NAGAFF President Calls for Policy Harmonisation to Unlock SEZs’ Blue Economy Potentia.
NAGAFF President Calls for Policy Harmonisation to Unlock SEZs’ Blue Economy Potentia.
Lucky Akra
The National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Chief Tochukwu Emmanuel Ezisi, has called for harmonised policies across all tiers of government, warning that policy inconsistency remains a major obstacle to unlocking the full potential of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Nigeria.
Ezisi said coherent and consistent policies are critical to attracting investment, improving trade competitiveness and positioning Nigeria’s maritime sector for sustainable long term growth.
He made the remarks at the 2026 Annual Conference of the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The conference was themed, Special Economic Zones as Catalysts to Sustainable Blue Economy.”
Represented by NAGAFF Secretary General, Godfrey Nwosu, Ezisi described Special Economic Zones as strategic tools for national transformation capable of stimulating industrial development, enhancing port efficiency and creating employment opportunities when backed by a supportive policy environment.
“Special Economic Zones are more than just industrial clusters; they are strategic instruments for national transformation. I firmly believe that SEZs are the gateways to Nigeria’s maritime prosperity,” he said.
He noted that well developed SEZs would strengthen Nigeria’s trade competitiveness by reducing logistics bottlenecks, attracting foreign direct investment into ports and coastal infrastructure, creating jobs for young Nigerians, and driving innovation in shipbuilding, logistics and marine technology.
The NAGAFF President, however, cautioned that the country’s ambition of building a thriving blue economy could be undermined if longstanding challenges in the maritime sector remain unresolved.
He identified policy inconsistency, inadequate infrastructure, security threats, environmental degradation and weak collaboration among government institutions, the private sector and host communities as key impediments to the success of Special Economic Zones.
To address these challenges, Ezisi advocated harmonised policies across the federal, state and local governments, increased investment in transport and energy infrastructure through public-private partnerships, and enhanced maritime security through smart surveillance systems, stronger naval patrols and regional cooperation.
He also called for the integration of green economy principles into SEZ development through the adoption of renewable energy, effective waste management and environmentally sustainable technologies. In addition, he stressed the need for greater investment in workforce development to equip Nigerians with skills in logistics, marine sciences and digital trade.
Ezisi further urged stronger collaboration among government agencies, investors, academic institutions and host communities to ensure that Special Economic Zones deliver inclusive and sustainable economic benefits.
He described the blue economy as a development model that balances economic growth with environmental stewardship, insisting that Nigeria’s marine and coastal resources must be managed responsibly for the benefit of future generations.
“The future of Nigeria’s maritime industry depends on our collective resolve. If we harness SEZs effectively, we can transform our coastline into hubs of prosperity, innovation and sustainability,” Ezisi said.
