Headlines

NPA laments difficulty in securing funding partners to drive $800m port rehabilitation project

—as Omatseye describes Tin Can port as an eyesore

The Eyewitness Reporter

The Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) has expressed frustration at securing competent funding partners to drive its ambitious $800m port infrastructural renewal project across the country.

This is even as Barrister Temisan Omatseye, the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA) described the TinCan Island port as a total disaster.

The rehabilitation project of the NPA is a fallout of the dilapidated facilities at most of these ports across the nation, especially at Apapa, Tin Can Island, Onne and Calabar ports.

While explaining the efforts and determination of the NPA to halt the port infrastructural degradation process through rehabilitation exercise, the Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, disclosed that the agency has engaged in top-level discussions with both the local and international funding agencies but the NPA is being cautious and meticulous in its selection process in order not to make mistake’

Bello-Koko, who was the guest speaker at the breakfast meeting convened by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria(MARAN) on the rehabilitation of dilapidated infrastructure at the Tin Can Port, was represented by a General Manager in his office, Mr Ayo Durowaye, who disclosed that the NPA is at the concluding stage of negotiation to select a competent partner to drive the port rehabilitation project.

Bello- Koko had in a different forum declared that the agency needs the sum of $800 to rehabilitate the collapsing port infrastructures at the Apapa, Tin Can, Calabar and Onne ports.

However, at the MARAN breakfast meeting, the NPA MD, through his representative, said that Tin Can port is on the top agenda of infrastructural renewal efforts of the NPA which covers all the ports in the country.

He, however, disclosed that the fast-paced depreciation of the facilities at the Tin Can ports was a result of their tear and wear occasioned by heavy and consistent use of the port facilities there, saying that the Tin Can port has become old, having been established in 1977 and now handles about 60 to 65 percent of imports.

”The Tin Can Island port is one of the busiest ports in the country and is handling cargo far above its installed capacity over and over again in the last 20 years.

”The pressure on its facilities brings the tear and wear we are seeing today and NPA is expected to do something about it and we are doing something about it”, Mr Durowaye declared.

He revealed that NPA has explored various options to find a sustainable Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement that will drive the rehabilitation project.

”But it is very difficult these days to fund your facilities, you have to be creative. NPA is working to find funding options that will help us.

”We have had discussions with strong organisations on funding and technical competence to help us drive the rehabilitation and renewal efforts for port infrastructure across the country, especially the Tin Can Island Port.”

The NPA MD representative however said that despite the infrastructural deficiency at the Tin CAN port, bigger vessels are still calling at the ports as witnessed in recent times.

”Though, we have infrastructural challenges at the Tin Can Port, the situation has not come to where vessels will boycott the port”, he declared.

”Government is helping out with our efforts to find funding partners that will address these challenges.

”In all of these, the NPA has been doing whatever is within its capacity and power to ensure that the infrastructural deficits at the Tin Can port are addressed.

”About a month ago, the MD commissioned the rehabilitation of Control Towers at both the Apapa and the Tin Can ports which is the most comprehensive rehabilitation project in the history of the NPA.

”We are at the concluding stage of discussion with both the local and international funding partners with requisite financial and technical competence to fund our infrastructural development efforts” Mr Durowaye stated.

He, however, said that the agency was being cautious and meticulous in its selection process in order not to make mistakes that could jeopardise the rehabilitation project.

”NPA is not resting on its oars, we are taking tangible and verifiable steps to develop port infrastructure across the country.

”The Tin Can Island port is in focus and the evidence of our commitment is the number of visits made to the ports at the ministerial and management levels”, the NPA MD representative concluded

Meanwhile, Barrister Temisan Omatseye, during one of his numerous interventions at the breakfast meeting, said the poor state of the infrastructural facilities at the Tin Can Port was a result of the over-concentration of shipping companies and importers at the ports who prefer to use the port other than any other port in the country.

”Tin Can port has become a total disaster because we have so much depended on the port.

”Everybody wants to come to Lagos ports. Most of the vessels do not want to go to the Eastern ports due to security reasons”

The former DG NIMASA observed that the same problems plaguing the Lagos ports are now being transferred to the new deep sea port at Lekki, saying that failure to use other modes of evacuation of cargoe other than the road transportation, will spell doom for the Lekki port.

”We should use more water and rail transportation to evacuate cargo from the ports.

”If I have my way, I will close down the port gates to road transport. I will not allow any terminal to do road transport to evacuate cargo in order to encourage the use of water transportation. The same process should apply to the Lekki deep sea port” Omatseye declared.

He claimed that as a result of this neglect of other modes of cargo evacuation from the port, the clearing process is slow, cumbersome and expensive which he said has made some importers and vessels divert their cargo to the neighboring countries.

”With this, the NPA, Customs and other agencies of government are losing money” he stated.

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.