IHENACHO, SENATOR ESHILOKUN, NWEKE, FARINTO, OTHERS TO ATTEND NNMJ UNITY CONFERENCE
Ihenacho, Senator Eshilokun, Nweke, Farinto, Others to Attend NNMJ Unity Conference
By Babatunde Aremu
LAGOS — The Network of Nigeria Maritime Journalists (NNMJ)* has secured the participation of several prominent personalities in Nigeria’s maritime industry and political landscape at its forthcoming Unity Conference.
Among those expected are 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 Dr. Kayode Farinto.
The conference is scheduled for Friday, November 13, 2026, at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos*, and is expected to bring together key policymakers, heads of maritime agencies, industry leaders, legal practitioners, freight forwarders and other critical stakeholders to deliberate on issues shaping the future of 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, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola*, will attend as Special Guest of Honour.
Renowned maritime lawyer, Barrister Emeka Akabogu, SAN, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address.
With the theme, Seaport Modernisation, Trade Facilitation and Revenue, the conference will provide a platform for an in-depth assessment of the performance, policy direction and operational efficiency of Nigeria’s maritime sector under the administration of *lPresident Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Discussions will focus on ongoing reforms, infrastructure development and strategic interventions required to strengthen the maritime industry’s contribution to national economic growth.
Scheduled to commence at 11:00 a.m., the conference will provide an avenue for constructive engagement among government representatives, maritime professionals and private-sector operators on practical measures to reposition Nigeria’s maritime industry for improved efficiency, productivity and global competitiveness.
Key areas of discussion will include:
– Seaport modernisation, rehabilitation and renewal of critical port infrastructure
– Trade facilitation and ease of doing business
– Revenue optimisation and elimination of financial leakages
– Expanding Nigeria’s marine and blue economy
– Employment generation
– Maritime safety and security
– Enhancing competitiveness of Nigerian seaports
The conference is expected to attract heads of government agencies, managing directors of shipping companies, terminal operators, freight forwarders, licensed customs agents and other influential stakeholders across the maritime industry.
In a joint statement, NNMJ Chairman, Elder Dele Aderibigbe, and Public Relations Officer, Jerry Aguigbo said the Unity Conference was conceived to promote informed dialogue, deepen stakeholder collaboration and generate practical recommendations for addressing challenges confronting the maritime industry.
They explained that the event would also offer stakeholders an opportunity to evaluate existing government policies and reforms, identify implementation gaps and recommend sustainable solutions to improve port operations, facilitate legitimate trade, increase government revenue and unlock the vast economic potential of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The statement further underscored the strategic importance of maritime journalism in promoting transparency and accountability, providing credible industry analysis and sustaining informed public discourse on government policies, regulatory interventions and reforms affecting the marine and blue economy.
The NNMJ leadership 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.
