Agenda 2075: Experts Target Breakthrough For Indigenous Shipping At Summit

Nigeria is set to take a crucial step towards growing indigenous shipping as maritime stakeholders will take centre stage next week at an international webinar to be hosted by the Centre for Indigenous Maritime Trade and Transport Studies.

The event, themed: “Agenda Setting for Nigeria’s Indigenous Maritime Trade: The 50-Year Plan,” has already generated wide interest among Nigerian professionals at home and abroad, many of whom have long lamented the near-collapse of local operators while foreign carriers continue to dominate the nation’s lucrative seaborne trade.

In a statement signed by the Centre’s Director, Dr. Edmund Chilaka, it was confirmed that keynote speaker will be the Director, Centre for Port & Maritime History UK, Prof. Nick White; alongside industry leaders including; the Secretary General of the Memorandum of Understanding for Port State Control for West and Central Africa (Abuja MOU), Capt. Sunday Umoren; Mr. Anthony Ogadi, CEO, Nacet Marine Services Ltd; Engr. Bob Alfa, Midland Marine, Houston USA; and Barr. Dami Osinuga, DOLP Lagos Nigeria; will feature at what promises to be a landmark visioning and ideation forum.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, have also been invited as Guests of Honour to deliver goodwill messages at the kickoff.

Observers say the discussion is timely, given that Sections 35–38 of the NIMASA Act mandate that government cargoes be reserved for indigenous carriers, an intervention that spurred the rise of Nigerian shipping lines in the 1990s before its suspension in 2001 under the Obasanjo administration.

The policy lapse has since left foreign carriers in full control of Nigeria’s international shipping, with dire consequences for foreign exchange earnings, seafarer training, and local employment.

Today, Nigeria has no indigenous carrier engaged in deep-sea shipping, with local players restricted largely to coastal routes.

Stakeholders hope that the renewed focus on the blue economy and the momentum from this webinar will push policymakers to restore political will and reclaim Nigeria’s rightful share of global maritime trade.