The newly elected leadership of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria has pledged to deepen its partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority to support the federal government’s port modernisation drive and boost capacity building in the sector.
During a courtesy visit to the NPA headquarters in Lagos, MARAN President Oluyinka Onigbinde led the new executive team in talks with Ikechukwu Onyemekara, General Manager of Corporate and Strategic Communications.
Onyemekara commended the peaceful and credible transition within MARAN, describing it as a sign of institutional maturity.
He praised the association for producing professionals who have distinguished themselves across the economy and reaffirmed NPA’s commitment to working closely with MARAN as a key stakeholder.
“I have known the president for a very long time and we have built a relationship over the years. You can rest assured that relationship will continue to grow,” he said.
He said Nigeria’s maritime sector is entering a critical phase with the ongoing port modernisation initiative, designed to accommodate larger vessels, improve cargo handling, and expand regional transshipment opportunities.
Citing the growth at Lekki Deep Sea Port, he stressed that upgrading port infrastructure is essential to remain competitive as global shipping shifts toward larger draft channels.
“The economy is here, the population is here, and the market is here. Once you combine these with an efficient port system, Nigerian ports can become major transshipment hubs within the region,” Onyemekara noted.
He called for stronger media engagement to educate the public on the economic value of port reforms, adding that the NPA is ready to support training programmes for maritime journalists in port infrastructure, logistics, shipping economics, and trade facilitation.
Responding, Onigbinde thanked the NPA for its warm reception and stressed the need for continuous professional training for journalists as the industry undergoes infrastructure expansion.
“Now that the industry is embarking on an ambitious programme of infrastructure expansion and modernisation, journalists also need to be trained adequately so they can properly understand and project these developments to the public,” he said.
The visit marks the start of MARAN’s broader stakeholder engagement drive aimed at strengthening industry ties and promoting collaborative efforts for the growth of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
