Nigeria is set to join the global maritime community to commemorate the 2025 World Maritime Day on September 25, 2025, in Lagos.
The event, themed “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity,” aims to highlight the shared responsibility of citizens to utilise the ocean sustainably and preserve it for future generations.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between citizens and the federal government to harness Nigeria’s maritime potential. He stressed that collective responsibility is crucial in protecting ocean resources, which are vital for the country’s economic development.
International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Secretary General, Arsenio Dominguez, also underscored the ocean’s essential role in regulating the climate, sustaining life, and supporting global trade. However, he warned that human-induced pressures like pollution, warming, acidification, and overfishing are severely straining marine ecosystems.
Dominguez emphasised the need for urgent global cooperation to reduce pollution, protect marine life, and adopt sustainable practices. “While human activity has caused the damage, it also holds the key to restoring the ocean—presenting both a responsibility and an opportunity for a healthier, safer future”, he stated.
The 2025 World Maritime Day celebration in Nigeria is expected to bring together key stakeholders in the maritime sector to reflect on the opportunities inherent in the oceans and the collective obligation to ensure their sustainable use.