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Lekki Port has expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with the Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron (AMANO), particularly through the association’s forthcoming stakeholders’ engagement and convention, as the port plans further investments in its liquid and general cargo facilities.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Port, Wang Qiang, disclosed this when the AMANO leadership visited the port in Lagos, saying the planned convention could provide an avenue for the port to draw attention to operational challenges, emerging opportunities and areas requiring further development in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Qiang said Lekki Port was open to working with AMANO to build a mutually beneficial relationship, particularly around professional development and industry collaboration.
He disclosed that the port’s establishment had created more than 5,000 jobs, including over 1,000 direct employment, with Nigerians accounting for 95 per cent of its workforce and expatriates five per cent.
The Lekki Port CEO also disclosed plans to expand investments in the port’s liquid and general cargo areas, noting that the expansion would enable the facility to undertake a wider range of activities.
The planned collaboration with AMANO comes as the association prepares its 2026 Stakeholders’ Engagement and Convention, themed, “From Policy to Practice: Executing Maritime Excellence through Professional Capability and Real-World Results.”
Earlier, AMANO President, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, said the association’s visit was aimed at strengthening its relationship with Lekki Port and exploring opportunities to connect the facility with maritime manpower development initiatives.
Maiguwa congratulated the management and board of Lekki Port on the investment, describing the facility as an important addition to Nigeria’s port infrastructure and a development with significance for West and Central African trade.
He said AMANO had followed key milestones recorded by the port, including the commencement of a weekly feeder service in August 2026, the launch of the Mediterranean-West Africa Service involving Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Ocean Network Express (ONE), and the deployment of non-intrusive inspection technology.
Maiguwa said AMANO was particularly interested in supporting local human-capacity development and identifying training programmes at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, that align with Lekki Port’s operational needs.
He proposed opportunities for the port to support Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), industrial training placements, professional development programmes and a shared talent and skills pipeline.
He also said AMANO was ready to support progressive maritime policies and deepen collaboration with industry operators through knowledge sharing, career development and stakeholder engagement.
Speaking on the convention, the Chairman of its Planning Committee, Chief Jonathan Agassi, said the event would focus on bridging the gap between policy formulation and implementation by strengthening professional capability and linking reforms to measurable industry outcomes.
He said the convention would bring together government, private-sector operators and other maritime stakeholders to review Nigeria’s maritime development, promote best practices, strengthen collaboration and develop practical strategies for implementing maritime policies.
According to him, Lekki Port’s experience in modern port operations, technology, logistics, connectivity and private-sector participation makes it an important stakeholder in the conversation.
The visiting AMANO leadership team included; Captain Garba Gajere, Secretary General; Oamien Joe Ailemen, Public Relations Officer; and Loveth Haruna, Lagos Chapter Chairperson.
