By Obiabin Onukwugha, Port Harcourt
The London International Shipping Week has kicked off, with attention on Nigeria.
The West Africa Shipping Assembly (WASA), which is hosted by Nigerian specialist maritime law firm
Akabogu Law, is uniquely curated to highlight Nigerian and West African shipping market
opportunities from realistic, practical perspectives.
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Senior Partner, Akabogu Law, Dr. Emeka Akabogu, who spoke on the sideline on the event, said
WASA is part of a strategic initiative to boost investment and operations in West African shipping
markets in the emerging regime of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
He said: "It is an opportunity to showcase the potentials of Nigeria’s maritime sector to the world,
with the purpose of attracting investments, and sustainably managing such interests to optimise
value for Nigeria and investors. With Nigeria paying increasing attention to wealth creation from the
maritime industry by the recent establishment of a new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy,
WASA will harness available resources and provide the type of guidance that is necessary for win-
win outcomes.
“It will also strategically position the country’s maritime industry to take advantage of the significant
market potentials inherent in the Gulf of Guinea, together with the shipping lanes of West and
Central Africa."
The event which is holding at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in
London, had two plenary sessions that will traverse markets and opportunities, legal frameworks
and regulatory compliance, risk profiles and challenges, investment and finance, shipping assets and
infrastructure, maritime security and safety, in addition to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
Experienced speakers from Africa, Europe and United Kingdom will be leading discussions, with
participation expected from all major shipping sub-sectors.
