The Network of Nigeria Maritime Journalists (NNMJ) has secured the participation of prominent maritime industry figures, including former Director of Public Relations of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Hajia Lami Tumarka; retired Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, ACG Charles Edike; and President of Women in Maritime Africa (WIMA), Mrs Theodora Nwanze, at its forthcoming Unity Conference.
The conference, scheduled for Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, is expected to attract policymakers, heads of maritime agencies, industry operators, legal practitioners and other stakeholders to deliberate on critical issues affecting Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Former Director-General of NIMASA, Barrister Temisan Omatseye, will chair the conference, 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 examine the performance, policy direction and operational efficiency of Nigeria’s maritime industry, particularly in the context of ongoing economic and sectoral reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Discussions will focus on port modernisation, rehabilitation of critical maritime infrastructure, trade facilitation, ease of doing business, revenue optimisation and measures to eliminate financial leakages across the maritime value chain.
Participants are also expected to explore opportunities for expanding Nigeria’s marine and blue economy, creating employment, improving maritime safety and security, and strengthening the global competitiveness of the country’s seaports.
The event, scheduled to commence at 11:00 a.m., will bring together 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 confronting the maritime sector.
They said the gathering would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to assess existing government policies and reforms, identify implementation gaps and recommend sustainable measures to improve port operations, facilitate legitimate trade and increase government revenue.
According to them, the conference will also examine 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 importance of maritime journalism in promoting transparency and accountability, providing credible industry analysis and sustaining public engagement on government policies and regulatory interventions affecting the marine and blue economy.
They expressed optimism that the conference would deepen relationships among maritime stakeholders, encourage constructive policy engagement and strengthen collective efforts towards building a more efficient, transparent and globally competitive maritime industry.
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