The Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) is set to host a high‑level maritime conference that will place port efficiency and the impact of emerging technology at the centre of national discourse. The event, themed “Attaining Port Efficiency in the Face of Emerging Technology,” will hold on Wednesday, 30 April 2026, at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos, beginning at 10:00 a.m. It will feature a heavyweight lineup of controllers, security chiefs, labour leaders, and policymakers shaping Nigeria’s port landscape.
The conference will be chaired by Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), who brings years of hands‑on experience in port operations, logistics management, and stakeholder engagement. Sunmola has been a vocal advocate for closer public‑private sector collaboration, infrastructure upgrades, and the use of data‑driven reforms to reduce bottlenecks and improve turnaround times in Nigeria’s ports. His leadership role in the NPCC positions him to frame the discussion around actionable strategies for a more efficient port ecosystem.
Delivering the keynote address will be Hon. Muftau Egberoungbe, former Member of the House of Representatives and key figure in the House Committee on Marine and Blue Economy. Egberoungbe is expected to draw on his legislative oversight experience to highlight the role of policy and regulatory frameworks in strengthening Nigeria’s marine and blue‑economy agenda. He will spotlight areas where existing laws can be tightened or updated to support automation, digital compliance, and sustainable port development.
Adding weight to the dialogue are three high‑profile Special Guests of Honour: Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police (Western Command), Apapa-CP Oluwatoyin Iyabode Agbaminoja; Customs Area Comptroller, Apapa Area Command, Nigeria Customs Service-Comptroller Frank Onyeka; and President‑General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN)-Comrade Francis Bunu. Their combined presence is expected to deepen conversations around port security, labour‑management relations, customs compliance, and operational efficiency, particularly as new technologies reshape the traditional port‑worker‑operator‑regulator matrix.
Mr. Raymond Tedunjaiye, Chairman of the Organising Committee, described the AMJON event as a critical platform for bringing together regulators, operators, labour, and the media under one roof to address nagging inefficiencies in the sector. He said attendees will include representatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), NIMASA, Nigeria Police Force, maritime labour unions, terminal operators, and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, as well as shipping firms, freight forwarders, port managers, and other supply‑chain stakeholders.
A major highlight of the conference will be a set of sectoral awards to recognise exceptional contributions to Nigeria’s maritime and business landscape. Categories include Most Distinguished Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Most Resourceful Port Manager of the Year, and Most Outstanding Port Infrastructure Personality of the Year, underscoring the growing visibility of women and professionals driving innovation across the value chain.
Tedunjaiye added that recommendations and resolutions from the conference will be compiled and submitted to relevant government agencies to guide policy and institutional reforms. AMJON reiterated its commitment to fostering informed dialogue, bridging divides among stakeholders, and advancing initiatives that improve efficiency, strengthen security, and support sustainable growth in Nigeria’s ports and wider blue‑economy landscape.