The Anambra State Commissioner for Transport, Patricia Igwebuike, has said the state is ready to collaborate with the Federal Government, relevant agencies and international partners to make the Onitsha River Port viable and complementary to other ports across Nigeria.Mrs Igwebuike stated this at the Business Day Maritime Conference 2025 in Lagos with the theme “Strengthening Nigeria’s Maritime Business: Bridging Policy Gaps and Optimizing Global Competitiveness.”She described Anambra as a gateway for imports into the Eastern region, stressing that the full activation of the Onitsha River Port would ease pressure on Lagos ports and enhance nationwide trade connectivity. She urged the Federal Government and private sector operators to implement practical policies that will drive Nigeria’s maritime sector from vision to action.In her keynote address, former Director-General of NIMASA, Mfon Usoro, said Nigeria must adopt bold regulatory reforms, transparent tariff regimes and sustainable blue economy strategies to compete globally. She added that the Nigeria Port Economic Regulatory Agency bill must be backed with strong implementation and institutional capacity.The Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, Kingsley Igwe, called for proper sensitisation of freight forwarders and adherence to licensed practice. Also speaking, the President of the Africa Marine Environment Sustainability Initiative, Dr Felicia Mogo, advocated for a review of maritime policies to align with current market demands and the goals of the International Maritime Organisation.
