CHARTING THE COURSE FOR A BLUE ECONOMY IN NIGERIA: A LEGAL AGENDA

Abstract

Ocean and coast based economic activities are increasingly being recognized as key drivers for supporting global economies. This move towards a “blue economy” is becoming widespread in view of the paucity of land resources being experienced globally by promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth using oceanic resources. The sustainability of these ocean-based activities must however be intricately linked with the existence of a comprehensive and cohesive legal framework to align marine conservation with the extractive and exploitative endeavors. This paper analyses the potential for a blue economy in Nigeria and examines the adequacy of the existing legal regimes on marine environmental protection meant to reduce the risks of intensified ocean-based activities resulting into unsustainable environmental impacts. The paper submits that deriving sustainable wealth from ocean-based activities in Nigeria is achievable given the existing legal framework for marine environmental protection in the country. It however recommends the need to further tighten the noose around the implementation protocols of these laws to better integrate the health of the ocean ecosystem into the development of the country’s ocean resources.