By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) is set to host the 2026 edition of its flagship Maritime Annual Maritime Lecture (MAMAL) at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos, with leading stakeholders from across the maritime value chain expected to examine critical issues affecting the competitiveness of Nigerian ports.
The lecture, themed “Nigeria Ports Modernisation, Charges and the Competitiveness Question,” will bring together heads and representatives of government agencies, terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarding associations, port concessionaires, logistics firms, importers, exporters, manufacturers, investors, academics, policy experts, development partners and maritime professionals for discussions on the future of Nigeria’s port industry.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, will attend the event as the Special Guest of Honour, underscoring the Federal Government’s commitment to ongoing reforms in the maritime and blue economy sectors. As the chief driver of the administration’s maritime agenda, the Minister is expected to provide insights into efforts aimed at enhancing port efficiency, improving infrastructure, promoting trade facilitation and strengthening Nigeria’s position as a leading maritime hub in Africa.
The keynote address will be delivered by Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy and Coordination and Head of the Central Delivery Coordination Unit (CDCU).She is expected to provide a policy perspective on the importance of coordinated reforms in the port sector, the need for improved service delivery, infrastructure modernisation and the role of efficient ports in driving economic growth, attracting investment and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and global trade.
MARAN President, Mr. Oluyinka Onigbinde, disclosed that TANTITA Security Services Nigeria Limited will chair the event, which is expected to attract top government officials, chief executives of maritime agencies, industry leaders, port operators, shipping stakeholders, scholars and members of the diplomatic and business communities.
According to him, the annual lecture has over the years evolved into one of the maritime sector’s foremost policy dialogue platforms, providing stakeholders with opportunities to engage constructively on issues affecting port operations, trade facilitation and national economic development.
Onigbinde said the theme was carefully selected in response to growing concerns over port infrastructure, operational efficiency, port charges and their impact on the competitiveness of Nigerian ports within the West and Central African region.
MARAN noted that discussions at the lecture would focus on practical solutions for modernising port infrastructure, reducing the cost of doing business, improving cargo clearance processes, enhancing investor confidence and positioning Nigerian ports to compete favourably with leading ports across Africa.
The association expressed confidence that recommendations from the lecture would contribute significantly to ongoing reforms in the maritime and blue economy sectors and support the Federal Government’s drive to unlock the full potential of the nation’s port industry.
MARAN therefore called on stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to participate actively in the event, describing MAMAL 2026 as a strategic platform for fostering collaboration, shaping policy and advancing sustainable growth in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
