Maritime experts seek effective policy implementation

File: Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron

The Alumni of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, has stressed the need to move beyond policy formulation to effective implementation capable of delivering measurable industry results in the maritime sector, calling for urgent and practical reforms.

The association made the announcement at a press conference to unveil its 2026 Stakeholder Engagement and National Convention, scheduled for 12 to 14 November in Lagos.

The event is themed ‘From Policy to Practice: Executing Maritime Excellence Through Professional Capability and Real-World Results’.

Speaking at the event, the President of AMANO, Mr Emmanuel Maiguwa, said Nigeria’s maritime industry had reached a critical stage where deliberate collaboration between policymakers, regulators, industry operators and professional institutions was necessary to “translate existing policies into tangible achievements”.

“Although the country had introduced important frameworks, including the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy and several reforms covering port operations, professional certification and seafarers’ development, the real challenge remained effective implementation,” Maiguwa said.

Maiguwa emphasised that the convention was designed to provide a national platform for stakeholders to examine existing policies, identify implementation gaps and develop practical recommendations that would strengthen Nigeria’s maritime administration.

He emphasised that the association remained committed to building a constructive relationship between maritime education and industry practice.

Maiguwa noted that AMANO members occupied strategic positions across shipping, oil and gas, port management, marine engineering, navigation, maritime law, freight forwarding and other sectors.

He also highlighted AMANO’s contributions to maritime development through policy engagement, professional advocacy, cadet mentorship, training support, curriculum reviews and seafarers’ welfare initiatives.

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He noted that the association had participated in regional maritime governance and policy development, including its engagement with the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central Africa.

On seafarers’ development, he said AMANO had continued to engage relevant authorities on the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme, the implementation of international training and certification standards, protection against abandonment, pensions and welfare.

He also stressed that the convention would go beyond discussions, explaining that recommendations from the sessions would be documented and presented to relevant government authorities and industry stakeholders for consideration and implementation.

Providing further insight into the objectives and expectations of the convention, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Jonathan Agassi, stressed the importance of confronting the practical challenges limiting the growth and competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime industry.

He explained that this year’s convention was deliberately designed to encourage honest conversations about the gaps between “government policies and their actual implementation”.

Agassi added that stakeholders must be willing to identify areas where the system was not delivering the expected results.

He stressed that the sector required seasoned professionals capable of scrutinising existing policies and proposing practical solutions rather than simply restating government plans.

The President of the World Maritime University, Mr Maximo Mejia, and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, are expected to attend the convention as Special Guests of Honour.

Speakers include an IMO consultant and former Nigerian representative at the IMO, Mr William Azuh, and the Deputy General Manager, Marine, Total Energies, Mr Larry Amaraibi.