President calls for technical cooperation, geophysical data sharing to develop marine resources and drive sustainable economic growth.
President Bola Tinubu has invited the People’s Republic of China to partner with Nigeria through the sharing of geophysical data and technical expertise to unlock the country’s vast marine resources and accelerate the growth of its blue economy.
The invitation was conveyed by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, during a keynote address at the United Nations Sustainable Development Workshop on High-quality Development of the Marine Economy in Beijing.
Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, Ibrahim commended China’s leadership in advancing the marine and blue economy, while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to becoming one of the world’s leading maritime economies.
He said the President Tinubu administration had demonstrated its commitment to the sector through the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, noting that the oceans represent the next frontier for wealth creation and sustainable development.
The ambassador explained that Nigeria was seeking strategic partnerships focused on technology transfer, technical cooperation and access to geophysical data needed to better understand and develop its marine resources, rather than relying on aid.
He also urged stronger international collaboration to tackle climate change, weak cross-border governance and the unsustainable exploitation of marine resources, stressing that such challenges should not hinder countries from harnessing the economic opportunities offered by the blue economy.
Ibrahim called on the global community to move beyond policy discussions by embracing innovation, artificial intelligence, circular economic solutions and data-driven strategies to ensure sustainable development of marine resources. He also proposed that the International Monetary Fund provide zero-interest financing to support member states in developing their blue economy sectors.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s readiness for deeper engagement, the envoy said President Tinubu was offering China an open partnership in the blue economy for the mutual benefit of Nigeria, Africa and the global community, while emphasising that urgent action was needed to maximise the opportunities in the sector.