By CHIAZO OGBOLU

The Federal Government has unveiled a new National Marine and Blue Economy policy, designed to cut logistics costs.

The policy is also designed to boost trade competitiveness and attract private sector investment into the transport and maritime sectors.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this at the 2025 Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) Annual Summit on Wednesday in Lagos.

Oyetola, represented by the Director, Maritime Services, Department of Marine & Blue Economy, Dr Mercy Ilori, explained that the policy would provide a framework for seamless intermodal integration across road, rail, barge and pipeline channels.

He added that the policy was aimed at transforming Nigeria into a logistics hub for West and Central Africa.

“By lowering the cost of doing business, improving turnaround times and creating an enabling environment for private capital, we are positioning Nigeria as a preferred logistics destination in Africa,” Oyetola said.

He highlighted key interventions already underway to include the operationalisation of the Lagos–Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail line.

He said that the rail line was to enable port cargo evacuation, expansion of barge operations at Lagos and Onne ports and the completion of the Apapa–Oshodi Expressway.

He included the commissioning of the 27 kilometers Lekki Port Access Road as another intervention.

Oyetola also identified the development of inland dry ports in Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano and Funtua, to ease pressure on seaports and support regional economies.

Oyetola stressed that the success of the reforms depended on collaboration among shipping lines, terminal operators, freight forwarders, investors and regulators.

He added that Nigeria must adopt digital, green and climate-resilient logistics solutions, to remain globally competitive.

Also speaking, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, stated that government had recently approved the National Land Transport Policy after decades of futile struggle.

Alkali, represented by Dr Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), said that the policy would undoubtedly serve as a veritable tool to facilitate all developments in the land transport sub-sector.

The minister appreciated President Bola Tinubu for spearheading the National Transport Sector Reform project through laudable policies, initiatives and commitments.

He said these commitments would aid the actualising of the Renewed Hope Agenda, by making public transportation efficient, effective, safe, secure, integrated and affordable.

Earlier, the TCAN Chairman, Mr Tola Adenubi, regretted that Nigeria was yet to have an acceptable protocol to guide the entire transport system, leaving the space open to all comers.

Adenubi added that though transportation addressed challenges of moving from one point to another, doing so seamlessly had remained man’s major headache.

“While Nigeria is grappling with the absence of a national transport policy that should guide her modes of transport, the pressure exerted on the roads by petroleum tankers and trucks have left many roads in sorry state.

“Also, the remaining modes – rail, air and waterways have their own share of challenges and there should be solutions to them,” he said. (NAN)