MARITIME SECURITY CHALLENGES AROUND LAGOS AREA AND NIGERIAS BLUE ECONOMY: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS
Oyedele Fred Olaruntoba , Abdullahi N. Liman, PhD and Usman A. Yusuf. PhD
Volume 13 Issue 1
Abstract
Maritime insecurity remains a persistent threat to Nigerias blue economy, and for this study, Lagos maritime area, which hosts the country’s busiest ports, is the focus. Despite multiple national security frameworks, challenges such as piracy, oil theft, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and smuggling continue to disrupt maritime activities. Nigeria reportedly loses an estimated $1.5 billion annually to crude oil theft and other infractions. These security lapses hamper shipping, fisheries, tourism, and offshore oil operations, thus limiting the nation's ability to harness its projected $296 billion blue economy potential. This study is anchored on Governance Theory, which provides insight into how the coordination, capacity, and accountability of institutions influence the effectiveness of maritime security policies and stakeholder collaboration. The study employed a descriptive survey design using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 400 respondents, while qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews with key maritime stakeholders, including the Nigerian Navy, NIMASA, NPA, and Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression, and thematic analysis. Findings revealed that over 60% of respondents identified inter-agency rivalry, lack of operational coordination, and outdated legal frameworks as key impediments to effective maritime security governance. Furthermore, maritime crimes such as piracy and oil theft were found to have significantly disrupted logistics, deterred investment, and reduced government revenue in the Lagos maritime zone. However, stakeholders affirmed that enhanced surveillance, cross-agency collaboration, and stronger regulatory enforcement could reverse these trends. The study concludes that weak institutional coordination and fragmented policy implementation undermine maritime security efforts in Lagos Area thereby threatening the sustainability of Nigeria’s blue economy. The study recommends the harmonization of outdated laws and policies to align with current realities. The new legislation should include jointness amongst security agencies in training, data sharing and collaborative enforcement.in the maritime domain. Also, Nigeria should develop a national strategy that balances economic development with ecological preservation within an integrated governance framework. Keywords: Security Maritime Security, Blue Economy, Deep Blue Project, Lagos Area.
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