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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The Maritime Reports Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has been commended for organizing the 2026 edition of the MARAN Annual Maritime Lecture (MAMAL) which is a platform offered to industry stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue on Nigerian ports modernization, charges and the competitiveness question including broader challenges and opportunities available to Nigerian ports to make a mark in the global arena.
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‎Dr Kevin Okonna, Acting Rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Oron, made the commendation in Lagos, Thursday, while delivering a goodwill message at the MAMAL event at Kondo Hall, Air Force Base 1, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
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‎Speaking through Domo Umoekpe, MAN’s image maker, Dr Okonna said the  competitiveness of Nigerian ports cannot be separated from fundamental requirements such as efficiency, innovation, safety, technology, regulation and most importantly, the quality of human capital driving the maritime sector.
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‎”A modern port requires modern infrastructure and competent professionals who can operate, manage and sustain the infrastructure to international standards”, he explained.
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‎He said that as Nigeria’s foremost maritime training and education centre, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria recognises the important role it must play in this regard and has continued to invest in modern training infrastructure, advanced simulators, practical training facilities and improved learning environments while strengthening  partnerships with key stakeholders within and outside Nigeria.
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‎”As we discuss port modernisation and competitiveness, we must recognise that our future ports will be driven by both technology and people. The Maritime Academy of Nigeria remains committed to aligning its training programmes with industry needs, international conventions and emerging technologies. Our modern simulation facilities, specialised seafarers training centre, marine engineering workshops and other practical training infrastructure provide our cadets and other maritime professionals with opportunities to develop competencies that are relevant to both the Nigerian and global maritime markets.”
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‎The Federal Government’s renewed emphasis on the Marine and Blue Economy sector, he stated, aims to position Nigeria as a leading maritime hub in Africa and for this vision to become a sustainable reality, Nigerian ports must be competitive, her maritime institutions must be strengthened while the people must be equipped to take full advantage of the opportunities within the sector.
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‎”We at the Academy are proud to be part of this national effort. I therefore commend the organisers of this event, the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, on this laudable initiative which provides a valuable platform for meaningful engagement on issues critical to the growth and development of Nigeria’s maritime industry.”
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‎He commended all stakeholders participating in the annual lecture for their commitment to advancing the conversation on Nigeria’s maritime competitiveness.
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‎”I am confident that the discussions will generate practical recommendations capable of contributing to the modernisation of our ports and strengthening Nigeria’s position within the global maritime economy.”
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‎”Let us continue to work together to build a maritime sector that is efficient, competitive and globally respected”.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The Convener of the Lagos International Maritime Week (LIMWEEK) Conference , Barr Oritsematosan Edodo Emore has described the annual gathering as a veritable platform to assess the extent to which existing policies and programmes of government produce practical and measurable outcomes across the maritime, marine and blue economy value chains.
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‎Edodo Emore who doubles as the Chair of Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd spoke in Lagos, Tuesday, while welcoming guests at the 2026 edition of the Lagos International Maritime Week (LIMWEEK) and the 11th International Maritime Business-to-Business Conference and Exhibition with the theme “From Policy To Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence” holding at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island.
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‎Edodo-Emore who noted that maritime excellence cannot exist if the waterways suffer insecurity described maritime security as critical to cargo movement, preservation of national assets and a smooth functioning of the national economy.
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‎The conference, she stated, would examine ways to develop sustainable African shipping environment, rescue insolvent operators and apply the UNCITRAL Model Law in African jurisdictions.
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‎She acknowledged the attendance of representatives of the Nigerian Navy, Gulf of Guinea Commission, Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa, Gambian Maritime Authority and Damen Shipyard of South Africa, describing it as a way of strengthening cross-border and inter-regional collaboration .
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‎Edodo-Emore also announced full scholarships for 12 students from Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ilorin and Lagos State University, with beneficiaries to receive mentorship to facilitate their entry into the maritime industry.
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‎In a lead paper presentation entitled “From Policy To Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence”, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, the Commission Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) said Nigeria must convert her vast offshore oil and gas assets into broader maritime investment for the purposes of job creation, enhancing industrial capacity and achieving a sustainable growth of her blue economy.
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‎Speaking through the Executive Commissioner, Health, Safety, Environment and Community, Capt. John Tonlagha, the NUPRC boss said offshore petroleum development must be treated as a major component of Nigeria’s maritime economy.
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‎Eyesan also called for stronger coordination among regulators, operators, investors, maritime agencies and coastal communities to close the gap between policy and implementation.
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‎Eyesan said offshore petroleum projects generated opportunities across marine logistics, drilling, subsea engineering, fabrication, port services, offshore support vessels, maintenance, inspection, emergency response and environmental management.
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‎“Offshore petroleum development is not separate from maritime development. It is a major maritime enterprise,” she said, stressing that the value chain runs from exploration through production, maintenance, decommissioning and environmental restoration.
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‎She said the effectiveness of government policy should ultimately be measured by its implementation, even as the regulatory chain must progress from policy and legislation to standards, procedures, enforcement, monitoring and continuous improvement.
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‎“A policy may be excellent on paper, but if it is not effectively implemented, it remains an aspiration,” Eyesan said.
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‎She identified seven priorities for moving from policy to practice: predictability, domestic capability, maritime infrastructure, environmental and safety performance, human capital, partnership and continuous learning.
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‎According to her, Nigeria had 131 offshore and deep offshore concessions as of January 1, 2026, representing 48.3 per cent of total concessions. The assets account for 61 per cent of annual oil production and hold 15.97 billion barrels of 2P oil and condensate reserves, or 43 per cent of national reserves, alongside 92.71 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves.
‎This underscores the strategic importance of offshore activities to Nigeria’s maritime economy and the need to ensure that more value is retained domestically through Nigerian businesses, professionals, technology and industrial capacity.
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‎She urged government to regard ports, shore bases, fabrication yards, ship-repair facilities and logistics corridors as strategic infrastructure capable of serving both petroleum and wider maritime activities.
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‎She also called for closer alignment between training institutions, regulators and industry to develop skills in offshore operations, marine engineering, digital systems, environmental management and decommissioning.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎With a colourful display of sporting artistry, discipline and commitment, the Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, Saturday, concluded the finals of her 2026 Inter-Command Games competition and award ceremonies.
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‎Zone ‘A’ of the Service comprises 15 autonomous Commands . These are Apapa; Federal Operations Unit (FOU, Ikeja; Kirikiri Lighter Terminal; Lagos Free Trade Zone; Lilypond Export; Murtala Mohammed Airport Command and the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command. Others are Lagos Industrial Command; Ogun 1, Idiroko Command; Ogun 2, Abeokuta; PTML Command; Seme; Tincan; Western Marine Command and the Customs Police.
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‎In his opening remarks, Comptroller – General of the Service, Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi paid glowing tributes to the Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Mohammed Babandede, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Comptroller Chidi Nwokorie and his team for the colourful and impressive arrangement for the competition.
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‎Commenting on the state of sports infrastructure of the Service generally, the CGC called for noticeable improvements across  all formations to develop the sporting talents of officers as this plays a key role in ensuring fitness and chances of enhanced prospects of productivity by officers who use such facilities.
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‎He described as unacceptable the state of sporting facilities at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, venue of the event, observing that it does not speak good of a Service that has made significant contributions to the growth of sports in Nigeria.
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‎Stating that consolidation , collaboration and innovation remain the key fulcrum of his tenure, CGC  Adeniyi commended sister security agencies that participated in the event, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, describing their presence as a further effort to deepen the existing collaboration and partnership in the discharge of national security responsibilities.
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‎Adeniyi noted that Customs had produced athletes and teams that had excelled in various sporting competitions, recalling  that at a time, the Service was the defending champion in male and female volleyball and had also performed strongly in basketball, football, athletics and beach volleyball. He said the service was already building an ultra-modern sporting facility in one of its barracks in Kano and promised that a befitting sports facility would be included in the proposed new location of the FOU and the Customs Training College Iperu, Ogun State.
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‎Beyond sports, the CG said the competition offered important lessons that Customs officers should apply to their professional duties, particularly discipline, teamwork and strategy. He stressed that just as success in sports required discipline and effective teamwork, Customs operations and revenue generation also required clear strategies and coordinated efforts.
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‎He congratulated the winners and encouraged those who lost to prepare for future competitions, urging officers to maintain the spirit of sportsmanship and teamwork in the discharge of their responsibilities.
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‎At the finals of the football competition, the Customs Police Command carried the day by defeating the MMIA side by a 1-0.
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‎The event featured march past and parade by all Commands under Zone ‘A’ as well as beautiful display by Customs expert riders.
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