Maritime industry stakeholders have tipped the 2025 edition of Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) to unlock the gains accessible from the nation’s annual shipping freight value estimated at $10billion.
This was highlighted as part of the significance of the maritime summit when its organizers led by Ms Funmi Folorunso, engaged the Executive Secretary/CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Akutah Pius, MON, on Friday.
Speaking at the meeting at the NSC headquarters in Lagos, the planning committee led by Folorunso observed that the need to revive NIMAREX is driven by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the maritime sector displayed in the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
According to her, the event which was held annually from 2011 to 2014, is modelled after global maritime events like; Posidonia, Hamburg Shipbuilding Expo, OTC USA, Asia Maritime Exhibition, among others.
“The event aimed to showcase Nigeria’s maritime potentials, attract international investors, and promote the industry’s growth,” she said.
At the meeting, Dr. Akutah assured the commitment of the Council in partnering with the body to organise the next edition of NIMAREX in a bid to showcase the nation’s immense shipping opportunities to the world.
While reiterating the Council’s commitment to driving the President’s lofty ambitions for the maritime industry, Akutah said the NSC is doing everything possible to achieve ease of doing business in the sector which is in line with the vision and mission of NIMAREX.
Meanwhile, he opined that the Council will be better positioned to actualize its regulatory mandate for a more productive industry when the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulators Agency (NPERA) bill is signed into law.
According to him, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the Port Economic Regulator has a role to play in moving Nigeria to a ship-owning country and creating an enabling environment for private sector investment to thrive.
