Maritime Agencies
CILT AGM, 2023: Aviation Minister, Gov Obaseki, Others Confirm Attendance.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT) Nigeria holds her 2023 Annual General Meeting/National Conference at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, November 27 and 28.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, is the Special Guest of Honour while Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State will unveil a book entitled “Perspectives on Sustainable Innovation in Global Logistics and Transport.”
Other dignitaries expected include Teete Owusu Nortey, Ghanaian Transportation Minister and Dr Mrs Kema Chikwe, one-time Aviation Minister of Nigeria. The AGM will also witness the inauguration of the new CILT executive led by Mrs Mfon Usoro as a reelected President.
At a pre-conference webinar meeting in Lagos, Monday, Ms Adaora Nwonu, co-chair of the Conference Technical Committee, stated that CILT members are expected to pay a conference fee of N55,000 while non-members and young participants will register with N60,000 and N25,000 respectively. An excursion for which attendees would pay N8,000 per participant is incorporated into the conference programme to encourage a blend of outdoor sightseeing and recreation to serve as a creative link for academic and industrial practitioners.
Nwonu announced that there have been positive response for sponsorship from private and public organizations even as some companies have begun to promote the CILT brand.
For the participants, she added, the Conference is expected to provide value for money, networking and rewarding interactive activities. She assured that about 500 participants expected at the occasion will be availed the right facilities for seamless registration while a gala dinner takes place to wrap up the conference after the excursion.
Summarizing the preparations of the Logistics sub-Committee, Mr Jafaar Bello stated that adequate arrangements were in place to ensure seamless traffic and movement to and from the conference venue. Comfortable accommodation at discounted rates have been arranged for delegates in nearby hotels to the venue. The hotels can be accessed on the CILT website.
There will be a boat cruise and lagoon tour on November 28 to enable participants savour the rich serenity of Lagos city and the marine environment.
There will also be a light (metro) rail trip from Marina to Mile 2 and LASTMA, VIS, etc have been mobilized to facilitate stress-free movement.
To cater for healthcare needs of the attendees, arrangements have been made to have healthcare personnel and an ambulance for emergencies.
In her submission, the CILT President, Mrs Mfon Usoro, appraised the conference as of international standard. “The Conference is physical because we want to meet and interact with the participants. Registration is done online while Speakers will collect tags from the Moderator.” She advised participants to register online between November 20 and 21.
CILT, she recalled, is for logistics and transport as it traverses all modes of transportation. During the cultural night, delegates are expected to done their rich cultural attires. Discussion topics will centre on cross-border trade, regional integration, infrastructure development and management. The session will be led by an ECOWAS expert on trade, Prof Jonathan Aremu.
Mrs Usoro described the Conference venue as a 5- Star Hotel. “We’ve upgraded standards. Let’s try to register today or tomorrow”, she advised. Leadership in CILT, she stated, is now metamorphosing from the elderly to the younger members and that is the surest way to sustainability. While acknowledging the integration of the transportation modes, she urged transportation reporters to widely report and give wide content reportage to the Conference.
Dr Gidado, a contributor to the webinar dwelt on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the need to contact the headquarters in Ghana on issues concerning trade in Nigeria.
At the webinar, Prof Kayode Oyesiku who chairs the planning committee said the Conference theme is “Designing the Future of Transportation and Logistics in Africa”. The Conference holds in Lagos following the successes recorded at the 2020 edition, he recalled.
Prof Kayode Oyesiku urged members to register before the event as is the practice worldwide.
According to the Publicity Committee Chairman, Mr Bashir Ambi Mohammed, the unit has recorded healthy and robust public awareness in line with the mandate to create a positive public perception for the CILT. Following aggressive publicity, he said, over 400 registrations have been achieved. While hoping that registrations continue at the venue, he said the committee has been publicizing the Conference link and disseminating information to participants to register for the tour. He appealed for CILT’s membership upgrade at the Conference while the press in attendance should ensure robust and wide coverage.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Arising from weeks of intensive planning and stakeholder engagements, the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) hereby confirms readiness and an overwhelming industry stakeholders support for its planned special reception to honour her past presidents.
The reception is a landmark event aimed at celebrating leadership, service and the enduring contributions of media professionals to Nigeria’s maritime industry.
The event which promises to be a gathering of industry heavyweights, ministry officials, policymakers, regulators, terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders and other critical stakeholders, is designed not only to honour past leaders of MARAN but to restate the role of maritime journalism in shaping policy, promoting accountability, and driving sectoral growth.
Speaking on the event, MARAN Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tunde Ayodele noted that the reception serves as a platform to reflect on the legacies of past presidents whose leadership helped position the association as a respected voice in the maritime space.
He added that the event will also provide an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the media and industry operators at a time when the sector is undergoing significant reforms and modernization.
As stated by Funsho Olojo, Chairman, Reception Planning Committee, notable dignitaries from government institutions, including the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, as well as heads of key maritime agencies, have indicated strong interest in attending the event.
Several corporate organizations and industry groups have also signified their willingness to support the initiative, underscoring its importance to the wider maritime community.
Mr Olojo, while giving an overview of the event, declared that it would serve as a veritable platform to celebrate excellence, hard work and quality leadership offered by past MARAN leaders.
”MARAN, as the projenitor of beat associations in the maritime industry, has produced finest individuals who have had the privilege of leading this great association.
”They have sacrificed their time, energy and intellect to make MARAN the greatest beat association in the maritime industry.
” More encouraging is the fact that all of these past leaders are currently doing well in their different endeavors.
” Some are excelling as Ministers of God in His vineyard, some are holding their own in the legal profession, some have become media moguls and employers of labour while some are practicing their crafts as political appointees.
” It is at this reception that MARAN hopes to unveil their excellence and celebrate their rising profiles”, Olojo declared.
The reception, which will be held on April 24, 2026 at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos, is expected to feature award presentations, goodwill messages, and networking sessions that will foster deeper engagement among stakeholders while celebrating excellence in maritime journalism.
As the momentum continues to build, the association therefore calls on industry stakeholders, corporate organizations, and well-meaning individuals to be part of this historic event through sponsorships, partnerships, and active participation.
MARAN is the foremost maritime journalists beat association, and a professional body that is committed to promoting ethical journalism, capacity building, and informed reporting within Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy sector.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Come Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Media Anti-Corruption Initiatives (MACI) and Hynek Media will host a one-day seminar at the Rockview Hotel, Apapa GRA, Lagos. This is part of efforts to create needed public awareness on the National Single Window (NSW), the Federal Government’s flagship trade facilitation project.
With the theme, “National Single Window: Strategies to Avert Failure,” the parley provides a platform for stakeholders to openly discuss concerns and chart strategies for the effective implementation of the NSW.
Sub-themes of the seminar are Transparency in Single Window Project – A Key to Sustainability, and Inter-Agency Rival-Free Collaboration for NSW Success.
Dr. Segun Musa, Lead Consultant, Global Transport Policy, will deliver a keynote address while many maritime eggheads have been lined up as panel of discussants.
These include Aare Hakeem Olanrewaju, Chairman, Customs Consultative Committee who chairs the event while Hon. Kingsley Igwe, Registrar, CRFFN will be the Co-Chairman.
Other high-profile participants expected include Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (Chief Guest of Honour), Mr. Tola Fakolade, Director, National Single Window (Special Guest of Honour), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, MD, Nigerian Ports Authority, and Dr. Dayo Mobereola, DG, NIMASA. Others are Dr. Pius Akutah MON, ES, Nigerian Shippers Council, Alhaji Umar Yusuf Girei, Acting MD, NIWA, and Mrs. Adesuwa Ladoja, MD, Lagos Free Trade Zone.
The seminar will feature insights from customs controllers, freight forwarders’ associations, indigenous terminal operators, and regulators.
According to the organizers, the event offers a rare opportunity to harvest ideas and align government agencies, private operators and civil society organizations around a shared vision for a seamless trade ecosystem.
Officials project that the NSW could reduce transaction costs by up to 25% and increase government revenue by 20%. However, experts caution that Nigeria’s history of reform setbacks underscores the need for robust safeguards to ensure success.
Maritime Agencies
Akutah, Shippers’ Council Boss, Denies Political Distraction Claims, Insists He’s Focused on His Duties.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr Pius Akutah says stakeholders and the general public should evaluate his performance based on policy outcomes and sector stability instead of speculating about personal political ambition as he will continue to operate within his mandate as CEO regardless of external narratives.
His commitment to the Nigerian maritime sector, he notes, is his priority as he ensures that regulatory interventions support economic growth, protect stakeholders’ interests and enhance Nigeria’s position in regional and global matitime trade.
Dr Akutah stated this while dismissing as unfounded and irrelevant suggestions that his alleged political ambition is affecting his performance or distracting him from his regulatory duties. Some
stakeholders have even linked their concerns to recent tensions over tariff adjustments and regulatory decisions in the maritime sector.
Akutah who said the allegations are a misrepresentation of his priorities stressed that his focus remains firm on the discharge of his statutory responsibilities under the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
While public officials are often subject to speculation regarding personal political intentions, he insists, such narratives should not be allowed to overshadow institutional work or be used to undermine regulatory actions taken in good faith and in line with the law.
According to him, all decisions taken under his leadership have been guided strictly by legal provisions, stakeholder consultations, and the broader objective of maintaining balance within the maritime economy, rather than any personal or political considerations.
He maintained that the Council’s priority remains the protection of national trade interests, fair regulation of the port economy, and ensuring stability across the shipping and logistics value chain.
Akutah further noted that distractions arising from political rumours or external commentary do not alter the Council’s regulatory direction, as his administration continues to engage stakeholders and implement reforms aimed at strengthening efficiency and transparency in the sector.
He emphasized that leadership of a critical economic regulatory agency such as the NSC requires focus, continuity and adherence to due process. His attention , he insists, remains on institutional reforms rather than political pursuits.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoOyetola Welcomes EU Delegation, Urges Stronger Role Against Illegal Fishing, Maritime Crimes in the GoG.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoTRADE FACILITATION: FG Unveils National Single Window To Encourage Coordinated and Technology-Driven Trade System.
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Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoNPA Deepens Digitalization,Targets Port Community System As ETO undergoes Review.
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