Nigeria faces the prospect of forfeiting an estimated $296 billion in economic value from its marine resources due to persistent funding shortages and regulatory inconsistencies.
Industry experts argue that without bold investment reforms, the blue economy will fail to deliver on its promise as a primary engine for the nation's broader economic diversification goals.
This structural weakness stands in contrast to the ambitious target of reaching a $1 trillion economy, a goal that relies heavily on unlocking non-oil revenue streams.
The assessment highlights a critical disconnect between the scale of Nigeria's offshore assets and the capital currently flowing into the sector.
While the government has increasingly recognized the strategic importance of the blue economy, the lack of a cohesive funding policy has left vast marine resources significantly underutilized.
This structural weakness stands in contrast to the ambitious target of reaching a $1 trillion economy, a goal that relies heavily on unlocking non-oil revenue streams.
This warning arrives against a backdrop of heightened uncertainty in Nigerian financial markets.