BY GODWIN OBI
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime industry have called for a comprehensive reform of the country’s port administration and shipping regulations to boost efficiency, competitiveness, and economic growth.
The call was made during the TransQuest 20 Years of Media Excellence Seminar and Awards, held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja. The event, themed “Leveraging Nigeria’s Maritime Potential to Drive Economic Growth,” brought together government officials, maritime experts, policymakers, and industry operators.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Iyiola Oni highlighted the need for Nigeria to unlock its maritime potential through infrastructure development and policy coherence. Maritime expert Mr. Lucky Amiwero and other speakers also made strong technical presentations addressing the challenges affecting port efficiency and indigenous shipping development.
Participants at the forum observed that Nigeria’s ports remain largely unregulated, with high port charges, obsolete infrastructure, and weak oversight mechanisms. They noted that the Cabotage Act, meant to empower indigenous shipowners, has failed to achieve its objectives, while the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy suffers from overlapping mandates with other ministries.
The communiqué issued at the end of the event also faulted the current lease-style port concession model, describing it as inefficient and counterproductive. It further noted that while countries like Ghana have made significant strides in port development, Nigeria continues to lag due to poor management, shallow river ports, and declining cargo throughput.
To address these challenges, participants called for a regulatory overhaul of the Nigerian port system, empowering an independent regulator to monitor efficiency, pricing, and operations. They also urged the government to review the Cabotage Act, reduce port charges, and clarify the structure of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry to eliminate duplication of roles.
Other key recommendations include the creation of a world-class transshipment hub, activation of the NIMASA fleet expansion programme, transparent disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), and coordinated management among agencies such as NPA, NIMASA, NIWA, and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
In conclusion, the participants commended TransQuest Communications for sustaining two decades of impactful journalism and advocacy in the maritime sector. They urged continued engagement with policymakers to reposition Nigeria as a leading maritime and blue economy hub in West and Central Africa.
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