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 stakeholder, 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, is expected to bring together policymakers, heads of maritime agencies, industry leaders, freight forwarders, legal practitioners and other stakeholders to discuss critical issues affecting Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Barr. 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.
A renowned maritime lawyer, Barr. Emeka Akabogu, SAN, will deliver the keynote address.
The conference, which has the theme, “Seaport Modernisation, Trade Facilitation and Revenue,” will examine the state of Nigeria’s maritime industry, ongoing government reforms and the strategic interventions required to improve port efficiency and boost the sector’s contribution to national economic development.
Discussions are expected to centre on seaport modernisation, rehabilitation of critical port infrastructure, trade facilitation, ease of doing business, revenue optimisation and measures to 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 enhancing the global competitiveness of the nation’s seaports.
The event, scheduled to commence at 11:00 a.m., will provide an opportunity for government officials, maritime professionals and private-sector operators to exchange ideas and develop practical recommendations for addressing challenges confronting the industry.
In a joint statement, NNMJ Chairman, Elder Dele Aderibigbe, and the organisation’s Public Relations Officer, Jerry Aguigbo, said the conference was conceived to promote informed dialogue, strengthen stakeholder collaboration and generate practical solutions to the challenges facing the maritime sector.
They noted that the gathering would also enable stakeholders to evaluate existing government policies and reforms, identify implementation gaps and recommend sustainable measures to improve port operations, facilitate legitimate trade and increase government revenue.
The NNMJ leadership further emphasised the importance of maritime journalism in promoting transparency and accountability, providing credible industry analysis and sustaining public discourse on policies and regulatory developments in the marine and blue economy.
The organisation expressed confidence that the conference would deepen relationships among industry stakeholders, encourage meaningful policy engagement and strengthen collective efforts towards building an efficient, transparent and globally competitive maritime industry.
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