Insist 2026 not year for rhetorics

Remi Itie, President, League of Maritime Editor

The League of Maritime Editors, LOME,  made up of learned and experienced senior industry journalists, evidently fed up with talks without action, has rolled out a bold 2026 agenda designed for acceleration of development and growth Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.

Following fanned and proclaimed promises by  agencies expected to deliver on their respective mandates, the group of seasoned journalists disclosed that it has drawn up plans to spotlight progress, expose bottlenecks, and proffer solutions through sustained coverage and public accountability aimed at supporting the industry’s 2026 growth trajectory.

In a media statement signed by the President,  Mrs Remi Itie, Secretary General, Felix Kumuyi, Public Relations Officer,  Francis Ugwoke,    the League noted that Nigeria’s maritime sector has what it takes to become the cornerstone of national GDP, leading critical growth indices in the absence of the oil and gas sector, which has significantly lost ground as the nation’s once-proud economic giant.

The Editors emphasized that with the scale of reforms implemented in the past two years and the amplification of key performance indicators, the marine and blue economy must step in to drive and sustain the national growth agenda, as is the case in other maritime nations.

LOME expressed the view that existing official statistics on capacity development programmes and aggregate growth indices, aligned with development blueprints and policy frameworks of the past two years, indicate that 2026 can serve as a turning point in Nigeria’s search for economic stability and sustainable growth.

The League as a responsible professional and concerned group, reaffirmed its commitment to partnerships that promote value addition through reliable reportage and a sustainable outlook that guarantees stakeholder confidence, both at home and  overseas.

In light of its social contract as media practitioners, the League expressed determination to uphold the trust reposed in it, not only by providing accurate reports that support development initiatives, but also by delivering balanced and objective industry analysis capable of driving critical economic growth appraisals through appropriate forums and dialogue.

The League stressed that the functions and mandates of government agencies in the sector including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (CRFFN), must be supported to become more responsive and accountable.

As stakeholders in the Nigerian project, the League demands proper alignment of policies with measurable actions, the efficiencies of which the media must be willing to track in a dependable and sustainable manner that promotes confidence, trust and progress.

The League firmly believes that every government agency in the sector must commit to making 2026 a year of strategic turnaround for higher yields and economic prosperity.

It should be a year of productive growth and less rhetoric, a year marked by significant results in cost efficiencies, tangible deliverables, and higher growth margins clearly evident in overall economic performance.

Specifically, the League insists that:

The Nigerian Ports Authority must focus on port modernization and green port investments.

The Nigeria Customs Service is expected to make the National Single Window project operational in real time, visibly driving trade facilitation.

NIMASA should prioritize safety, security, and the implementation of IMO conventions.

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council must emphasize economic regulation and tariff transparency.

NIWA should enhance operational safety to reduce boat  mishaps and casualties, while advancing dredging, monitoring, and compliance.

The Maritime Academy of Nigeria must improve training quality and global relevance, while the media tracks cadet skills development in simulator training, STCW outcomes, and employer feedback.

The CRFFN must reinvent its relevance, earn stakeholder trust, and strengthen its core mandate with regards to achieving professional standards and capacity building. Focus should also shift to Forwarders 2.0, with tracking of CPD hours, certifications, and compliance audits.

With this charge by the League which signifies a shift from the norm, the Nigerian maritime industry could witness tangible results as media reports focuses on accountability hinged on mandatory expectations and deliverables.