Dr. Dakuku Peterside, a leadership architect and former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has called on the Nigerian media to intensify scrutiny of the country's ports. He made this appeal during a keynote address at the 2026 Lagos NUJ Press Week, themed "Politics, Ports and Public Interest: The Media’s Catalytic Role in Driving Economic Growth in Nigeria." Peterside emphasized the need for investigative journalism to promote accountability, efficiency, and economic growth in the maritime sector.
Peterside noted that Nigeria's ports should be regarded as critical economic infrastructure, driving industrialization, boosting exports, attracting investment, and creating jobs. He stated that inefficiencies at the ports have direct consequences for Nigerians, contributing to higher prices of food, machinery, and manufactured goods. Prolonged delays can undermine business confidence and discourage investment. According to Peterside, the media should focus on how efficiently Nigeria's ports enable businesses to produce, trade, and invest.
The former NIMASA director-general highlighted the significance of political governance in port performance through regulation, institutional leadership, infrastructure development, and coordination of agencies operating across the maritime sector. However, he cautioned against attributing every port delay to government failure, citing global shipping challenges such as geopolitical conflicts, adverse weather, port congestion, and disruptions to international trade routes.
Peterside challenged journalists to distinguish between policy failures and external shocks, urging them to track measurable outcomes. He 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. Peterside also advocated for the publication of quarterly port-performance scorecards.
The former NIMASA director-general urged journalists to track government contracts, concessions, public expenditure, and official commitments until their outcomes are established. He emphasized the need for greater technical capacity among journalists covering the maritime sector, particularly in data journalism, maritime regulation, public procurement, and international trade.
Peterside noted that the reported 24.8 percent increase in cargo throughput between 2024 and 2025 was significant. However, he cautioned that increased cargo volumes alone should not be interpreted as evidence of broader economic prosperity. Instead, he urged the media to focus on the contribution of ports to job creation and wider economic development.
Peterside's call to action aims to promote accountability and efficiency in Nigeria's maritime sector. By engaging in investigative journalism and tracking key performance indicators, the media can play a catalytic role in driving economic growth. The sector's growth has the potential to create jobs, boost exports, and attract investment, ultimately contributing to Nigeria's economic development.
Key points
- Dr. Dakuku Peterside urges Nigerian media to scrutinize ports, promote accountability, efficiency, and economic growth.
- Peterside calls for sustained media attention to key port-performance indicators.
- The media should track government contracts, concessions, and public expenditure to ensure transparency and accountability.
