The Chairman of the Nigeria Port Consultative Council (NPCC), Dr Bolaji Sunmola; Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, Adewale Akodu; and former National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Babatunde Mukaila, are among prominent maritime industry personalities confirmed for the forthcoming Unity Conference of the Network of Nigeria Maritime Journalists (NNMJ).
Also confirmed for the conference is the Chief Operations Officer of A-Z Logistics, Dr Mustapha Azeez, alongside other key stakeholders in the maritime industry.
The conference, scheduled for Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, will bring together policymakers, heads of maritime agencies, industry leaders, legal practitioners, freight forwarders and other stakeholders to deliberate on the future of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), 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, Emeka Akabogu, 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 under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Discussions will focus on ongoing government reforms, infrastructure development and strategic interventions required to strengthen the maritime sector’s contribution to national economic growth.
The event, which begins at 11:00 a.m., will also provide a platform for government representatives, maritime professionals and private-sector operators to explore practical solutions for improving efficiency, productivity and global competitiveness in the industry.
Key issues expected to feature include seaport modernisation, rehabilitation of critical port infrastructure, trade facilitation, ease of doing business, revenue optimisation and measures to identify and eliminate financial leakages across the maritime value chain.
Participants will equally examine 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.
In a joint statement, NNMJ Chairman, Dele Aderibigbe, and the association’s Public Relations Officer, Jerry Aguigbo, said the conference was designed to promote informed dialogue, strengthen stakeholder collaboration and generate practical recommendations for addressing challenges confronting the maritime industry.
They explained that the gathering would enable 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 explore ways of unlocking the economic potential of Nigeria’s maritime sector through stronger collaboration between government agencies and private-sector operators.
The NNMJ leadership further underscored the importance of maritime journalism in promoting transparency and accountability, providing credible industry analysis and sustaining informed public discourse on policies, regulatory interventions and reforms affecting the marine and blue economy.
They expressed confidence that the conference would strengthen relationships among industry stakeholders, encourage meaningful policy engagement and reinforce collective efforts towards building a more efficient, transparent and globally competitive maritime industry.
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