The Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria, MARAN, has scheduled September 10, 2026, for the 2026 edition of its flagship MARAN Annual Maritime Lecture, MAMAL, with top government officials and industry stakeholders expected to address reforms needed to make Nigeria’s ports globally competitive.
The event will hold at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos, under the theme: *”Nigeria Ports Modernisation, Charges and the Competitiveness Question.”*
*Focus on Efficiency, Charges and Investment*
According to MARAN, discussions will center on port infrastructure modernisation, operational efficiency, port charges, trade facilitation, and policy reforms required to position Nigeria as a leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, will attend as Special Guest of Honour. His presence, organisers said, underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to deepening reforms in the maritime and blue economy sectors.
The keynote address will be delivered by Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy and Coordination and Head of the Central Delivery Coordination Unit, CDCU.
She is expected to outline government policy direction and the role of coordinated reforms in improving port efficiency, attracting investment and driving economic growth.
*High-Level Stakeholder Engagement*
MARAN President, Mr. Oluyinka Onigbinde, said the lecture will be chaired by TANTITA Security Services Limited.
He noted that the forum will bring together government agencies, terminal operators, shipping companies, port users, investors, academics, development partners and the media for robust dialogue on the future of Nigeria’s port industry.
Onigbinde described MAMAL as one of the sector’s foremost policy dialogue platforms, known for generating practical recommendations and partnerships.
“This year’s lecture is expected to produce actionable outcomes on reducing the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports, improving operational efficiency, boosting investor confidence and accelerating Nigeria’s ambition to become a preferred maritime and logistics hub in the sub-region,” he said.
MARAN has called on stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to participate actively, describing MAMAL 2026 as a strategic platform for shaping policies and partnerships that will drive sustainable growth, competitiveness and innovation in Nigeria’s maritime industry.
