By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) says Nigeria’s maritime sector has the potential to rival oil and gas as a major revenue earner, as preparations intensify for the 2026 Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX), scheduled for November in Lagos.
NISA President and Chairman of the NIMAREX 2026 Planning Committee, Otunba Sola Adewunmi, said in an interview in Lagos on Friday that planning for the event is already underway, building on the successful revival of the expo in 2024 after a prolonged period of inactivity.
Adewunmi said NIMAREX was designed as an inclusive industry platform covering all segments of the maritime value chain, not just shipowners.
“NIMAREX is an industry event. Although the initiative came from the Nigerian Shipowners Association, it encompasses everything about the maritime industry,” he said.
“It is a platform where we showcase the opportunities available in Nigeria for investors and industry players from around the world to see and bring investment into the country.”
He explained that the exhibition covers shipping, ports, logistics, maritime services, and the blue economy, which he said could unlock significant investment and job creation if properly developed. The NISA President attributed the earlier suspension of NIMAREX to funding challenges and misconceptions about its ownership.
“There was silence for some time, but we brought back NIMAREX last year,” he said.
He noted that while government support was strong in the early years, it gradually declined, leaving the 2024 edition largely self-financed by NISA.
Adewunmi added that many stakeholders mistakenly viewed the expo as a shipowners-only initiative, limiting broader participation.
To address these challenges, NISA is engaging government institutions, maritime agencies, private sector operators, and international stakeholders to broaden sponsorship and participation.
“We are getting closer to the authorities and stakeholders for them to continue what they started years back,” Adewunmi said.
“We want everyone to understand that NIMAREX belongs to the entire maritime industry. The more stakeholders participate, the stronger the event becomes.”
He said the 2026 edition will focus on attracting foreign investors by showcasing Nigeria’s strategic position as a gateway to West and Central Africa, alongside opportunities in shipping, ports, logistics, and maritime services.
Speaking on Nigeria’s economic diversification, Adewunmi urged the Federal Government to engage experienced maritime professionals in policy formulation to unlock the sector’s full potential.
He described the maritime industry as one of Nigeria’s most underutilised economic assets, despite its capacity to generate revenue and create jobs.
“Apart from oil and gas, maritime is the next big thing in Nigeria. If we revitalise this industry, there will definitely be more employment. More jobs will be created and government revenue will increase significantly,” he said. “What the maritime industry can generate for Nigeria cannot be compared with many other sectors of the economy.”
Adewunmi expressed optimism that with the right policies, stronger stakeholder collaboration, and increased investment, Nigeria’s maritime sector can become a major driver of economic diversification and sustainable national development.
For him, NIMAREX 2026 represents more than an industry event but a strategic platform to position maritime as a central pillar of Nigeria’s post-oil economy.
About NIMAREX:
The Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) is an industry platform initiated by the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) to promote investment opportunities and sectoral growth in Nigeria’s maritime industry. It was revived in 2024 after years of inactivity and brings together local and international stakeholders across the maritime value chain.
