*......The DG was recognized at the 2026 London Trade Conversation for pioneering massive maritime economic growth initiatives*In a global recognition of regulatory excellence, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), Dr. Pius Akutah, MON, has bagged the prestigious Sustainability Award for Investment and Economic Development.
The honour was conferred on Dr. Akutah at the high-level Nigeria Conversation on Trade and Investment London 2026, a premium dialogue curated by the Royal Commonwealth Society (Nigerian Branch) to celebrate his impactful footprints in investment promotion and national economic growth.
This international accolade comes at a defining moment, closely following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s landmark assent to the transformative NPERA Act, 2026.
The elite gathering converged top-tier government officials, global business leaders, and key maritime stakeholders to unlock fresh pathways and strategic opportunities for sustainable economic and industrial development in Nigeria.
Delivering his address on the theme, “Towards Sustainable Economic and Industrial Development in Nigeria – Prospects and Opportunities,” Dr. Akutah spotlighted the immense investment frontiers unlocked by Nigeria’s expanding marine and blue economy.
The NPERA Chief asserted that the establishment of the dedicated Ministry, paired with the ongoing modernisation of the nation’s port infrastructure, underscores the Federal Government’s aggressive blueprint to diversify the economy away from oil dependency. He mapped out the ports sector, inland waterways, fisheries, shipbuilding, and renewable energy as high-yield zones poised to attract global capital and accelerate national growth.
Turning the spotlight on untapped local resources, Dr. Akutah stressed the urgency of unlocking Nigeria’s inland waterways. He pointed out a glaring infrastructure gap, noting that only about 3,000 kilometres of the nation’s estimated 10,000-kilometre inland channels are currently navigable.
“Dredging the River Niger and developing navigable channels will not only unlock vast investment opportunities but will drastically slash logistics costs and seamlessly fast-track cargo movement into the hinterland,” Akutah stated.
Championing regional integration, the Director-General emphasized that aligning Nigeria’s trade metrics with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is critical to maximizing cross-border economic benefits.
Dr. Akutah expressed unyielding optimism that the marine and blue economy is uniquely positioned to serve as the crown jewel in the Federal Government’s ambitious drive to build a $1-trillion economy by 2030.
The high-octane London dialogue drew an elite gathering of top-tier Nigerian leaders and private sector titans. Among the notable dignitaries were the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo (represented by his Special Assistant on Economic Matters, Mr. Sanni Abdullahi Ozomata); the First Lady of Kwara State, Her Excellency, Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq; and the Managing Director/CEO of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi.
Meanwhile, the organized private sector was equally well-represented, with key corporate powerhouses present, including the Group Chief Operating Officer (GCOO) of BUA Group, Mr. Chimaobi Madukwe.
This global Sustainability Award stands as a resounding validation of the ongoing structural reforms engineered to transform Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure. Ultimately, it cements the blue economy’s position not just as a regulatory sector, but as the ultimate catalyst for international trade, foreign direct investment, and generational economic prosperity.
