FIRS set to drive key strategic conversations at MARCON retreat

Stanley Ihedigbo

Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) has revealed that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will take a lead role in discussions at its upcoming All Maritime Journalists Retreat, which will convene stakeholders across the maritime, trade, finance, and technology sectors to explore fresh ideas for bolstering Nigeria’s trade landscape.

This year’s retreat is scheduled to hold on Thursday, 4 December 2025, at De Marii Hotel, LFZ, Lagos Free Trade Zone, Lekki, with the theme: “Maximising Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Import and Export Trade.”

The FIRS will deliver a technical paper titled “Onboarding on the National Single Window Platform: A Step-by-Step Guide,” offering participants practical insights into integrating with the National Single Window (NSW)—a transformative platform designed to streamline documentation, enhance transparency, and improve the efficiency of import and export processes.

In a press release jointly signed by Paul Ogbuokiri, Chairman, and Adaku Onyenucheya, Secretary of the Conference Planning Committee, MARCON stated that with the NSW Secretariat domiciled within the FIRS, the agency’s participation underscores its crucial role in driving technology-enabled trade facilitation and supporting government efforts to modernise revenue and compliance processes.

The release further noted that with the NSW expected to go fully live by the first quarter of 2026, the conference is both timely and strategic, offering a platform for the FIRS to educate stakeholders on the onboarding process and clarify compliance expectations.

Beyond the technical sessions, the retreat will provide an avenue for maritime journalists to deepen their understanding of the digital tools and policy frameworks reshaping Nigeria’s trade environment. Participants will be exposed to practical use cases and expert-led analyses to strengthen their reportage and industry engagement.

The retreat is also expected to foster stronger collaboration between the media and regulatory agencies, with a view to promoting accurate, development-focused coverage that supports Nigeria’s efforts to build a more competitive and technology-driven maritime sector.