Maritime Leaders to Brainstorm Port Modernisation, Revenue Optimisation

The Network of Nigeria Maritime Journalists (NNMJ) has secured the participation of prominent political figures and key stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime industry at its forthcoming Unity Conference scheduled for Friday, November 13, 2026, in Lagos.
Among the notable personalities expected at the event are former Minister of Interior, Hon. Emmanuel Ihenacho; Senator Wasiu Eshilokun; former National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Eugene Nweke; and renowned maritime expert, Dr. Kayode Farinto.
The conference, scheduled to hold at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, will bring together policymakers, heads of maritime agencies, industry leaders, legal practitioners, freight forwarders and other stakeholders to examine critical issues affecting the growth and competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Barrister Temisan Omatseye, will chair the event, while the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, is expected to attend as Special Guest of Honour. Renowned maritime lawyer, Barrister Emeka Akabogu, SAN, will deliver the keynote address.
With the theme, “Seaport Modernisation, Trade Facilitation and Revenue,” the conference will provide a platform for stakeholders to assess government policies, ongoing reforms and operational developments within Nigeria’s maritime industry under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Deliberations will focus on critical areas, including seaport modernisation, rehabilitation of port infrastructure, trade facilitation, ease of doing business, revenue optimisation and strategies to identify and eliminate financial leakages across the maritime value chain.
Participants will also explore opportunities for expanding Nigeria’s marine and blue economy, creating employment, strengthening maritime safety and security, and improving the global competitiveness of the country’s seaports.
The event, scheduled to commence at 11:00 a.m., is expected to attract heads of government agencies, managing directors of shipping companies, terminal operators, freight forwarders, licensed customs agents and other influential players in the maritime sector.
In a joint statement, NNMJ Chairman, Elder Dele Aderibigbe, and the organisation’s Public Relations Officer, Jerry Aguigbo, said the Unity Conference was designed to promote informed discussions, strengthen stakeholder collaboration and generate practical recommendations for addressing challenges confronting the industry.
They noted that the conference would also provide an opportunity to evaluate existing government policies and reforms, identify implementation gaps and propose sustainable solutions to improve port operations, facilitate legitimate trade, boost government revenue and unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The NNMJ leadership further highlighted the strategic role of maritime journalism in promoting transparency and accountability, providing credible industry analysis and sustaining public awareness of policies, regulatory interventions and developments in the marine and blue economy.
The organisation expressed optimism that the conference would strengthen relationships among industry stakeholders, encourage constructive policy engagement and advance collective efforts towards building a more efficient, transparent and globally competitive maritime industry.