Connect with us

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.
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Analyses

Beyond The Lagos Communique: Can West Africa’s $27 Billion Port Rhetoric Outrun Gridlock?

Ibrahim Nasiru
The Monday Discourse with NASIRU focuses on the take away from the just concluded PMAWCA board meeting in Lagos.
Last week, maritime leaders gathered in Lagos for the PMAWCA conference, celebrating a staggering $27 billion infrastructure boom and drawing up plans to replicate the seamless digital models of Rotterdam and Singapore.
But for the average importer, agent, or truck driver trapped in the chaos of Apapa or Tin Can, the disconnect is jarring.
West African Ports are masterful at planning, but historically abysmal at executing.
A multi-billion-dollar Deep Sea Port is just an expensive parking lot for containers if the surrounding rail and road infrastructure remains broken.
True competitiveness will not be won by the nation that signs the largest contract; it will be won by the nation that actually clears a container without corruption, extortion, or manual delays.
It is time to move past courtroom style policy curation and deploy an execution squad.
Read full details tomorrow on why West Africa’s maritime sector needs dockyard discipline over boardroom eloquence.
Continue Reading

Headlines

Sallah celebration: Osun govt offers free train ride to indigenes as NRC increases Lagos–Ibadan Train Trips for Sallah

Gloria Odion, maritime reporter 
The Osun State government has made full payment to the Nigerian Railway Corporation( NRC) for the use of its narrow gauge rail services to transport the indigenes of the state free of charge for the Sallah celebration.
The annual gesture was confirmed by the management of the Corporation while announcing a temporary increase  in train services on the Lagos–Ibadan Train Service (LITS) corridor for Tuesday, May 26, 2026, ahead of the Sallah celebration.
The NRC revealed that the Osun government free train ride will be on its narrow gauge corridor.
The special train will depart from Iddo Station, Lagos, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, while the return trip from Osogbo to Lagos will take place on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
The service, which is usually operated during festive periods, is being sponsored by the Osun State Government through a paid arrangement with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to convey Osun indigenes free of charge for the Sallah celebration.
Meanwhile, the Corporation has announced an adjustment to its schedule on its Lagos–Ibadan Train Service (LITS) corridor for Tuesday, May 26, 2026, ahead of the Sallah
The temporary adjustment is aimed at accommodating the expected increase in passenger movement as many Nigerians travel to celebrate the festive season with their families and loved ones.
Under the special arrangement, the Corporation will operate six train trips on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, instead of the usual four trips currently operated on the corridor.
For the day, train departures from the Lagos end will be at 7:45am, 1:40pm and 4:00pm, while departures from the Ibadan end will be at 8:00am, 10:50am and 4:30pm.
The Management clarified that this arrangement is strictly temporary and applies only to the Sallah travel period.
 Immediately after the celebration, the normal Tuesday timetable of four trips will resume.
Similarly, the recently introduced Thursday six-trip operations will be temporarily adjusted next week, as only four trips will operate on Thursday May,  28th during the period under review.
The regular six-trip Thursday schedule will however resume the following week.
The NRC reassured passengers of its commitment to providing safe, efficient and reliable rail transportation services across the country and wishes all Nigerians a peaceful and memorable Sallah celebration.
Continue Reading

Headlines

NRC expresses fresh concerns over consistent railway vandalism in the North 

Funso OLOJO,  Editor 
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has raised serious concern over renewed and coordinated attacks on railway infrastructure in parts of the country.
This followed fresh incidents of vandalism recorded in Plateau and Bauchi States.
The Corporation described the disturbing development as a direct attack on critical national infrastructure and an affront on public safety, economic growth and national security.
In one of the latest incidents recorded on May 21, 2026, a truck reportedly loaded with vandalized railway materials became stuck between Kuru and Science School, Kuru in Plateau State, exposing the dangerous activities of criminal elements involved in the destruction and illegal movement of railway materials.
Similarly, along Zango, in Bauchi State, between Kilometer 878 and 889, railway slippers were completely removed on both sides of a level crossing, leaving behind few disjointed rail pieces.
The Corporation warned that such acts could result in catastrophic train accidents, disruption of rail services, loss of lives and destruction of government investments worth billions of naira.
The NRC emphasized that railway tracks, slippers, clips, fastenings and signaling materials are critical national assets built with taxpayers’ money to facilitate transportation, trade, economic activities and national development, and should never be treated as scraps for illegal business.
The Managing Director/CEO of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, strongly condemned the persistent attacks on railway facilities, describing the trend as sabotage against national progress and a serious threat to the safety of passengers and railway personnel.
According to him, the increasing incidents of vandalism in the North Central and North East corridors indicate a dangerous pattern that requires urgent collective action from security agencies, state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders and residents living along railway lines.
Dr. Opeifa appealed to Nigerians to see railway infrastructure as a national symbol and strategic economic asset that must be protected at all times.
He warned vandals, scrap dealers and individuals involved in the illegal purchase, movement or destruction of railway materials to desist immediately, stressing that anyone caught would face the full weight of the law.
The Corporation also called on security agencies to intensify surveillance and enforcement operations around railway corridors nationwide, while urging members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities around railway facilities.
Continue Reading

Trending