Stakeholders to Shape Nigeria’s Blue Economy Agenda at TransQuest Anniversary Symposium
BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS
Nigeria’s maritime, Customs and transport sectors will take centre stage on Saturday, July 25, 2026, as an impressive array of policymakers, regulators and industry leaders converge in Lagos for the highly anticipated TransQuest Anniversary Transport Development Symposium and Awards.
The annual gathering, widely regarded as one of the industry’s foremost platforms for policy dialogue and recognition of excellence, will spotlight critical issues surrounding the nation’s emerging blue economy under the theme: “Re-Appraising Nigeria’s Blue Economy: Charting a Path to Sustainable Growth.”
Scheduled to hold at the Shoregate Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, the symposium will be chaired by retired Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Charles Eporwei Edike, whose wealth of experience is expected to enrich discussions on the future of Nigeria’s maritime landscape.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, will grace the occasion as Special Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker, where he is expected to outline the Federal Government’s vision for deepening investments, strengthening maritime governance and unlocking the vast economic opportunities within Nigeria’s blue economy ecosystem.
The event boasts an impressive lineup of panel discussants drawn from the nation’s leading maritime institutions. They include the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima; Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola; Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; Acting Managing Director of 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, Dr. Sule Abiodun; and Provost of the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Dr. Chucks Paul Onuoha.
Veteran maritime journalist Elder Asu Beks will moderate the panel session, steering conversations expected to generate fresh insights into sustainable maritime development, trade facilitation and port competitiveness.
Participants will also be treated to thought-provoking technical presentations by maritime technocrat Lucky Amiwero, President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, and logistics expert Dr. Eugene Ifeanyichukwu Nweke, Head of Research at SEREC and former President of NAGAFF.
Beyond the high-level discourse, the symposium will celebrate outstanding achievements through the prestigious TransQuest Awards, honouring individuals and organisations that have made remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s maritime, transport and Customs sectors.
Among the headline awardees is the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, who will receive the coveted Maritime Personality of the Year Award. The Nigerian Ports Authority will also be decorated as Maritime Agency of the Year in recognition of its transformative strides in port modernisation, infrastructure renewal and operational efficiency under his leadership.
Several Nigeria Customs Service Area Controllers will equally be recognised for exemplary performance in revenue generation, anti-smuggling campaigns 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.
Emerging Customs leaders will not be left out, with Comptroller O.O. Afeni of Ogun I Area Command set to be honoured for his outstanding anti-smuggling initiatives, while Comptroller Bolaji Adigun of Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command will be recognised for implementing innovative reforms that have significantly enhanced operational performance.
The ceremony will also celebrate corporate organisations, maritime professionals and journalists whose dedication and excellence have helped shape the growth trajectory of Nigeria’s maritime and transport industries.
According to the organisers, the symposium is expected to serve as a strategic platform for meaningful engagement among policymakers, regulators, academics and industry stakeholders, culminating in practical recommendations aimed at unlocking the enormous potential of Nigeria’s blue economy.
The event will commence at 11:00 a.m. prompt at Shoregate Hotel, 29 Joel Ogunnaike Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, and is expected to attract a distinguished audience from across the maritime and logistics value chain.
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