The newly elected executive of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has pledged closer collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to support Nigeria’s ongoing port modernisation programme and broader maritime sector reforms.
During a courtesy visit to the NPA headquarters in Lagos, MARAN President Oluyinka Onigbinde led the delegation to meet with Ikechukwu Onyemekara, General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications.
Onyemekara described MARAN’s peaceful leadership transition as a positive milestone for the maritime media landscape, commending the association’s electoral committee and outgoing executives for ensuring stability.
“What they have done deserves commendation. Some organisations would have scattered if not for a group of people who ensured stability and successfully midwifed the election process,” he said.
Onyemekara stressed that Nigeria’s port modernisation drive is critical to positioning the country as a competitive maritime hub. He noted that the initiative will enable Nigerian ports to handle larger vessels with deeper drafts, expand cargo handling capacity, and boost regional transshipment opportunities.
He pointed to the growth at the Lekki Deep Sea Port as evidence of the urgent need for upgraded infrastructure, warning that failure to adapt to global shipping realities could limit Nigeria’s competitiveness.
Highlighting Nigeria’s demographic and economic strengths, Onyemekara said efficient ports would naturally attract higher cargo volumes and transshipment business.
“The economy is here, the population is here, and the market is here. Once you combine these with an efficient port system, Nigerian ports can become major transshipment hubs within the region,” he explained.
Onyemekara also underscored the role of the media in shaping public understanding of port reforms, calling for stronger support for maritime journalism and specialised training in areas such as port infrastructure, logistics, and trade facilitation.
MARAN President Onigbinde, in response, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to constructive engagement with industry stakeholders and stressed the need for continuous professional training for maritime journalists.
“Now that the industry is embarking on an ambitious programme of infrastructure expansion and modernisation, journalists also need to be trained adequately so they can properly understand and project these developments to the public,” he said.
The visit forms part of MARAN’s broader stakeholder engagement initiative aimed at strengthening industry relationships and promoting collaborative efforts for the growth of Nigeria’s maritime sector.