Headlines

Blue Economy: Nigeria can earn $53bn, 20m jobs annually—- CISN

…calls for synergy between training institutions and govt.

The Eyewitness reporter

The natural ocean resources that Nigeria is blessed with is capable of lifting it out of the woods into prosperity if properly harnessed, the Proprietor/Chief Executive Officer, the Certified Institute of Shipping Nigeria (CISN), Prof. Alexander Favour Okwuashi, has said.

Speaking at the 23rd convocation ceremony of the institute, Prof. Okwuashi stated that the Blue Economy, which is the totality of maritime resources, is capable of generating a whopping $53 billion annually for Nigeria and 20 million jobs for the teeming Nigerian youths.

Expounding on the benefits of the Blue Economy, the CISN founder said it is capable of creating opportunities of

up to 200 million jobs for the entire African Region.

The CISN 23rd Convocation investiture and award ceremony was held at the Princess Vicky Haastrup Multipurpose Auditorium, CISN main campus, Badagry Expressway, Lagos.

The theme of the event is “TRAINING AND RETRAINING OF MARITIME TRANSPORT WORKFORCE TO HARNESS THE GAINS OF THE BLUE SEA AND RELATED ECONOMY.”

Okwuashi averred that the Blue Economy has created big opportunities within the maritime Industry and harped on the need for investments in all areas of the industry.

Highlighting further the gains of the Blue Economy, Okwuashi stated that exploring it in the area of intracity transport will take the stress off the people.

For instance, he said it will take about three to four hours from Badagry to get to Apapa by road but if the waterway is used, it can’t take 45 minutes to get to Apapa. “Those of you going to Lagos from Badagry. From Ibiye, from Agbara to Lagos, under one hour you are there. It takes away the stress, there will be no go-slow. You are not going to suffer any kind of stress as a result of getting involved in it. You will enjoy the marine ecosystem,” he explained.

The CEO of CIS also remarked that there is a lot of job opportunities in fishing, wondering why the majority of Nigerians are afraid of the sea.

He said, however, that when people come to CISN, they will be able to conquer the fear of shipping or the fear of sailing, which is an advantage for enrolling in the institute.

Okwuashi lamented that a lot of fish eaten in Nigeria are shipped to the country by the Russians and the Indians.

He declared that there are a lot of fishes between Badagry and Bakassi Penisula but Nigerians pay millions and hundreds of thousands of dollars to foreigners to buy fish.

“Between Badagry and Bakassi Penisula, there are a lot of fishes. If we can do something from Badagry here to Bakassi Penisula we will not be importing fish. We have a lot to gain and I call on people to invest in fishing to harness the benefits of the Blue Economy,” he stated.

He decried the failure of the Nigerian government and Nigerians to discover and harness the benefits of the shipping market, saying that it is painful that Nigeria with her oil does not have a single carrier to lift it.

“Nigeria is an oil-rich nation but until this moment it pains that we don’t have a crude carrier. How can a country that is an oil-rich nation not have a product carrier? The resources that suppose to come back to this nation to build infrastructure are being taken by foreigners because these large crude carriers that come to take the crude away charge $120 per barrel or tonne. If this thing continues, when will you have resources to buy your own tankers, to build or own infrastructure?” he asked rhetorically.

Presenting his paper, the Head of the Department, Marine Engineering and Technology, Mr. Ifeanyi Innocent Okafor, noted that “over the past 10 years, the maritime industry has seen a steady decline in personnel due to myriad factors, including retirement, career changes, and hiring and funding challenges. According to him, as a result, an inordinate amount of institutional knowledge has disappeared from the maritime sector.

“Over time, the knowledge that has been useful gradually loses close ties to practice as it becomes more tightly integrated with a body of scientific knowledge – a process that is known as ‘academic drift,” Okafor stated.

He opined that monitoring academic drift is critical to ensuring the skills of Maritime professionals are aligned with the changing needs of the industry.

He, therefore, said Maritime Education and Training (MET) must evolve to provide training and re-training that is relevant to practice.”

“While components of the Blue Economy may vary from country to country, depending on how it’s ocean fresh water, as well as coastal resource endowments, a Blue Economy is generally understood to consist of, and include fisheries, coastal tourism, marine transport, offshore renewable energy, marine-based blue economy, Marine mineral resources, waste management, climate change of blue biotechnology,” he stated.

The lecturer pointed out that the oceans, the seas and freshwater ecosystems which form the basis of the blue economy are under serious threat.

According to him, “The oceans, seas, and freshwater ecosystems which form the basis of the blue economy are under serious threats from degradation due to human activities including coastal developments pollution, especially from plastic as well as deteriorating fish sticks due to overfishing. Given the potential contribution of the Blue Economy, the sustainable management of oceans, seas, and freshwater ecosystems including them in a healthy and productive state cannot be to.”

For Nigeria to be placed on the world map of the best Blue Economic nations, Okafor called for synergy between training institutions in the maritime sector, especially CISN with Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and the key private sector players.

Headlines

Tantita intercepts stolen crude on escort of Delta Marine Police, arrests four suspects

Funso OLOJO

Tantita Security Services Limited, a pipeline surveillance operations company, has intercepted a tanker vessel, MT Thor, laden with suspected stolen crude oil.

The interception, which occurred on December 15th, 2025, around the Koko–Excravos axis of Delta State, happened while the vessel was allegedly being escorted by personnel of the Police Marine Unit, Delta State, who reportedly claimed they were acting on directives from the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja.

Four suspects have been apprehended in connection with the incident and are currently facing investigation for possible prosecution.

The arrest was announced during the handover of the suspects at Koko Port in Delta State by Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSNL), a firm engaged in pipeline surveillance operations.

Speaking at the handover of the vessel and the suspects at Koko Port, Delta state, the Executive Director of Operations at Tantita, Captain Warredi Enisouh, said the suspects were apprehended with an unspecified quantity of suspected illegally sourced petroleum products aboard the vessel.

According to a situation report made available by the Special Prosecution Team (SPT) of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Product Theft, Tantita alerted the Head of Investigation of the SPT after intercepting MT Thor, which was allegedly laden with crude oil obtained through illicit means.

Preliminary investigations by law enforcement agencies revealed that the vessel, now classified as an exhibit in an ongoing criminal investigation, is linked to a jetty operated by Ebenco Global Services Limited.

Investigation officers disclosed that documents and correspondence connected to the jetty were obtained and are currently under review.

“The owner of the jetty, Mr. Ebenezer, was contacted by investigators and reportedly provided additional documents, including court orders, which are also being analysed as part of the investigation.

“On December 16, a joint investigation team led by the Head of Investigation of the SPT conducted a Joint Inspection Visit in Koko.

The team first met at Tantita’s corporate headquarters in Warri for a briefing, which was also attended by the jetty owner.

“During the inspection, investigators attempted to obtain samples from MT Thor but were unable to do so immediately as the vessel had not yet arrived at the jetty, having been towed from an earlier location by security operatives.

“While awaiting the vessel’s arrival, the team inspected other containers suspected to be carrying crude oil within the premises of Ebenco Global Links Limited, where samples were taken from a storage barge.

“MT Thor eventually berthed at about 8:30 p.m. on 16 December, prompting the joint team to adjourn sampling and other procedures until the following day.

As of 17 December 2025, investigators were reported to be en route to Koko to continue sample collection and complete investigation formalities,” the report read.

Receiving the suspects, the Head of the Special Prosecution Team of the Inter-Agency Task Force, Omar Sini, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to dismantle crude oil theft networks in the Niger Delta, assuring that all findings would be thoroughly examined and prosecuted in line with the law.

Headlines

Mobereola, NIMASA DG, reflects on year 2025 with satisfaction, says 2026 holds promising opportunities for maritime industry

Funso OLOJO

The Director -General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has expressed his satisfaction over the achievements recorded in the maritime industry in the outgoing year of 2025, while looking forward to a promising 2026 with hope.

In his Christmas message to the stakeholders in the maritime industry, Dr Mobereola noted that the 2026 ended well with the election of Nigeria into the category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) after 14 years of failed attempts as well as zero occurrence of piracy attacks on Nigeria’ waters.

“The year 2025 has been a good one for our industry as once again, we have not recorded a single piracy attack in our waters in a whole calendar year, Nigeria was also able to deposit three Instruments of Accession to IMO Conventions that were signed by President Bola Tinubu ,we have been able to maintain industrial harmony in the sector all of which culminated to Nigeria’s election into the category C Council of the International Maritime Organization.

“We couldn’t have done this without our stakeholders who have contributed in various ways in the course of their operations during the year. We see you, we thank you and we felicitate with your during this yuletide season”Mobereola observed.

He however assured that the Agency will re-double efforts in ensuring that 2026 is even better for every stakeholder.

While calling on industry operators to brace up for the new year with hope of better times, Dr. Mobereola noted that “at NIMASA, we appreciate the weight of our renewed responsibility by virtue of Nigeria’s membership of the IMO Council because to whom much is given, much is definitely expected.

” You can therefore be sure of an increased momentum in our resolve to sustain maritime safety, security, environmental protection and adherence to relevant conventions and protocols with renewed vigour.”

The DG concluded by acknowledging the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, industry stakeholders, management and staff of NIMASA as well as all Nigerians and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Headlines

FG trains 75 boat operators on safe inland waterway navigation

Funso OLOJO

The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, in collaboration with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has concluded a three-day Boat Navigation and Safety Training for 75 boat drivers and skippers, as part of efforts to improve safety and professionalism on Nigeria’s inland waterways.

The training, which ran from Monday, 22, December, 2025 to Wednesday, 24 December, 2025 focused on equipping participants with the practical knowledge and operational competence required for the issuance of the Certificate in Safe Boating and Navigation.

Participants were drawn from major boating associations, including the Maritime Workers Union, the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATAN), and the Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria (WABOTAN).

Boat operators from Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states took part in the programme.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Timothy Clement of the NIWA Lagos Area Office described the training as a significant intervention aimed at reducing accidents on inland waterways.

He noted that many previous boat mishaps were caused by limited technical knowledge and insufficient experience among operators, adding that sustained capacity-building would help address the challenge.

Clement also highlighted ongoing safety measures being implemented by NIWA, including the removal of wrecks to improve navigation and continuous sensitisation of boat operators along major routes such as CMS, Ikorodu, Badore, Badagry and Port Novo.

According to him, NIWA has intensified awareness campaigns, moving from jetty to jetty to educate operators on safe practices, while encouraging boat owners to release more skippers and captains for structured training programmes.

“So far, so good. We thank God for the success of this three-day training for boat skippers.

“Participants came from Lagos and other parts of Nigeria, and over the past three days, they have learned a great deal,” Clement said.

“This year alone, NIWA conducted sensitisation exercises two to three times across different jetties.

“We are encouraging operators to make more of their captains and skippers available for this kind of training.

” I believe that by this time next year, we will have even more reasons to celebrate improved safety on our waterways,” he added.

Also speaking, the Lead Trainer and Consultant, Dr. Sileola Akinbowale, described the programme as a life-saving initiative designed to strengthen manpower capacity and reduce waterway accidents.

She explained that the training was structured to ensure boat operators are properly equipped with both theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills required to operate safely and efficiently.

Akinbowale commended the Federal Government, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the former Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, for prioritising safety and capacity development in the sector.

Assessing the programme, she rated it about 90 per cent successful, noting that it combined classroom sessions with practical exercises on the water.

“We did not limit the training to classroom lectures. Participants were taken out for practical sessions at the jetty, which made the programme very effective. It was an all-inclusive training, not just theory,” she said.

She assured that the initiative would be sustained, stressing that continuous capacity enhancement remains critical to saving lives and improving professionalism on inland waterways.

Participants expressed satisfaction with the training, describing it as timely and impactful.

A Lagos-based boat operator, Wasiu Olalekan, said the programme had strengthened participants’ ability to respond to emergencies and distress situations.

“With this training, we now know how to handle distress situations on the waterways because of the knowledge given to us. On behalf of the Lagos State participants, we appreciate the Minister and NIWA management for this opportunity,” he said.

Another participant from Ondo State, Biobaku John, said the training exposed him to critical safety and emergency response skills that would enhance his professionalism.

“I gained important safety and firefighting skills during these three days. As a boat driver, I learned a lot and I am proud to have participated,” he said.

Similarly, the leader of the Ogun State delegation, Pami Ronald, said participants were trained in boat handling, safety procedures, first aid, emergency response, engine maintenance and effective waterway transport management.

“For the past three days, we learned extensively about safety, first aid, how to raise alarms, call for rescue teams and even engine maintenance. The training was very educative,” he said.

The programme forms part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and NIWA, in line with recommendations from investigation reports under the tenure of former NIWA Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, to improve safety standards, professionalism and confidence among inland waterway operators nationwide.