MARCON to explore maritime sector’s role in $1trn economy at 3-day retreat

Stanley Ihedigbo

Maritime Correspondents Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) is set to convene a three-day retreat bringing together maritime journalists and industry stakeholders to critically examine Nigeria’s foreign trade structure and chart strategies for strengthening the maritime sector’s contribution to the Federal Government’s ambition of building a $1 trillion productive economy.

The 2026 All Nigerian Maritime Journalists Retreat, scheduled for December 2–4, 2026, will bring together journalists, policymakers, government agencies, regulators and private-sector operators to deliberate on strategies for repositioning Nigeria’s economy from dependence on the extraction and export of raw commodities to one driven by production, value addition, industrialisation and competitive exports.

The main event, holding on December 3 at De Marii Hotel FZE, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, is themed, “From Extraction to Exchange: Recalibrating Nigeria’s Foreign Trade to Realise President Tinubu’s $1 Trillion Productive Economy”.

The retreat will examine the place of the maritime sector in achieving this transition, particularly the importance of efficient ports, shipping services, marine logistics, cargo handling, trade facilitation and investment in critical infrastructure to the growth of domestic production and international trade.

As Nigeria seeks to expand its productive capacity and strengthen its position in the global market, the efficiency of its maritime and trade infrastructure remains central to the movement of raw materials, manufactured goods and other export commodities. The discussions will therefore focus on how improved port operations, streamlined cargo clearance, effective trade policies and stronger private-sector investment can support the country’s economic transformation.

The programme will feature contributions from key government institutions and private-sector organisations. The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, under the leadership of Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, is expected to deliver a paper on “Developing Nigeria’s Blue Economy Value Chains to Drive Local Production and Export Growth”, while the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) will speak on “Transforming Nigerian Ports for Trade Efficiency and Global Export Competitiveness”.

The Managing Director of SIFAX Inland Container Terminal (ICT) Limited, Mr Paul Linden, is also expected to discuss the topic, “Integrating Port, Inland Container Terminal and Logistics Operations to Drive Nigeria’s Export Competitiveness”.

Similarly, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, PhD, is expected to address customs administration beyond revenue collection, focusing on its role in strengthening Nigeria’s export competitiveness, facilitating trade and supporting industrial growth. The National Single Window Secretariat is expected to speak on “The Role of the National Single Window in Enhancing Nigeria’s Foreign Trade and Transition to a $1 Trillion Productive Economy”, examining how digitalisation, streamlined documentation and coordination among government agencies can improve the efficiency of import and export processes.

The high point of the event will be a special Meet the Maritime Press Session involving Dangote Industries Limited, which will provide insights into the Group’s maritime activities, including port operations, shipping, cargo handling, marine logistics and other operations supporting its industrial and commercial activities.

The engagement builds on MARCON’s recent tour of the Dangote Refinery, fertiliser plant and other facilities within the Group’s industrial complex. Dangote Industries Limited also participated in the last edition of the annual retreat, where Alhaji Aliko Dangote received the prestigious MARCON Lifetime Achievement Award.

Other proposed institutional contributions include the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, which is expected to address “Food Security as a Foundation for Nigeria’s Productive Economy and Sustainable Development”, and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, which will examine “Developing Nigeria’s Tourism Value Chain to Attract Investment and Drive Local Enterprise”.

Other organisations expected to participate in the retreat are the Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Nigerian Navy, and other relevant government agencies and private-sector organisations.

The retreat will also provide an opportunity to examine the role of the oil and gas industry in strengthening the productive economy, the contribution of the private sector to industrial development, and the importance of investment, trade policies and infrastructure in expanding Nigeria’s export capacity.

Speaking on the objectives of the retreat, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Paul Ogbuokiri, said the gathering is designed to provide a platform for a critical examination of Nigeria’s foreign trade priorities and the contribution of the maritime industry to the country’s economic ambitions.

According to him, the transition from extraction to exchange requires deliberate policies and investments to strengthen local production, encourage value addition, improve export capacity and position Nigeria to derive greater economic benefits from its trade activities.

“Achieving a $1 trillion productive economy requires more than setting an ambitious target. It calls for a fundamental rethink of how we produce, move, process and trade goods. The maritime sector is at the heart of this process because the competitiveness of our ports, shipping and logistics systems has a direct bearing on the cost of doing business, the attractiveness of investment and the ability of Nigerian products to compete in international markets”, he added.

The annual All Nigerian Maritime Journalists Retreat is regarded as a major gathering of maritime journalists in Nigeria, providing a platform for professional engagement, knowledge exchange and interaction between the media and stakeholders across the maritime, shipping, transport, trade and logistics sectors.