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Leading figures in Nigeria’s maritime, Customs and transport sectors will converge in Lagos on Saturday, July 25, 2026, for the TransQuest Anniversary Transport Development Symposium and Awards, where stakeholders will examine strategies for accelerating sustainable growth in the nation’s blue economy.
The symposium, themed “Re-Appraising Nigeria’s Blue Economy: Charting a Path to Sustainable Growth,” will hold at Shoregate Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, under the chairmanship of retired Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Charles Eporwei Edike.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, is expected to serve as the Special Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker, setting the tone for discussions on policy reforms, investment opportunities and the future of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The event will also feature an array of high-profile panel discussants, including the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima; Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola; Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; Acting Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Alhaji Umar Yusuf Girei; Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Dr. Kevin Okonna; Executive Director of the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Dr. Sule Abiodun; and Provost of the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology (FCFMT), Dr. Chucks Paul Onuoha.
The panel session will be moderated by veteran maritime journalist Elder Asu Beks, alongside Dr. Ovie Edomi, Funso Olojo, and Odjegba Eguono.
Participants will also benefit from technical presentations by renowned maritime technocrat Lucky Amiwero, President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), and logistics expert Dr. Eugene Nweke, Head of Research at SEREC and former President of NAGAFF.
Beyond policy dialogue, the event will celebrate excellence through the TransQuest Awards, recognising outstanding contributions by individuals and organisations that have significantly advanced Nigeria’s maritime, transport and Customs sectors.
Among the top awardees is the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, who will receive the Maritime Personality of the Year Award, while the Nigerian Ports Authority will be honoured as Maritime Agency of the Year in recognition of the agency’s transformational achievements under his leadership, including key infrastructure, operational and port modernisation initiatives.
Several distinguished Nigeria Customs Service Area Controllers will also be honoured for exceptional leadership in revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations and trade facilitation. They include Comptroller Joseph Anani (Tin Can Island Port Command), Comptroller G.I. Aliyu (Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’), Comptroller Godwin Otunla (Murtala Muhammed Airport Command), Comptroller Hawa Abubakar (Lagos Free Trade Zone Command), Comptroller Shuaibu Kaila (Seme Area Command), and Deputy Comptroller Moses Adewole.
The awards will further recognise emerging Customs leaders, including Comptroller O.O. Afeni of Ogun I Area Command for his anti-smuggling efforts and Comptroller Bolaji Adigun of Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command for innovative reforms that have enhanced operational performance.
Corporate organisations, maritime professionals and journalists who have distinguished themselves through exceptional service and contributions to the industry’s development will also be honoured during the ceremony.
Organisers said the symposium is expected to provide a strategic platform for robust engagement among policymakers, regulators, academics and industry practitioners, while generating actionable recommendations for unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s blue economy.
