MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA’S BLUE ECONOMY: LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS, CHALLENGES AND PATHWAYS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The emergence of marine biotechnology and the blue economy present significant opportunities for sustainable development, economic diversification, and environmental conservation, especially for coastal nations like Nigeria. This research critically examines the legal and institutional framework governing marine biotechnology and the blue economy in Nigeria, identifying the key laws, policies, and regulatory institutions tasked with promoting innovation while ensuring environmental and genetic safety. The study highlights the National Biosafety Management Agency Act 2015, the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Act, and relevant international conventions such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Despite Nigeria’s considerable marine resources, the research identifies regulatory fragmentation, weak institutional coordination, and inadequate enforcement capacity as major obstacles to the sector’s development. Through doctrinal legal analysis, the study explores issues of access and benefit-sharing (ABS), biosafety regulation, marine genetic resource exploitation, and maritime governance. The findings reveal a gap between existing legal provisions and practical implementation, especially concerning emerging biotechnological innovations in the marine space. The study recommends a unified national legal framework for marine biotechnology, harmonization of sectoral laws, strengthening of enforcement institutions, and promotion of public-private partnerships. It also calls for regional collaboration and capacity building to align Nigeria's regulatory approach with global best practices. This research contributes to the growing discourse on sustainable ocean governance and offers a legal blueprint for Nigeria to harness the potential of its marine resources responsibly.