Headlines

Sambo vows to break CVFF disbursement jinx

—–as he lauds NIMASA on capacity-building initiative

The Eyewitness reporter

For the umpteenth time, the Minister of Transportation, Eng. Muazu Sambo has reiterated his avowed wish to disburse the controversial Cabotage Vessel Financing Funds(CVFF) to the deserving indigenous ship owners.

The minister made this repeated pledge during his visit to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) headquarters.

Sambo, who was apparently impressed by the litany of achievements of the agency under its dynamic leadership led by Dr. Bashir Jamoh, swore that he would break the jinx which the disbursement of the controversial intervention fund has come to represent.

“If there is a jinx about the CVFF, I am going to break it by getting it disbursed to deserving Nigerians, he swore.

He stated that President Buhari’s administration, Ministry of Transportation and NIMASA administration stand to gain from the disbursement of the funds as they would take the credit.

“If these funds are disbursed, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and the Federal Ministry of Transportation will take credit, while it remains a legacy in your administration”, the Minister told his host.

He said he was working with the management of NIMASA to ensure its disbursement which he said will further boost shipping activities in the maritime industry.

Sambo also commended Dr Jamoh and his team for what he described as dizzying achievements and transformation of agency which he said has changed from what it used to be a decade ago.

“NIMASA of today have come a long way from the NIMASA I knew ten years ago.

“I commend the entire Management and Staff of the Agency for raising the bar, it is a symbol of teamwork.

“I am impressed with the customer experience center and your efforts to attract young Nigerians into the maritime sector via various capacity development projects including the essay competition for secondary school students”.

He further applauded the agency for remaining focused on the delivery of its mandate, noting that the Agency has a better image than what it was ten years ago.

Sambo, who was in the company of his Minister of State Prince Ademola Adegoroye and the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, called for a more strategic relationship between NIMASA and other parastatals under the supervision of the Ministry, in addition to the Nigerian Navy and members of the Nigerian Armed forces towards ensuring the success of the Deep Blue Project is a success.

On his part, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh thanked the Minister for his dynamic leadership in steering the affairs of the Ministry, while also assuring that the Agency remains committed to actualizing its mandate as stipulated in the four enabling Acts of the National assembly for a robust and attractive maritime sector in Nigeria.

He further used the opportunity to intimate the Minister on some of the activities of the Agency in realizing a robust maritime sector which includes; obtaining approval for physical and monetary incentives for ship owners to purchase brand new vessels at zero duty, while also assisting them to get foreign exchange at the Central Bank of Nigeria rate respectively.

The move, according to the DG, is to help phase out old and rickety vessels from the nation’s waterways and encourage more participation in the Nigerian shipping industry.

Jamoh further informed his visitors that under the Deep Blue Project, 600 Special Forces from the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, and Department of State Security, among others are undergoing training for special skills to ensure effective implementation of the Project. The intent is to ensure that the nation’s waterways remain safe from all forms of criminalities.

He also informed the Minister that under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) scheme over 2,000 Nigerians have undergone training, out of which about 800 are actively engaged on various ships, with a vast number of them working on the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) ships.

He added that NIMASA is developing a National Ship Building and Infrastructure Development Strategy, aimed at bridging the gap of capacity building for trained seafarers.

Other achievements listed include but are not limited to; Enhanced Maritime Safety administration through effective Ports and Flag states inspection on foreign and Nigerian flagged vessels, Enforcement of safety regulations on barges and tug boats through Operation Sting Ray, Reactivation of online seafarers Certificate of Competency verification platform, and commenced activities towards ensuring GHG emission reduction in the maritime sector with an emphasis on achieving 0.5% Sulphur Oxide (SO2) in Bunker fuel oil.

The Minister also undertook a tour of the NIMASA Maritime Stakeholders experience Contact Center MSECC.

The 24-hour Center serves as a platform for both internal and external stakeholders to resolve any issue within the stipulated 24 hours.

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.

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.

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.