MARCON Retreat To Examine Maritime Sector’s Role In $1tr Economy
The Maritime Correspondents Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) is set to examine the contribution of the maritime sector to the Federal Government’s $1 trillion productive economy ambition at its 2026 All Nigerian Maritime Journalists Retreat scheduled for December 2 to 4.
The three-day retreat will bring together journalists, policymakers, government agencies, regulators and private-sector operators to discuss strategies for transforming Nigeria’s foreign trade structure and reducing dependence on raw commodity exports through local production, value addition, industrialisation and competitive exports.
The main event, scheduled for December 3 at De Marii Hotel FZE, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, will be held under the theme, “From Extraction to Exchange: Recalibrating Nigeria’s Foreign Trade to Realise President Tinubu’s $1 Trillion Productive Economy.”
Discussions will focus on how efficient ports, shipping services, marine logistics, cargo handling, trade facilitation and investment in critical infrastructure can strengthen domestic production and improve Nigeria’s position in international trade.
The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is expected to deliver a presentation on developing the country’s blue economy value chains to promote local production and export growth, while the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) will examine strategies for improving port efficiency and enhancing global export competitiveness.
Also expected to contribute is the Managing Director of SIFAX Inland Container Terminal Limited, Paul Linden, who will discuss the integration of ports, inland container terminals and logistics operations to strengthen Nigeria’s export capacity.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, is expected to address the evolving role of customs administration beyond revenue generation, with emphasis on trade facilitation, industrial growth and export competitiveness.
Similarly, the National Single Window Secretariat will examine how digitalisation, simplified documentation and improved coordination among government agencies can enhance import and export processes.
A major highlight of the retreat will be a special Meet the Maritime Press session with Dangote Industries Limited, which is expected to provide insights into its maritime operations, including port activities, shipping, cargo handling and marine logistics.
The engagement follows MARCON’s recent tour of the Dangote Refinery, fertiliser plant and other facilities within the group’s industrial complex.
Other proposed contributors include the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security; Finance; Industry, Trade and Investment; and Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.
Organisations expected to participate include the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Nigeria Revenue Service, National Automotive Design and Development Council and the Nigerian Navy, alongside other government institutions and private-sector operators.
Speaking on the objectives of the retreat, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Paul Ogbuokiri, said the gathering was designed to provide a platform for examining Nigeria’s foreign trade priorities and the maritime industry’s contribution to the country’s economic ambitions.
He noted that transitioning from an extraction-based economy to one driven by production and exchange would require deliberate policies and investments to strengthen local industries, promote value addition and expand export capacity.
According to Ogbuokiri, achieving the $1 trillion economic target requires a fundamental reassessment of how goods are produced, processed, transported and traded.
He stressed that the maritime sector remained central to the ambition, noting that the efficiency of ports, shipping and logistics systems directly affects the cost of doing business, investment opportunities and the competitiveness of Nigerian products in international markets.
The annual retreat is one of the major gatherings of maritime journalists in Nigeria, providing opportunities for professional development, knowledge sharing and engagement between the media and stakeholders across the maritime, shipping, transport, trade and logistics industries.
