NNMJ Unity Conference Today: All Roads Lead to Lagos Airport Hotel

…As Maritime Heavyweights Gather for Seaport Modernisation

BY FUNMI ALUKO

​ All roads lead to the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, today, Friday, November 13, 2026, as top policymakers, regulators, and industry titans converge for the much-anticipated Unity Conference organized by the Network of Nigeria Maritime Journalists (NNMJ).

​Set to commence at 11:00 a.m., the high-level gathering—themed “Seaport Modernisation, Trade Facilitation and Revenue”—will serve as a critical convergence point for charting the future of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

​Leading the roster of dignitaries at today’s event is the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, who is attending as the Special Guest of Honour. Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Barrister Temisan Omatseye, will chair the occasion, while renowned maritime lawyer, Barrister Emeka Akabogu, SAN, will deliver the keynote address.

​Ahead of today’s kickoff, the NNMJ confirmed a fresh wave of prominent industry and media leaders joining the lineup. They include the Chairman of the Nigerian Port Consultative Council (NPCC), Dr. Bolaji Sunmola; Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Council, Adewale Akodu; former National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Alhaji Babatunde Mukaila; and Chief Operations Officer of A-Z Logistics, Dr. Mustapha Azeez, alongside heads of maritime agencies, shipping company executives, terminal operators, and freight forwarders.

​Throughout the day’s proceedings, participants will examine ongoing government reforms, infrastructure renewal, ease of doing business, and actionable strategies for plugging financial leakages across the maritime value chain. Discussions will also explore opportunities to expand the blue economy, bolster maritime security, and enhance the global competitiveness of Nigerian seaports.

​Speaking on the readiness for today’s event, NNMJ Chairman, Elder Dele Aderibigbe, and the association’s Public Relations Officer, Jerry Aguigbo, noted that the Unity Conference was designed to foster deep stakeholder collaboration and generate practical solutions to operational bottlenecks in the sector.

​According to the NNMJ leadership, today’s forum will enable stakeholders to critically evaluate current policies, identify implementation gaps, and propose sustainable frameworks to boost legitimate trade and government revenue. They further underscored the vital role of maritime journalism in driving transparency, accountability, and informed public discourse as Nigeria works toward building a globally competitive maritime hub.