A former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has called for a focused and robust reportage of the nation’s ports with a view to promoting accountability, efficiency and economic growth in ports operations in Nigeria.
Peterside made the call on Wednesday while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 NUJ Press Week in Lagos, themed, “Politics, Ports and Public Interest: The Media’s Catalytic Role in Driving Economic Growth in Nigeria.”
He said Nigeria’s ports should no longer be regarded merely as gateways for cargo and revenue collection, but as critical economic infrastructure capable of driving industrialisation, boosting exports, attracting investment and creating jobs.
According to him, noticeable operational gaps at the ports have direct consequences for Nigerians, the aftermath he says could potentially trigger high food prices, machinery and manufactured goods, declaring that prolonged delays could also undermine business confidence and discourage investment.
Peterside said political governance plays a significant role in port performance through regulation, institutional leadership, infrastructure development and the coordination of agencies operating across the maritime sector.
He, however, cautioned against linking every port delay to failurr government failure on the part of government, insisting that global shipping is also affected by geopolitical conflicts, adverse weather, port congestion and disruptions to international trade routes.
He challenged journalists to distinguish between policy failures and external shocks, urging them to move beyond reporting official announcements and instead track measurable outcomes.
The former NIMASA director-general called for sustained media attention to key port-performance indicators, including cargo dwell time, vessel turnaround, cargo-clearance periods, inspection delays, documented charges, export processing and concession performance.
He also advocated the publication of quarterly port-performance scorecards and urged journalists to track government contracts, concessions, public expenditure and official commitments until their outcomes are established.
Peterside further called for greater technical capacity among journalists covering the maritime sector, particularly in data journalism, maritime regulation, public procurement and international trade.
He noted that the reported 24.8 per cent increase in cargo throughput between 2024 and 2025 was significant, but cautioned that increased cargo volumes alone should not be interpreted as evidence of broader economic prosperity.
Instead, he urged the media to focus increasingly on how efficiently Nigeria’s ports enable businesses to produce, trade and invest, as well as their contribution to job creation and wider economic development.
