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The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola CON, has pledged closer collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force to address operational gaps undermining security and efficiency in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Oyetola gave the assurance while receiving the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, in Abuja, where both leaders agreed to strengthen coordination to protect coastal and inland waterways and safeguard critical maritime assets.
Congratulating the IGP on his appointment, the Minister described it as well deserved and expressed confidence in his ability to reinforce the nation’s security architecture.
“Your track record of professionalism inspires confidence that you will strengthen national security and support key economic sectors,” Oyetola said.
Disu thanked the Minister and reaffirmed the Police Force’s readiness to work with the ministry and other agencies to tackle security threats affecting maritime operations and economic activities.
He said intelligence-led policing, joint patrols, and stronger enforcement would be deployed to curb criminal activities and improve safety across Nigeria’s waters.
Both sides identified the need for improved surveillance, faster response capacity, and better information-sharing among agencies to address operational deficiencies that have exposed the maritime domain to illegal activities and slowed sector growth.
Oyetola described the engagement as timely, noting that inter-agency synergy is critical to the Federal Government’s blue economy agenda and efforts to unlock investment, trade, and job creation.
“The maritime sector holds enormous potential for economic diversification. Securing our waterways through coordinated enforcement and institutional cooperation is essential to unlocking that potential,” he said.
The Minister reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with the Police and other security agencies to ensure safer waterways, while the IGP pledged sustained operational support to strengthen maritime security and national economic development.
Both parties agreed to maintain regular strategic dialogue and joint operational frameworks to improve enforcement, close security gaps, and support sustainable growth in Nigeria’s marine and coastal environment.
For maritime industry stakeholders, it is expected that the strategic collaboration would lead to an end of Police interception of already cleared goods from Nigerian seaports.
