Headlines

Sambo reiterates commitment to disbursement of CVFF

—– seeks private collaboration to achieve transition to greener shipping

The Eyewitness reporter

The Minister of Transportation, Eng Muazu Jaji Sambo has reiterated his commitment to disburse the controversial Cabotage Vessel Financing Funds(CVFF).

This was despite the serial delays and abuse that the intervention funds have suffered over the years and the short tenure in office of the Minister.

Irrespective of the challenges, Sambo declared that the fund would soon be disbursed to enable indigenous shipowners to acquire new vessels that comply with IMO’s rules on gas emissions.

The Minister was making this pledge Thursday in Lagos during the commemoration of this year’s World Maritime Day celebration.

Speaking on the theme of the 2022 World Maritime Day, ”New Technologies For Greener Shipping” the Minister noted that the Nigerian government needs the cooperation and collaboration of private sector players to invest in modern platforms and assets which will meet the emission levels of the future.

It was through this partnership, the Minister continued, that the country could achieve a green transition of the maritime industry into a sustainable future in line with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) theme of the 2022 World Maritime Day.

In line with this theme of this year’s celebration, Sambo expressed government commitment to cutting down carbon emissions from ships and reaching net zero by 2050.

According to him, Nigeria is duty-bound to contribute to global efforts to ensure a safe environment in all sectors, including shipping.

He said the need for new technology to drive the maritime sector has not only become necessary but imperative following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic which affected global trade.

The Minister, therefore, called on private sector operators who are the beneficiaries of government policies put in place to address carbon emissions to deploy adequate resources and technology to address emerging technologies in partnership with the government.

“IMO’s identification of partnerships and information sharing on best practices as well as unfettered access to resources as being critical to the transition of the maritime sector into a greener and more sustainable sector is not by coincidence. This partnership must be cultivated globally and nationally.

“For us as a nation, the entire maritime community has a role to play in bringing about a greener and sustainable maritime industry in resource mobilization, maritime training, awareness, job creation and full implementation of maritime laws and regulations,” he said.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Transportation, Mr Ademola Adegoroye, said to attain greener shipping, it was imperative that new technologies be embraced through aggressive technology transfer, research and development, innovations and partnership.

Also speaking, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Bashir Jamoh, said Nigeria plans to cut its Greenhouse Gas emissions intensity by 20 percent by 2030 and a further 45 percent reduction conditional on receiving climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building.

He said as Nigeria’s agency responsible for regulating shipping, NIMASA has developed measures to protect the marine environment from the impact of shipping activities.

These measures according to him, “include taking steps to ensure ships comply with the IMO 0.5 percent sulphur in fuel oil used on board ships, delineating emission control and slow steaming areas in Nigeria’s ports and its approaches and establishing a National Technical Committee on Green House Gas emission reduction and decarbonisation.”

He said Nigeria will adopt a National Action Plan in 2023 to ensure that the National Technical Committee on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships will be strengthened and tasked to develop a clear and achievable plan.

He said there would also be the provision of incentives and financial mechanisms to shipping companies, port operators, and others in the maritime value chain to invest in new enterprises and innovative solutions.

“NIMASA will act by mobilising and facilitating fiscal policies and financial mechanisms – including donor initiatives to support energy efficiency and emission reduction initiatives focused on ships, port infrastructure, and other key areas,” he said.

Jamoh added that Nigeria needs global and regional cooperation and partnerships to transition to a net zero carbon emission future in shipping to share good practices and information, create synergies, and leverage expertise.

Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Muhammed Bello- Koko noted that bringing environmental efficiency and digitisation to the maritime industry was a duty everyone owed the habitat.

Realising that automation is the pillar of port efficiency, we are working assiduously under the technical guidance and consultancy of the IMO to deploy the Port Community System (PCS).

“This will afford us the platform needed to develop a cocktail of digital solutions that can make ships more energy-efficient, reduce pollution, and ensure the global competitiveness of the Nigerian Ports through eco-friendly services,” he said.

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Customs

Lilypond export processing terminal processes $1.9billion value of export goods in 2024.

Funso OLOJO

The collapse of all the export terminals in the Lagos Ports into a consolidated export terminal at the Lilypond Port has boosted export of goods in the country as the terminal processed the sum of $1.9b in 2024.

Making this revelation on Thursday, March 13th, 2025 while interacting with the members of the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN), the

Customs Area Controller (CAC), Lilypond Export Command, Ajibola Odusanya, declared that processing of exports at the dedicated Lilypond Port has improved significantly, reducing processing time to a few hours.

It would be recalled that the Lilypond export processing terminal came into existence in 2024 from the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) between the Nigeria customs service and the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA).

However, Comptroller Odusanya lamented that transferring the export containers to Apapa Port has become a challenge recently, as priority is placed on exiting import containers out of the port.

He bemoaned that accessing the Export Processing Terminal (EPT) especially in Apapa Port is delayed due to traffic gridlock on the internal port access road.

However, Comptroller Odusanya assured that the the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and APM Terminals are working to improve on the port internal traffic.

“The NPA has contributed significantly to export facilitation by creating the Electronic Call-up System (ETO) and EPTs at the ports, but the internal port access roads would need more attention to clear up for seamless movement of export containers into the ports for outward shipping,” Comptroller Odusanya said.

In 2022, the Nigeria Customs Service and the NPA reached an agreement to make the Lilypond Port an export processing port as part of the country’s deliberate plans to improve exportation of non-oil products.

The Lilypond Port Controller explained that due to the presence of all the relevant agencies in the export port, processing of export goods have become very fast and seamless, leading to processing of about $2 billion worth of exports from the port between July and December 2024.

He said: “Since after the MoU between Customs and NPA to streamline export to Lilypond Command in July 2024 and the command became the only command processing sea bound export, we processed about $2 billion in that period Between and December, 2024.

“In February, 2025, we processed $225 million. This achievement is made possible by collaboration with other government agencies and port stakeholders.

“We now have the DSS, NDLEA, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the quarantine service dedicated to export at Lilypond Port.

“Now, with synergy with these sister agencies, export goods treated at Lilypond port are not stopped by any other agency on its way to Apapa or Tincan port.

“Such export will only be checked by Lilypond Customs officers at the port gate and not necessarily to open the container, except there is a security alert.”

He noted that the NPA and the terminal operators would not allow the ugly port access road situation in Apapa in the past to return.

“If you go to Lilypond now, you will see many containers there, but the problem is not with processing of the exports in Lilypond, but the logistics aspect of moving the containers to the ports.

“Sometimes, even when you have obtained your ETO, you won’t be able to access the port.

“You see the trucks lined up on the road with export containers on them. We have to work on this so that we don’t return to what it was before.

“We have to keep working hard to maintain the sanity on the port road,” Comptroller Odusanya emphasised.

Headlines

Akutah meets Okonjo- Iweala in Geneva to discuss challenges in Nigeria’s maritime industry

Funso OLOJO

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Pius Akutah, has met with the Director -General of World Trade Organization(WTO), Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss the challenges facing the Nigeria’ s maritime industry and find possible solutions.

Akutah and his team met the WTO chief on Wednesday, March 12th, 2025 where they brainstormed on trade impediments in the shipping sector of the country and how they could be surmounted.

An elated Akutah said the visit was crucial, “most particularly at this moment when the government is driving transformational changes in the maritime sector”

He regarded the warm reception granted his team by Dr Iweala as a “clear demonstration of patriotism and support for the country”

The WTO DG expressed willingness to engage the Shippers’ Council helmsman on the problems facing the Nigeria’s shipping sector and hoped solutions could be found.

She expressed desire that the Shippers’ Council and other government agencies could seize and harness the bountless opportunities in the shipping sector for its growth and development.

“Good discussions on the challenges facing the ports, maritime and shipping in Nigeria, all important aspects of trade.

” Also discussed possible solutions. Lots to do but opportunities exist for turnaround. Wishing the Shippers Council well in seizing these opportunities” Iweala declared.

Headlines

Port of Antwerp offers assistance to barge operators to access loans from Belgian Banks— Shippers’ Council

Funso OLOJO

The Port of Antwerp has expressed its readiness to assist barge operators to have access to foreign financial institutions for their operations.

The Director, Inland Transport Services, Nigerian Shippers’ Council,Mr. Mustapha Zubairu stated this at a meeting with the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) in Lagos on Monday, March 10th, 2025.

He said that the Council believed that the role of barge operations is critical for cargo evacuation at the nation’s seaports.

Zubairu noted that the utilization of barges is key in Lekki Deep Port’s operation, adding that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the nation’s Port Economic Regulator wants seamless cargoes evacuation from the ports.

Determined to ensure continuous collaboration with barge operators, the NSC’s Director also plans to summon a tripartite meeting with other agencies and proffer solutions to discuss the issues of barge operations.

The President of BOAN, Hon. Bunmi Olumekun, said the Association proposes tariff harmonization to create a more balanced and export-friendly environment that promotes national economic growth.

Hon. Olumekun emphasized the capacity development for operators and captains to enhance productivity and promote industry growth.

He also reiterated the importance of legislation for the movement of heavy goods through waterways and the danger of carrying them by roads.

Hon. Olumekun also said that the association is collaborating with the Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy to meet the establishment of more riverine terminals and waterfront jetties.