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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎In a high-stakes bid to secure a dominant position in intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho says the Federal Government is already stepping up an overhaul of the nation’s port system.
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‎Addressing industry stakeholders in Lagos, Dantsoho described port modernisation as a critical economic imperative that will shape Nigeria’s competitiveness in a rapidly integrating continental market.
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‎With AfCFTA lowering trade barriers across Africa, he warned that countries with faster, more efficient and technology-driven ports will capture a disproportionate share of cargo traffic and investment flows.
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‎“Nigeria’s geographical advantage alone is no longer sufficient,” he said.
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‎“Efficiency, speed, innovation and reliability will define leadership in this new era.”
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‎At the core of the NPA’s strategy is a broad reform programme targeting long-standing structural bottlenecks that have historically weakened Nigeria’s port competitiveness.
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‎Dantsoho highlighted ongoing infrastructure upgrades at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, aimed at improving berth productivity, expanding capacity and reducing vessel turnaround time—key indicators of port efficiency.
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‎He also underscored the growing role of deep seaports, particularly Lekki Port, in transforming Nigeria’s maritime landscape by accommodating larger vessels and boosting cargo throughput.
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‎Industry observers view these developments as crucial to easing congestion at legacy ports while positioning Nigeria to handle rising trade volumes expected under AfCFTA.
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‎Beyond physical infrastructure, the NPA is accelerating a shift toward digitalisation to tackle inefficiencies associated with manual processes and fragmented systems.
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‎Central to this transition is the Port Community System (PCS), alongside the Federal Government’s National Single Window initiative, both designed to integrate port stakeholders, streamline documentation and enhance transparency.
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‎Experts say full implementation could significantly cut cargo clearance times and reduce the cost of doing business—longstanding concerns among importers and exporters.
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‎Operational reforms are also underway, focusing on reducing cargo dwell time, improving service delivery and ensuring faster clearance processes across terminals.
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‎In parallel, the NPA is strengthening multimodal connectivity to support seamless cargo evacuation.
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‎Rail integration, inland dry ports, barging operations and dedicated export corridors are being expanded to decongest seaports and improve nationwide logistics efficiency.
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‎Dantsoho stressed that without efficient hinterland connectivity, gains made at the ports would be difficult to sustain.
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‎Recognising the scale of investment required, the NPA is also deepening partnerships with private sector investors and global operators to drive sustainable growth and align Nigeria’s ports with international standards.
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‎The expected impact of these reforms is significant: faster operations, lower logistics costs, increased trade volumes, higher government revenue and improved export competitiveness.
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‎Analysts note that efficient ports could play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s economic diversification drive, particularly by supporting non-oil exports and industrial expansion.
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‎In his concluding remarks, Dantsoho framed the Federal Government’s reform agenda as a decisive shift from inefficiency to performance, expressing confidence that Nigeria can emerge as a preferred maritime gateway to West Africa.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎Foremost ship owner and Chairman, Starzs Investment Company Ltd, Engr Greg Ogbeifun will chair the 10th edition  of the Annual Maritime Student and Youth (AMSAY) Conference scheduled to hold in Lagos come May 27, 2026.
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‎ Mr Sylvanus Obasi, the Conference convener and Chief Executive Officer, Platform Communications announced this in a release.
‎Obasi explained that as preparations gather momentum for what is widely regarded as a
‎landmark edition of the youth-focused maritime conference, the 10th AMSAY Conference marks a decade of sustained youth engagement, innovation, and impact in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
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‎”It is expected to bring together industry leaders, policymakers, stakeholders and young professionals from across the maritime ecosystem.”
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‎That Engr. Ogbeifun, the pioneer President of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), has confirmed attendance to chair the occasion, Obasi said, adds a significant weight and relevance to the anniversary event.
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‎”He previously served as the Pioneer Chairman during the maiden edition of the conference in 2016, and his return ten years later is described by the organisers as both symbolic and strategic,” Obasi added.
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‎”The decision to have Engr Ogbeifun as event chairman reflects a deliberate effort to connect the conference’s origins with its current status, as the AMSAY Conference has evolved significantly over the past decade.”
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‎As AMSAY  marks her 10th-year anniversary, several key initiatives that were not part of the original design have now been added. These include the Best Graduating Maritime Students Awards (BEGMASA); the  Fola Ojutalayo Annual Maritime Speech-Making Competition (FOAMSC) and the Maritime Career Mentoring Program (M-CAMP).
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‎Obasi explained that the fresh initiatives   have delivered measurable impacts in youth development and professional capacity building. He described the growth of these programmes as evidence of the conference’s commitment to continuous improvement.
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‎“Bringing Engr. Ogbeifun back after ten years is a strategic move. It gives us the opportunity to reflect on our journey and showcase our achievements.”, the Convener said, adding that the 10th anniversary edition will also provide a platform to draw from Engr Greg’s  wealth of experience and industry insight.
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‎Also speaking, the Chairman, Central Planning Committee of AMSAY Conference, Mr Nnamdi Eronini hinted that the 10th AMSAY Conference is expected to feature robust discussions, mentorship engagements, and knowledge-sharing sessions.
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‎He reaffirmed the organisers’ commitment to advancing the maritime sector through sustained youth engagement and innovation, noting that the event is positioned as a leading platform for shaping the future of Nigeria’s maritime industry.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho, former Minister of Interior and Managing Director, Integrated Oil and Gas Ltd, has urged maritime journalists in Nigeria to invest deeply in knowledge so as to enable them understand shipping economics, study regulation, learn the language of trade, interrogate data, verify facts and protect credibility.
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‎Iheanacho who gave this counsel in Lagos, Friday, while delivering a paper entitled, “The Role of the Media in Sustainable Maritime Development in Nigeria”, during an event to celebrate past Presidents of the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria, MARAN  reminded media professionals that theirs is not merely a reporting profession but a strategic national assignment, hence the need for them to be on top of their game in reporting the sector.
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‎Speaking through Dr Emeka Alabogu SAN, Principal Partner, Akabogu & Associates, Iheanacho argued that where the media is responsible, informed and courageous, industries progress faster adding that where reporting is careless, shallow, or easily swayed, progress becomes harder.
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‎He insisted that Nigeria needs a maritime media that is fearless but fair; critical but constructive; independent but informed; energetic but disciplined.”
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‎“I am particularly pleased to speak to you not only as a guest, but as someone whose life has been deeply intertwined with the Nigerian maritime industry for close to five decades.
‎“Over those years, I have had the privilege of serving in different capacities as an operator in the private sector, as a promoter of shipping and maritime enterprise, as chairman of industry associations and collaborative initiatives, and at another stage, as a Minister of the Federal Republic.
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‎“Those experiences have given me a unique vantage point. I have seen how responsible journalism can support reform, encourage investment, correct misinformation, and build confidence.
‎“I have also seen how incomplete facts, sensationalism, insufficient technical understanding, or avoidable haste can damage reputations, distort policy debates, and slow progress.
‎“It is from that practical perspective, not theory alone, that I speak today on ‘The Role of the Media in Sustainable Maritime Development in Nigeria.”
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‎Acknowledging that Nigeria’s maritime sector sits at the intersection of trade, energy, logistics, food security, industrialization, and regional competitiveness, he charged the journalists saying, “Your words can attract confidence or discourage it, your questions can trigger reform or expose complacency, your analysis can clarify choices or deepen confusion.
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‎“Therefore, invest deeply in knowledge. Understand shipping economics. Study regulation. Learn the language of trade. Interrogate data. Verify facts. Protect credibility. The more technically competent maritime journalism becomes, the more powerful its contribution to development”, he declared.
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‎The former Minister who practically listed four primary functions of the media to include: agenda setting, accountability, public education and stakeholder mobilization, however, called on the journalists to live up to expectations by constantly ensuring that they follow issues beyond the headline and accompany policy until results are delivered.
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‎On accountability, he urged media practitioners to always ensure that they play the watchdog role by exposing administrative bottlenecks, corruption risks, policy contradictions, operational inefficiencies and delays that impose costs on businesses and consumers alike.
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‎“During periods of reform, responsible reporting can also help the public distinguish genuine progress from mere announcements”, he added.
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‎Highlighting why public education is one of the noblest functions of maritime journalism, Iheanacho explained that shipping, marine insurance, vessel finance, customs systems, port concessioning, cabotage, freight logistics, international conventions are specialised subjects, yet they affect ordinary Nigerians every day through prices, jobs, trade flows, and national competitiveness.
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‎He however, pointed out that more needs to be done saying, “We need: simpler explanations of policy reforms, more data-driven reporting, wider coverage of inland waterways and coastal economies, greater promotion of maritime education and skills development as well as more rigorous accountability from persons in position of government authority to track policy, budget and outcomes. Nigeria cannot build a strong blue economy with a poorly informed public.”
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‎On stakeholder mobilization, he charged the media to provide a platform where government, private investors, regulators, operators and indeed, all stakeholders move in alignment.
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‎“The media has helped bring regulators and operators into dialogue, amplify urgent policy concerns, encourage transparency in reforms, build confidence around investment opportunities and ensure that important conversations are not hidden from the public.
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‎“In several instances, issues that might have remained trapped within committee rooms gained traction because journalists carried them into the national conversation. Yet mobilisation can be stronger still.
‎“Too often, conferences end with excellent speeches but limited follow-through. The media can help by tracking commitments, revisiting promises, and sustaining momentum after the applause has ended”, Iheanacho submitted.
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‎Speaking on the reason for the gathering, the retired Merchant Navy Captain commended MARAN for sustaining a tradition of professional engagement in a sector that is both vital to the economy and often insufficiently understood by the wider public.
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‎“To celebrate your past presidents is to celebrate stewardship, sacrifice, and continuity. Leadership in journalism, especially sector journalism is not easy. It demands courage, persistence, judgement, and often the willingness to stand alone in defence of facts.
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‎“As we honour the past presidents of MARAN tonight, we honour those who helped build that tradition. May the next generation build it even stronger. And may all of us – operators, regulators, policymakers, and journalists work together to create a maritime sector that is efficient, transparent, globally competitive, and sustainable for generations to come”, he said.
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