Nigeria does not have the industrial base or skilled workforce to support shipbuilding, according to maritime stakeholders. The country's dependence on imported raw materials and absence of large-scale shipyards continue to hinder its competitiveness, reported the Lagos Punch daily.

Ladi Olubowale, President of the African Shipowners Association (Nigeria), said Nigeria lacks the infrastructure and expertise to build ships locally. He noted that no shipyard in the country is equipped for large-scale construction.

Despite its population and economic size, Nigeria faces structural challenges in developing a viable shipbuilding industry. The absence of dry docks, shipyards and heavy industries such as steel production has limited domestic capacity.

Existing facilities are mostly geared towards repair and maintenance, with few capable of constructing ocean-going vessels. Mr Olubowale said the country's reliance on imported steel and aluminium is a major obstacle.

"The backbone of any shipbuilding industry is steel or aluminium," he said. "We don't have the iron ore or steel industries to produce these materials."

He added that importing all materials drives up costs and undermines Nigeria's competitiveness. Local steel output is insufficient and unsuitable for shipbuilding.

Without a strong steel base, Mr Olubowale said Nigeria's shipbuilding ambitions will remain unattainable.

Eugene Nweke, Head of Research at the Sea Empowerment and Research Centre, echoed the concerns. He said Nigeria's shipyards will remain import-dependent and uncompetitive without a functional steel industry.

Mr Nweke added that having a single national shipping operator does not make Nigeria a maritime power. He called for transparent governance and private investment to ensure sustainability.

He warned that Nigeria's ports rely too heavily on road transport, while rail and inland waterways remain underdeveloped. Environmental sustainability has not been integrated into port concessions, risking non-compliance with global decarbonisation standards.