The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, is expected to lead discussions on technology, innovation and national economic security at the 2026 Maritime Training Summit of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), scheduled to hold in Lagos on September 4, 2026.
Adeniyi is expected to deliver a keynote presentation titled “An Overview of Customs Journey for National Economic Security Using Cutting-Edge Innovations” at the summit, which will take place at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, from 10:00 a.m.
The summit, with the theme “The Power of Innovation in a Future-Ready Maritime Training Agenda,” is designed to bring together key stakeholders to examine the role of innovation, technology and human capital development in advancing Nigeria’s maritime industry and blue economy.
In a formal invitation letter dated July 23, 2026, addressed to the Comptroller-General of Customs, AMJON President, Vera Osokpo, said the summit would provide a platform for robust discussions, knowledge sharing and capacity building aimed at strengthening the maritime workforce and promoting sustainable growth in the sector.
According to AMJON, Adeniyi’s proposed presentation is particularly significant against the backdrop of the far-reaching technological and operational reforms undertaken by the Nigeria Customs Service in recent years.
The Association noted that under Adeniyi’s leadership, the Service has continued to embrace innovation in customs administration, trade facilitation, revenue generation and border security.
Among the reforms expected to feature prominently in the presentation is the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), popularly known as B’Odogwu, as well as its synchronisation with the National Single Window initiative.
AMJON also identified the Time Release Study, designed to facilitate faster clearance of goods under customs control; the One Stop Shop approach for harmonising operations across relevant units; and the deployment of drones for geospatial border surveillance as notable innovations that demonstrate the growing application of technology in customs operations.
The Association said the Customs transformation offers important lessons for the wider maritime sector, particularly on the need to align technology adoption with appropriate human capital development.
AMJON noted that while Nigeria possesses significant maritime advantages through its extensive coastline, access to international shipping routes and abundant marine resources, these opportunities can only be fully converted into economic value through a skilled and future-ready workforce.
The summit will therefore broaden the conversation beyond customs modernisation to examine the human capital requirements of Nigeria’s emerging blue economy.
Issues expected to dominate discussions include digital transformation of maritime operations, artificial intelligence and automation, emerging maritime technologies, maritime safety and security, port digitalisation, workforce reskilling and upskilling, innovation in maritime education, indigenous manpower development and the future of maritime training.
Participants will also examine how government agencies, maritime training institutions, private-sector operators, technology companies and development partners can collaborate to bridge existing skills gaps and prepare Nigerian professionals for the rapidly changing global maritime environment.
The summit is expected to attract senior government officials, policymakers, regulators, heads of maritime agencies, shipping and port operators, terminal operators, freight forwarders, customs brokers, maritime training institutions, academics, technology experts, development partners and other stakeholders across the maritime and blue economy value chain.
AMJON said the event would also provide an opportunity for maritime journalists to deepen their understanding of technological, regulatory and operational developments in the sector, thereby strengthening specialised reporting and informed public discourse.
Osokpo said the choice of the summit theme was informed by the need to place innovation and human capital at the centre of Nigeria’s maritime development agenda.
She stressed that technology could only deliver sustainable economic benefits when supported by a workforce with the skills and capacity to deploy, manage and continuously improve emerging systems.
AMJON expressed confidence that Adeniyi’s presentation and other sessions at the summit would generate practical insights and recommendations capable of strengthening Nigeria’s maritime training framework and accelerating the development of a competitive, technology-driven blue economy.
The Association also called on government agencies, maritime businesses, financial institutions, technology companies and other stakeholders to support the summit and contribute to efforts aimed at building a skilled, innovative and globally competitive maritime workforce.
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