Breaking: LASG Launches Africa’s First Blue Economy TV to Drive Effective Information on Maritime Sector

March 24, 2026 admin 0 Comments

By Raheem Ibrahim

In a bid to effectively monitor and publicise activities within Nigeria and Africa’s maritime sector, the Lagos State Government has launched Blue Economy TV (BETV), a dedicated channel focused on marine resources, policy discussions, shipping, coastal tourism, and other sustainable ocean-based industries.

The launch of the new innovation, which is the first of its kind in Africa, took place on Monday, March 23, 2026, and attracted key stakeholders in the maritime sector, government officials, and industry experts.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, Emmanuel Oluwadamilola, while speaking at the launch held at the Blue Economy Academy, Osborne Phase 2, Ikoyi, highlighted the strategic importance of the state’s maritime assets. He noted that Lagos’ extensive coastline and inland waterways form a vital corridor for trade and economic activity.

According to him, “With over 180 kilometres of coastline and more than 140 kilometres of inland waterways running through our communities, we have a maritime corridor that supports over 70 per cent of international trade. Yet, for years, we have only just begun to awaken to the true value of our waters and maritime space. Today marks a significant shift.”

Oluwadamilola described the unveiling of BETV as a major step towards reshaping public perception of the maritime sector and unlocking the opportunities embedded within the blue economy.

He explained that the platform would spotlight critical sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, water transportation, tourism, sports, and marine services, while also advancing conversations around environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said, “The launch of Blue Economy TV is not just the unveiling of a platform, but the awakening of a consciousness — a realisation that our waters are not barriers, but bridges; not limits, but lifelines; not just scenery, but strategy. Within these waters lie jobs for our youth, food security, mobility solutions, investment opportunities, and pathways to environmental sustainability.”

He added, “What we are witnessing today is a signal — a sound that Lagos is ready, and that the blue economy is no longer an idea, but a movement.”

He further stated that the channel would play a critical role in telling underreported stories, revealing untapped opportunities, and connecting ideas to practical action within the sector. He urged stakeholders to actively engage with the platform and contribute to the growth of the industry.

“The waters are calling, and through platforms like this, we are finally responding,” he said.

Earlier in his address, the Founder of the Blue Economy Academy, Ubong Essien, noted that Blue Economy TV was driven by the need to deepen awareness and unlock Nigeria’s vast marine potential through media and knowledge dissemination.

Tracing the origin of the project to the Academy, which is approaching its second year, he said the institution was established with a clear mission to showcase Nigeria’s untapped maritime potential.

“We have the Blue Economy Academy, an institution built on the mission to see a Nigeria that prospers by water. That is our mission. That is what drives us. We cannot have so much prosperity from Badagry to Bakassi and not make the most of it,” he said.

Essien also outlined the Academy’s framework of ten “inclusion buckets,” covering areas such as commerce, governance, climate, energy, and finance. He noted that Lagos, as Nigeria’s financial hub, is well positioned to emerge as a centre for “blue capital.”

On the newly launched television platform, he said it would serve as an extension of the Academy’s vision, using media to drive engagement, policy conversations, and national reorientation.

“Everything we will be doing is through a blue prism until Nigerians realise that we are a blue nation. Our national colour may be green, but it is blue that keeps green alive,” he said.

According to him, the channel will feature programmes such as Blue Morning Nigeria and Watchers of the Seas, alongside dedicated news content, all aimed at shaping discourse and influencing policy direction.

He emphasised the strategic role of coastal and water-linked states in advancing the sector and called for stronger collaboration to overcome what he described as “sea blindness” across all levels of society.

“For the blue economy to succeed, the littoral states must take the lead, and the blue corridor states must also recognise the value. In the end, what we are trying to do is eliminate sea blindness — at the top and at the grassroots,” he added.

Meanwhile, attendees at the event lauded the initiative as a timely platform to promote awareness, investment, and sustainable development within Nigeria’s marine and coastal resources.

If you want, I can also: