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I was never in charge of maritime industry —Saraki

Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of State for Transportation in a hearty discussion with Amaechi when the going was good

Eyewitness reporter

For three years after she was named the Minister of State for Transportation in 2019, Senator Gbemisola Saraki said she was never in charge of the maritime sector.

Her assertion contradicted the gentleman’s agreement between her and Rotimi Amaechi, who until his resignation from Mohammed Buhari’s cabinet to pursue his failed presidential ambition, was the Minister of transportation.

Amaechi, as the then supervising Minister, in 2019, had delineated the duties of the two heads of the ministry to avoid any possible clash of interests.

At one of the public functions held in Lagos in 2019 at the beginning of his second term in office as the Minister of Transportation, Amaechi publicly declared that while he would focus his attention on railways due to the enormity of the project and its importance to the national economy, Saraki will be in charge of the maritime industry with his occasional supervision, especially as it concerns maritime security.

Ameachi had then acknowledged that he had abandoned the maritime industry for the rail sector when he first served as transportation minister from 2015 to 2019 but said his minister of state, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, will fill the gap during his second term in office.

“In my first term as minister, I completely abandoned the maritime sector to the heads of agencies.

“This time around, that won’t be happening again as I have instructed that the Hon. Minister of Transportation for State should personally supervise the maritime agencies, while I just oversee what is happening” Ameachi had declared.

However, Senator Saraki subtly debunked the claim three years after when she said that she was never in charge of the sector.

The minister was reacting to an inquiry from the curious journalists last week Friday why it took her one year to the end of her four-year tenure to come on a familiarisation tour of the sector she was supposed to be superintending.

“I was never in charge of the maritime sector. I was asked to supervise road transport” the Kwara State-born politician declared.

Her revelation confirmed the widely held belief among the stakeholders that there was a repressed and smouldering animosity between the two Ministers.

Though Saraki tried to downplay the cat and mouse relationship with her former boss, stakeholders however believed that the two Ministers never got along well with each other.

Sources pointed to instances when the two Ministers were tactically avoiding joint attendance at maritime events.

Impeccable sources whispered to our reporter that the festering feud became noticeable when Saraki began to boycott events in the industry with her former boss.

It was further learnt that the boycott of events in the industry by the Minister of state may be a subtle protest against the apparent arrogation by Amaechi of official duties of the junior Minister which has led to the redundancy of Saraki.

It was gathered that throughout 2019 and the better part of 2021, Amaechi allowed Saraki to take charge of events in the maritime industry.

Sources claimed that towards the end of last year and since the beginning of 2022 up till his resignation as the Minister, Amaechi may have reneged on the gentleman’s agreement between him and his minister of state.

“During this period, the Minister took over the functions hitherto reserved for the Minister of state.

”This development seems to have irked Saraki who felt the Minister was trying to make her reductant.

“That was when she started to boycott functions at the maritime industry where she and her principal were likely to meet” a source who was in the know confided in our reporter.The absence of the minister of State at major maritime events became noticeable during landmark events such as NIMASA’s unveiling of wreck removal in 2021, the World Maritime Day, 2021, and the inspection of the Lekki deep seaport by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It could also be recalled that Amaechi had made a couple of visits to the Lekki deep seaport, even on a Sunday, before the presidential visit, none of which Saraki attended.

Concerned maritime stakeholders claimed that the recent action of Ameachi, who is widely regarded as the ”Lion of the Niger Delta” may appear bossy to Gbemisola Saraki, who is also a strong-willed woman.

“The two Ministers are of strong-willed personalities who don’t brood nonsense.

“We all know the political antecedents of Amaechi who has a domineering posture.
“
” Gbemi is also made of sterner stuff given her role in the “Otoge” political tsunami in Kwara which eventually swept off Bukola Saraki, her blood brother, from the political dominance in Kwara politics, a role which earned her the present position in the present dispensation.

“So, I don’t see how Amaechi, who has domineering posture could lord it over Gbemi, who is equally a woman of strong character, without skirmishes” a knowledgeable analyst declared.

However, stakeholders were skeptical if Senator Saraki could achieve much of the promises she made during her week-long tours of Lagos ports last week given barely one year she has as a member of the Buhari Administration before it is wound up.

The Minister came on the tour in the company of some Directors in the ministry.

“Today is my fifth week of assuming the leadership of the Ministry of Transportation”, she declared last week Friday in Lagos.

“We came to take stock of the sector. We had taken the stock of the Road sector,” she said.

Giving her summation of her findings at the end of the tour, she declared” Apapa and Tin Can ports are in terrible need of repairs.

“We will go and come back for repairs.

“We have the short, medium, and long-term plans for this. We need to start with rehabilitation here. Another problem here is power”

The Minister met various groups who are stakeholders in the industry.

Among them are women groups in maritime, terminal operators, stevedores, maritime workers union groups, haulage, and transport operators, maritime lawyers, freight forwarders, and maritime press.

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The rise and transition to glory of NPA’s Paul (Texas) Erakhifu

Tribute by Ikechukwu Onyemekara

GM Corporate Affairs, NPA

From humble beginnings at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) when he was employed on October 17th 1994 (same month of his birth) as a junior staff on Grade Level 3, Paul Ikherovba Erakhifu popularly known as “Texas” by dint of diligence, determination, discipline and desire, rose to the defining role of senior staff Grade Level 13 in a career marked by sterling contributions and indelible impact till his return to his maker on Friday 1st May, 2026.

Although we cannot determine our appointed date of birth and death, we definitely can determine how we want to be remembered.

Texas by his uncommon commitment to his craft (photography) and his contagious sense of humor which he generously doled out to all who came in contact with him, definitely and intentionally set out to be remembered for good.

Looking back, it is plausible that with his popular refrain “you have made my day” and “powerful” which were his default response to most of those who encountered him on and off duty, late Texas was informing us that he would make his days on earth powerful, which he did with grace and honor as can be gleaned from his professional and career trajectory.

Not one to squander opportunities for career growth and personal development, Texas proceeded to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature in the year 2005, Master Degree in International Relations in 2012 and a Master of Science (MSc.) in Mass Communication.

Poised to get ahead and be equal to the exigency of his chosen craft, Texas trained at the London Film Academy, London Academy of Media, Film & Television and the Texas School of Photography USA in fulfillment of his lifelong admiration for the American city of Texas for which he adopted the sobriquet “TEXAS”.

The life and times of Texas validated the Biblical truism that “that a man diligent in his business shall stand before kings and not mean men”.

Indeed, Texas was diligent in his business and stood before kings both in Nigeria and Internationally as he was widely travelled for high level official engagements in company of various chief executives of the Authority to Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, USA, Japan, Ghana, Togo, Congo, Guinea, South Africa, amongst others.

Although Texas will be sorely missed and has left a vacuum so wide and difficult to fill, we will take solace in the immortal words of James Wrubel that “no one truly dies who is remembered”.

We continue to remember and celebrate his good deeds, exceptional sense of humor and his contribution to the advancement of knowledge evidenced his authorship of two books with which he lighted paths and lightened burdens.

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Yinka Onigbinde election as MARAN president excites SIFAX Group

– pledges support for his administration

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter

The SIFAX Group has congratulated Mr. Oluyinka Onigbinde on his election as the new President of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN).

The Group described his emergence as a reflection of his professionalism and dedication to maritime journalism.

The congratulatory message was conveyed in a formal letter signed by Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman of SIFAX Group, on behalf of the Board, Management, and Staff of the conglomerate.

In the letter, Dr. Afolabi described Mr. Onigbinde’s election as well-deserved, noting that his consistent contributions to maritime journalism and the broader maritime industry over the years had earned him the confidence of his colleagues.

“Your emergence as the President is proof of your professionalism, dedication, and consistent contributions to maritime journalism and the broader maritime industry over the years,” Afolabi stated.

Afolabi expressed confidence that the association would continue to advance the ideals of professionalism, ethical journalism, unity, and constructive engagement within the maritime sector under Onigbinde’s leadership.

He further noted that the new president’s tenure was expected to strengthen the media’s role as a vital partner in the growth and development of Nigeria’s maritime industry.

Afolabi, who serves as Patron of MARAN, assured Onigbinde of his goodwill and support as the new president works towards advancing the association, while wishing him wisdom, strength, and outstanding success in the discharge of his duties.

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The Billion-Naira Ballot: Can digital primaries finally cure Nigeria’s “Delegate Disease”?

MONDAY DISCOURSE with NASIRU

“Whatever is hidden by the fog of political intrigue is eventually revealed by the light of the ballot.”

This maxim captures the true essence of Nigeria’s current political transformation as we navigate the high-stakes journey toward 2027.

In May 2026, the landscape is defined by a massive administrative and financial pivot, where the intersection of a record-breaking ₦1 trillion election budget and the mandatory shift to digital democracy has created a fortress that is reshaping how power is won and funded.

This record allocation, driven by a ₦1.01 trillion statutory transfer to INEC, represents a massive liquidity injection that is both a logistical necessity and a significant inflationary risk.

High inflation, reaching 23.7% in April, has drastically increased the costs of logistics, while over ₦209 billion is earmarked for technological integrity, including a massive overhaul of 200,000 BVAS units to ensure the digital transparency mandated by the Electoral Act 2026.

The 15 year reliance on the “delegate system” has officially been abolished, replaced by a revolution that permits only two nomination modes: Direct Primaries or Consensus. This shift to a “one member, one vote” system is intended to curb the influence of “Money Bags” and “Ghana-Must-Go” politics by moving power from a few thousand delegates to millions of registered party members.

However, this democratic ideal has birthed an operational nightmare for party administrations, who must now fund ward-level voting for their entire memberships. This strain has led to skyrocketing nomination fees, with the APC presidential ticket pegged at ₦100 million just to cover these new logistics.

Consequently, while the concentrated delegate market has vanished, political spending has merely decentralized, forcing aspirants to “induce” thousands of voters across every ward in the country.

A new digital arms race has emerged under Section 77 of the 2026 Act, which requires parties to submit a digital membership register linked to NINs to INEC at least 21 days before any primary.

The ruling APC has already registered over 12 million members online, claiming a head start in digital compliance. In contrast, the opposition has undergone a seismic shift; on Sunday, May 3, 2026, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso formally joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). This “NDC Surge” has reportedly seen over 10 million Nigerians register with the party within its first 24 hours, as Obi cited the “toxic” environment and endless litigation within the ADC as his reason for seeking a more stable platform.

The NDC, led by former Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson, is now the primary challenger racing to consolidate its digital register before the looming May primary deadlines.

Beyond the internal party mechanics, the broader economic impact is staggering. The election budget contributes significantly to a ₦23.85 trillion deficit in the 2026 budget, narrowing the fiscal space for long-term development.

Economists, including the Central Bank Governor, have warned that this ₦1 trillion injection poses a severe inflationary risk that could destabilize ongoing reforms. Furthermore, the government has set aside ₦135.22 billion specifically for electoral adjudication, signaling an expectation of intense post-election litigation.

As we move toward the off-cycle governorship tests in Ekiti and Osun states, the question remains: is Nigeria ready for the transparency of a unified digital window, or will the costs of this “Digital Democracy” bankrupt the very system it seeks to save?

Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja