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Maritime journalists celebrate Lagos NUJ Chairman in grand reception

The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria(MARAN), today hosts the newly elected Chairman of the Lagos Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Leye Ajayi in a grant reception at the Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.
Mr Ajayi was a former President of MARAN.
In what appears to be a celebration of electoral success of one of their own, the maritime journalists will converge on the prestigious Hotel to honour Ajayi in the company of maritime industry stakeholders who have been invited to witness the epoch-making event.
In a statement issued in Lagos by the association,  the creme-de-la-creme of the Nigerian maritime sector are billed to attend the event under the Chairmanship of Prince Olayiwola Shittu, former President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA)
The event is billed to hold at the Rockview Hotel in Apapa, Lagos on Thursday March, 25th 2021 by 11am prompt.
The theme of the  event is ”National  Development: The Challenges of and the Prospects for the Proper Implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in Nigerian Maritime Industry “
“MARAN is proud of one of its own, Leye Ajayi who was a bonafide member of the association until his emergence as the Lagos NUJ Chairman”
“Mr Ajayi had served MARAN meritoriously at different times and different capacities as Secretary General and later as President”
“The Association is therefore planning a grand reception to celebrate his electoral success”, an elated  Mr Anya Njoku, the President of MARAN,  observed.
The association said the grand reception and lecture are aimed  to boost the synergy between the Maritime Press and Maritime Publics and Government Parastatals.
The lead paper would be presented by seasoned Journalist and the Editor of the XPRESS Newspaper, Mr Emeka Okoroanyawu, who was one of the founders of MARAN in 1988.
Former General Manager, Lagos Traffic FM, Mr. Layinka Adagun, a pioneer MARAN Member, would also be a panel discussant to enhance the theme’s perspectives.
The special guests of honor expected at the event includes; the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council, Barr Hassan Bello, and Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Dr George Moghalu.
Others are; Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Zone ‘A’ Lagos, ACG Kaycee Ekekezie and the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotosho.
The Chief Guests of Honors are; Chairperson of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) Princess Dr Vicky Haastrup, the President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Adewale Adeyanju and immediate past chairman of Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Aare Hakeem Olanrewaju.
Others are; President of ANLCA,  Hon Tony Iju Nwabunike and the founder of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Dr. Boniface Aniebonam.
In addition, all MARAN past Presidents and Executives would be on ground to grace the grand reception and lecture.
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Edward Osagie, NIMASA spokesman, shines at 2025 National Spokespersons’ Awards in Abuja

— emerges outstanding spokesperson in Marine and Blue Economy sector 

Funso OLOJO 
Edward Omoruyi Osagie,  the deep and baritone voiced spokesman for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has been crowned as the most outstanding spokesperson in the Marine and Blue economy sector.
Osagie, with a benign mien, emerged the best in this category during the Award ceremony of the 2025 edition of the  “National Spokespersons’ Awards(NSAwards) held on Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 at Abuja Continental Hotel.
62 finalists were shortlisted for recognition across 21 competitive categories in this year’s edition of the competition.
Three spokespersons in the maritime industry participated in the final of the Award ceremony.
They included Edward Osagie, the Head of Pubic Relations Department of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Ikechukwu Onyemekara, General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communication Department of the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) and Muyiwa Akande, Head of Public Relations unit of Sifax Group.
Osagie of NIMASA emerged a finalist in three categories which include Spokesperson of the year which happens to be the lead category, Outstanding spokesperson (crisis management – pubic sector) and Marine and Blue economy sector.
Olumuyiwa Akande also featured as a finalist in two categories such as Spokesperson of the year category and Marine and Blue Economy sector.
Onyemekara of NPA features as a finalist in the Marine and Blue economy sector.
However, at the final section, Osagie beat all the contestants in the Marine and Blue economy category to emerge a winner.
In other categories, the Head, Media and Publicity Unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Mr. Dele Oyewale, a Deputy Commander of the EFCC, emerged  Outstanding Federal Government Spokesperson of the Year, 2025.

Oyewale emerged winner in a highly competitive category that included Presidential Spokesman, Mr. Bayo Onanuga and Josephine Adokuru Mudasiru of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA.

The Chairman of the award’s Adjudication Committee, Dr. Shaibu Husseini, while commending the nominees, emphasized that the selection process was rigorous and driven by merit.

Oyewale stood out for his infusion of finesse in strategic communication, skillful workmanship, impactful media engagements and consistency in the excellent projection of the EFCC’s image and in enhancing public understanding of the Commission’s mandate and activities.

Other winners from other categories include: Olufemi Soneye (NNPCL) as  Distinguished Spokesperson of the Year (Oil and Gas), Nigerian Customs Service as Best Corporate Spokesperson Team, Kashifu Inuwa (NITDA) as Most Supportive CEO to Spokespersons (Public Sector), Femi Babafemi (NDLEA) as  Outstanding Spokesperson (Security Services).

Soneye (NNPCL) beat ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi of Nigeria Police, Igo Weli-Shell Petroleum, Olumuyiwa Akande, SIFAX Group and Osagie Edward-NIMASA to emerge Spokesperson of the Year.

In his remarks, Joshua Audu Gana, Member House of Representatives congratulated the organizers for identifying and rewarding the outstanding communicators across various sectors.

He lauded the winners for their professionalism and devotion and urged them to continue to strive for excellence in the roles they play.

The Special Guest of Honour, Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Akintunde Rotimi Jr, emphasized the need for institutions and organizations to involve spokespersons in policy formulation and decision-making processes, noting that spokespersons should be equipped with first-hand knowledge of key issues so as to enhance their effective and accurate public communication.

The National Spokespersons Awards is Nigeria’s foremost platform for celebration of excellence in public relations, strategic communication, and media management.

The award is an annual celebration of individuals and organizations that demonstrate professionalism, innovation, and impactful public communication.

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Stakeholders caution Nigeria over currency swap deal with China 

as CBN lists gains of trade policy 
Gloria Odion 
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has described the Nigeria-China currency swap deal as a transformative policy instrument that could significantly reduce shipping costs, enhance trade efficiency, and ease foreign exchange pressure in Nigeria’s maritime industry.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ breakfast meeting organized by the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Lagos on Tuesday, the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, stated that the agreement—originally signed in 2018 and recently renewed in December 2024—enables Nigerian and Chinese businesses to conduct trade directly in naira and renminbi, bypassing the U.S. dollar.
“The swap agreement simplifies the settlement of trade transactions in local currencies and reduces the pressure on Nigeria’s dollar reserves.
” This, in turn, lowers the cost of doing business and enhances the competitiveness of Nigerian trade,” Cardoso said.
The CBN Governor, who was represented by Mr Anthony Ogufere, Special Adviser to CBN Governor on Finance and Strategy, noted that China had become Nigeria’s largest trading partner by the end of 2024, accounting for about 35% of total imports and reaching a trade volume of $11.58 billion.
 He added that the maritime sector, which handles the majority of Nigeria’s import and export activities, stands to benefit immensely through faster port clearance, improved trade finance instruments, and direct shipping links such as the Lekki Deep Sea Port—a Chinese-backed infrastructure project under the Belt and Road Initiative.
However, the CBN Governor acknowledged that several challenges still hinder the full potential of the currency swap framework.
Chief among them is Nigeria’s significant trade imbalance with China and the limited adoption of yuan-denominated transactions by Nigerian businesses.
He called for greater sensitization, policy coordination, and efforts to expand non-oil exports to China.
The CBN governor also acknowledged the fact that the currency swap deal is not yet popular among Nigerian business owners due to sparse sensitization and mobilisation of the business community.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Martins Olajide, a representative of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership, presented a paper that offered a more cautious outlook.
He noted that while the swap deal provides short-term relief and smoother trade operations, it is not a sustainable solution to the naira’s persistent depreciation.
Describing the swap arrangement as “swapization,” Olajide warned that Nigeria’s economic vulnerability and dependence on imports—especially from China—undermines the true impact of the agreement.
 He emphasized the need for structural reforms, particularly in industrialization, value addition, and local production.
“Without these changes, the swap deal may only reinforce economic dependence on China without solving the underlying issues,” he said.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the event and Chairman of the Customs Consultative Council (CCC), Aare Akeem Olarenwaju, decried the volatility of the naira-dollar exchange rate as a major cause of the skyrocketing cost of goods in Nigeria.
 He called for greater public awareness of alternative currency options like the Chinese yuan.
“You can’t determine the price of goods within a few hours due to constant exchange rate changes.
“Today it’s ₦1,600 to a dollar, and in the next few hours, it could be ₦1,700 or ₦1,500. It’s the common people who suffer the most,” Olarenwaju lamented.
He commended the organizers for opening up conversations around trade, currency, and maritime development, urging media professionals to help educate the public on alternatives that could reduce the nation’s dependence on the U.S. dollar.
Earlier in his welcome address, MARAN President, Mr. Godfrey Bivbere, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to promoting dialogue on key economic issues.
While acknowledging the swap deal’s promise in reducing transaction costs and enhancing trade efficiency, Bivbere stressed the need for a balanced discourse.
“We are not only here to applaud progress but also to interrogate policy.
” We must understand both the positive impact and the underlying risks associated with China’s expanding economic footprint in Nigeria,” he said.
Bivbere urged stakeholders across the maritime, trade, and financial sectors to approach the Nigeria-China currency swap with critical insight, noting that sustainable benefits would only come through policies that protect national economic interests while encouraging growth and competitiveness.
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NIMASA seeks collaboration with private sector operators to develop maritime industry

Gloria Odion
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has called on private individuals and corporate investors to seize emerging opportunities within Nigeria’s Blue Economy, particularly in the maritime sector.
This call was made by the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, at the ongoing 36th Enugu International Trade Fair.
The NIMASA DG, who was represented by the Deputy Director in the Planning Research and Data Management Service Department of NIMASA, Mr. Umar Mohammed, highlighted NIMASA’s commitment to implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government, while also emphasizing the need for inclusive economic growth through indigenous participation in domestic and international shipping.
“To unlock the full potential of our maritime economy, NIMASA is pursuing an integrated development strategy that will support indigenous operators in ship acquisition, establish a National Carrier Line, and create maritime training institutions for world-class seafarers,” he stated.
He noted that the Agency is also implementing a Public Sector Cargo Support Programme aimed at creating a captive freight market for local carriers and reducing the dominance of foreign shipping lines in Nigeria’s seaborne trade.
Accordingly, he said the Agency’s strategic initiatives are being driven through public-private partnerships to ensure sustainability and long-term impact.
“Therefore, we are inviting investors and entrepreneurs to collaborate with us in developing a robust and competitive maritime sector that will create jobs and boost the national economy,” he added.
The NIMASA DG through his representative used the opportunity to express appreciation to the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, and the leadership of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) for hosting the trade fair, which he described as a vital platform for business networking and investment drive.
NIMASA plays a key role in promoting the Blue Economy in Nigeria with its promotional responsibilities, being part of its mandate to regulate maritime activities and ensure sustainable use of ocean resources.

 

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