Nigeria Eyes Global Investment as It Heads to Mombasa Maritime Summit

Nigeria is set to highlight its vast maritime and blue economy potential at a high-level global gathering in Our Ocean Conference 2026 scheduled to take place in Mombasa, Kenya.

The conference, billed for June 16–18, marks the first time the global ocean-focused event will be hosted in Africa and is expected to draw over 1,000 participants from about 100 countries, including policymakers, investors, and environmental stakeholders.

Nigeria’s participation will centre on showcasing its maritime strengths and attracting investment into its growing blue economy sector. Officials say the country plans to use the platform to demonstrate its leadership in maritime management within the Gulf of Guinea and secure partnerships that can translate policy ambitions into tangible projects.

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, is also exploring innovative financing options tied to specific maritime projects. These include capital market instruments such as blue bonds aimed at funding sustainable infrastructure, fisheries, marine tourism, and coastal resilience initiatives.

A key session on the sidelines of the conference organised by Gadfly Consulting Limited and the Blue Bond Accelerator, is expected to bring together issuers, investors, regulators, and other stakeholders to develop a pipeline of bankable blue economy projects across Africa.

Experts say Nigeria’s strong domestic capital market and policy direction on the blue economy position it as a leading investment destination on the continent. The country is also pursuing plans to expand deep-sea ports, improve maritime infrastructure, and boost sectors such as aquaculture and inland waterways transport.

Despite its vast marine resources, Nigeria still faces challenges, including underutilisation of its ocean assets and heavy reliance on fish imports. Analysts believe increased private sector participation and international partnerships will be crucial in unlocking the sector’s full economic potential.

The Mombasa conference is expected to shift global ocean discussions from dialogue to implementation, with a strong focus on sustainability, job creation, and economic resilience areas Nigeria hopes to leverage for long-term growth.