Abuja: A Maritime and Energy Expert, Mr. Atiemoria Ebhodaghe, says the maritime sector is vital to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, as efficient marine logistics is key to achieving the country’s energy and economic ambitions. Ebhodaghe, a Lead Strategic Consultant at Acepontis Ltd., described the maritime sector as the critical link connecting Nigeria’s offshore resources to the economy.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ebhodaghe emphasized that any disruption in marine logistics could halt upstream operations. Despite progress in the energy sector, high transaction costs and operational inefficiencies continue to limit the maritime industry’s contribution to economic growth. “In the upstream sector, marine logistics, including the deployment of tugboats, platform supply vessels, and crew boats, is indispensable to offshore exploration and production activities,” he stated. He further explained that reliable marine logistics are crucial to avoid upstream production standstills.
Ebhodaghe highlighted that the maritime sector’s impact on the economy is currently held back by high transaction costs and operational challenges. While strides have been made in energy ambitions, resilience remains a work in progress. On indigenous participation, he noted that local firms had improved their technical capacity, particularly in crewing and vessel operations, but still lag behind foreign competitors in delivering integrated logistics solutions.
He advised indigenous operators to embrace digital transformation by adopting predictive maintenance, Internet of Things (IoT)-driven systems, and data management tools instead of focusing solely on vessel ownership. Stronger governance structures and digital capabilities, he argued, will enable local firms to compete more effectively with foreign operators.
Speaking on financing, Ebhodaghe identified access to affordable capital as the greatest challenge facing indigenous maritime operators. The mismatch between long-term investment requirements and short-term, high-interest financing has constrained fleet expansion and technology upgrades. He commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board for supporting indigenous operators, but called for de-risked financing models tailored to the maritime industry’s cash-flow cycle.
Ebhodaghe also advocated for asset-pooling and collaborative investment among indigenous firms to reduce financial pressure and improve competitiveness. On the Federal Government’s target of building a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2030, he stated that the goal was achievable if the maritime sector was transformed into an integrated digital logistics corridor. He urged the government to fully digitalize port operations, automate customs and cargo processes, establish a unified maritime data platform, and deploy AI-enabled vessel chartering systems. Additionally, he called for greater investment in training seafarers and maritime professionals to operate advanced technologies.
Acepontis Ltd. serves as a bridge between challenges and solutions in the ever-evolving marine, logistics, and energy sectors.