The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to translating maritime policies into practical actions aimed at improving water transportation, infrastructure, safety and sustainability across its waterways.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, made this known in a message marking the 2026 World Maritime Day, themed “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence.”
Emmanuel said Lagos’ waterways remained central to the state’s economic development, supporting ferry transportation, ports, fisheries, coastal tourism and communities whose livelihoods depend on maritime activities.
He described Lagos as the bedrock of Nigeria’s Blue Economy, noting that the state’s efforts over the past year had focused on turning maritime policies into practical outcomes.
According to him, the state has worked to strengthen water transportation, improve maritime infrastructure, enhance safety and sustainability, and unlock economic opportunities across its waterways.
Emmanuel also commended the Blue Economy and Lagos State Waterways Authority team for their dedication, professionalism and hard work, saying their efforts had contributed to progress in the sector.
He stressed the need for continued collaboration among stakeholders to advance maritime development in Lagos and across Nigeria.
He wished stakeholders in the maritime sector a happy World Maritime Day.
World Maritime Day is celebrated every 24th of September and for the first time, the International Maritime Organization, IMO theme will run for a biennium.
The 2026–2027 theme highlights IMO’s clear commitment to putting policies into practice by providing technical assistance, training, capacity-building, knowledge sharing and other essential services to support Member States and partners across the maritime sector