Action: Mobilising Sub-National Governments for Effective Implementation of Nigeria’s National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy,” attracted government officials, diplomats, development partners, industry leaders, academics and representatives of state governments.
Presenting a paper titled “Driving Private Sector Investment and Industrialisation in Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy: Opportunities for Sustainable Economic Growth,” Dangote, who was represented by the Managing Director of Dangote Port Operations, Simeon Omole, underscored the need for increased private sector investment across the fisheries value chain.
“This is not merely a food security challenge; it is an industrial and investment opportunity.
“Strategic investment across the fisheries value chain, from aquaculture and hatcheries to feed production, cold-chain logistics, processing, and export infrastructure, supported by private sector leadership and an enabling government environment, can strengthen food security, reduce imports, conserve foreign exchange, create over 500,000 jobs, and position Nigeria as a competitive exporter of fisheries products.”
He said the effective implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy would largely depend on sustained private sector participation. According to him, the policy aims to create three million jobs within its first four years, achieve annual sectoral growth of seven per cent and ensure that at least half of all new jobs are reserved for young people between the ages of 18 and 35.
Dangote noted that achieving industrial transformation would require consistent policies, quality infrastructure, improved access to finance and stronger investor confidence. He identified infrastructure-led industrialisation, value-chain development and enhanced public-private partnerships as the three critical pillars for unlocking the sector’s vast economic potential.
He also said the Federal Government’s approval of major deep seaport projects across different parts of the country would encourage the development of industrial clusters covering agro-processing, petrochemicals, shipbuilding, cold-chain logistics and maritime technology, while strengthening Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
Highlighting opportunities within the fisheries industry, Dangote observed that although domestic fish production has continued to increase, Nigeria still spends nearly $1 billion annually on fish imports because local supply falls short of demand.
He further stressed that public-private partnerships should extend beyond funding arrangements to include strategic collaboration among government agencies, private investors, research institutions and coastal communities. According to him, the establishment of coastal industrial clusters supported by modern ports, Special Economic Zones and digital infrastructure would attract long-term investment and accelerate industrialisation.
Earlier, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, urged stronger collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, the private sector and development partners to fast-track the implementation of Nigeria’s National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy. He described active participation by sub-national governments as essential to unlocking the vast economic opportunities within the sector.
