Former Minister of Interior, Hon. Emmanuel Ihenacho; Senator Wasiu Eshilokun; former President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr Eugene Nweke; and maritime expert, Dr Kayode Farinto, are among prominent personalities expected at the forthcoming Unity Conference of the Network of Nigeria Maritime Journalists (NNMJ).
The conference, scheduled for Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, will bring together policymakers, government officials, heads of maritime agencies, industry leaders, legal practitioners, freight forwarders and other stakeholders to examine developments and challenges in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Barrister Temisan Omatseye, will chair the conference, while the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, will attend as Special Guest of Honour.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and maritime lawyer, Barrister Emeka Akabogu, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address.
With the theme, “Seaport Modernisation, Trade Facilitation and Revenue,” the conference will assess the performance, policy direction and operational efficiency of Nigeria’s maritime industry under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Discussions will focus on ongoing reforms, port infrastructure development, trade facilitation, ease of doing business, revenue generation and measures to identify and eliminate financial leakages across the maritime value chain.
Participants are also expected to examine strategies for strengthening maritime safety and security, expanding opportunities in the marine and blue economy, creating employment and improving the global competitiveness of Nigerian seaports.
The conference, which will 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 key players in the maritime industry.
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 in the maritime sector.
They said the event would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to evaluate existing government policies and reforms, identify implementation gaps and propose sustainable solutions to improve port operations, facilitate legitimate trade and enhance government revenue.
According to the organisers, the conference will also explore ways of unlocking the economic potential of Nigeria’s maritime sector through improved infrastructure, efficient regulatory frameworks and stronger public-private sector partnerships.
The NNMJ leadership further highlighted the role of maritime journalism in promoting transparency and accountability, providing credible industry analysis and sustaining informed public discussions on government policies, regulatory interventions and reforms affecting the marine and blue economy.
They expressed confidence that the conference would strengthen relationships among industry stakeholders, encourage constructive policy engagement and promote collective efforts towards building a more efficient, transparent and globally competitive maritime industry.
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