The approvals were granted during Monday’s FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The projects include the procurement of marine pollution control vessels, pilot cutter boats, firefighting vessels, as well as the capital and maintenance dredging of the Escravos Channel.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who was represented by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said the projects formed part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to improve port efficiency, enhance navigational safety and align Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure with international standards.
According to Lawal, the council approved the procurement of two state-of-the-art marine pollution control vessels valued at about N59.05 billion. The vessels are expected to combat oil spills, plastic pollution and other forms of marine waste across Nigeria’s territorial waters, creeks and inland waterways.
He explained that the investment would significantly strengthen environmental protection efforts while improving safety for vessels operating within the country’s maritime domain.
The Federal Executive Council also approved the acquisition of six pilot cutter boats worth approximately N80.03 billion. The boats will facilitate the safe transportation of marine pilots to and from ships arriving at Nigerian ports, thereby improving pilotage services and supporting safer vessel navigation through port channels.
Lawal noted that the new vessels would enhance operational efficiency in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), helping to reduce delays and improve port operations.
To improve emergency response capabilities, the council equally approved the procurement of two specialised firefighting boats valued at about N34.06 billion, equivalent to roughly $16.46 million.
According to the minister, the firefighting vessels will strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to respond rapidly to fires involving ships, oil terminals, jetties and other critical maritime infrastructure, reducing risks to human lives, property and the marine environment.
The largest approval was for the capital and maintenance dredging of the Escravos Channel at a cost of N112.85 billion under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement involving the Nigerian Ports Authority and private sector operators.
Lawal explained that the dredging project would improve navigational access by removing accumulated silt and other obstructions from the channel while maintaining essential navigational aids and strengthening marine pollution surveillance.
He added that the project is expected to reduce vessel turnaround time, improve port efficiency and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness as a leading maritime and shipping hub in West Africa.
Describing the four approvals as strategic investments, the minister said they would deepen maritime safety, protect Nigeria’s coastal ecosystem and stimulate trade, investment and economic activities within the country’s expanding blue economy.
“The approvals underscore the Federal Government’s commitment to building a modern, safe and environmentally sustainable maritime sector capable of supporting economic growth, facilitating international trade and creating new opportunities across the blue economy value chain,” Lawal said.
The approvals come amid renewed efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime sector following concerns raised by industry experts over the country’s ageing infrastructure and weak ocean governance.
Recent discussions at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, highlighted the urgent need for Nigeria to address deteriorating coastal ecosystems and improve maritime infrastructure to fully realise its blue economy ambitions.
President Tinubu has consistently identified the blue economy as a major driver of national economic diversification, with the administration targeting the creation of five million ocean-based jobs through sustained investments in maritime infrastructure, stronger governance and enhanced environmental protection.