Headlines

How Far Can Oyetola Drive Marine and Blue Economy Sector?

Adegboyega Oyetola

Funso Olojo

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu carved out the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy from the Ministry of Transportation, it was a dream come true for maritime stakeholders who had long longed for a separate ministry to harness the huge potential of the sector.

They hailed Tinubu as a listening President who harkened to the yearnings of the industry operators.

They had then expected that the President would follow this laudable decision with the appointment of a professional with the ability and capacity to drive this novel initiative.

Names of several home-grown industry technocrats such as Barrister Hassan Bello were thrown up as preferred candidates for the position of the minister of the new ministry.

But the much expectant stakeholders were sorely disappointed when another politician was appointed to head the ministry.

The enthusiasm of the critical stakeholders considerably waned when a politician, a one-term former Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, was appointed as the pioneer minister of the ministry.

Even though most of these vociferous critical stakeholders lack the ability to voice their disapproval of Oyetola’s appointment, their silent grumblings were audible enough to discerning observers.

The stakeholders, most of whom are playing to the gallery while donning patronizing visages for fear of being labeled rebels and opposition, believed that the appointment of another politician who is bereft of deep knowledge of the industry is a recipe for disaster and a great disservice to a sector that has the potential to lift Nigeria out of economic doldrums.

“Oyetola lacks the capacity, technical acumen and required visage to drive such a critical sector to prosperity” a stakeholder noted.

To him, the man who can drive the new ministry considered the most critical to Nigeria’s economic prosperity should be a man who has the tenacity and agility of Rotimi Amaechi, the former Transportation Minister, the technical and professional competence of Bashir Jamoh, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the industry knowledge of Mohammed Bello-Koko, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)and the managerial dexterity and acumen of Barrister Hassan Bello, the erstwhile Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council, all rolled into one.

“But unfortunately, Oyetola lacks any of these attributes.

“The only thing going on for him is that he is a politician and he is close to Mr President.

“But maritime is a global sector which does not rely on close affinity with the President but mainly thrives on competence”

” The industry needs someone who can provide the needed leadership, direction and capacity to harness the boundless opportunities in the sector” another industry operator stated.

Even Oyetola is not a top-notch politician couched in the mold of the fiery Nyesom Wike, the incumbent Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“If he were, he would not have lost the gubernatorial seat of Osun state to the dancing Ademola Adeleke.” another respondent declared.

It was a general opinion among the industry stakeholders that the only covering the minister has are the duo of NIMASA DG, Bashir Jamoh and NPA MD, Mohammed Bello-Koko, who are providing direction, needed capacity, technical support and ability required to fuel the engine of the industry.

Unfortunately, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has been lost to another politician, they argued.

“The greatest error which the government nay Oyetola will make is to replace these two industry technocrats with another politicians after their first tenure is over” a Lagos-based shipping magnate observed.

Observers believed that if he does, that will signal the beginning of the downward slide of the industry which rivals the oil and gas sector in terms of revenue generation.

“To cover his knowledge gap of the industry, it will be in the best interest of Oyetola to retain the services of the two helmsmen at NIMASA and NPA who have so far provided the life-saving shield for the minister’ s lack of competence and capacity” another industry operator stated.

It would be recalled that stakeholders have called for the appointment of an industry technocrat such as the erstwhile Executive Secretary of the Shippers’Council, Barrister Hassan Bello, to head the ministry.

However, they were disappointed by the appointment of a politician who they felt could not provide the needed leadership to the new ministry.

Little wonder industry stakeholders maintained a graveyard silence at the appointment of the former Osun state governor.

Some of the disappointed industry operators who lack the confidence to speak out whispered to our reporter that the appointment of Oyetola as the head of the ministry is a fundamental error committed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has severally been hailed for his many competence-based appointments.

“The President missed it on the appointment of Oyetola. If he needed to rehabilitate him politically for his loss of Osun Guber seat, the President shouldn’t have given him such a critical industry as the marine and blue economy which is the lifeline of the economy.

“Creating a special industry for maritime, which shows he is a listening President given the general clamour of the stakeholders, is a big plus for Mr. President but appointing Oyetola to head this all-important ministry is a big minus and a drag on the vibrancy and dynamism of the industry” a frontline industry stakeholder who begged for anonymity for fear of victimisation, declared.

But ASU Beks, a maritime media icon, was not the type to speak tongue in cheek.

With uncommon frankness and candor, Mr Beks said Oyetola has nothing to offer the industry.

In an interview which is a prelude to his forthcoming 70th birthday, the Publisher of the famous Shipping World Magazine described Oyetola as a square peg in a round hole of the new ministry.

He claimed that President Tinubu played politics with the appointment of Oyetola as the minister of marine and blue economy.

“How do you go and establish such a critical ministry that will require technical expertise?

“Then you bring somebody who knows next to nothing about maritime to head the ministry? A ministry that we are hoping would drive this economy.“In Nigeria, we like to politicize everything, are there no APC members in this industry, that are stakeholders, that are qualified?

“I don’t have anything against Adegboyega Oyetola, for me, he is a fine gentleman, not controversial.“But Mr. President should have looked for some other better job for him, not as a Minister of Marine and Blue Economy. He will not deliver”

“I don’t have faith in Oyotola, he doesn’t have the competence, look at the financial sector, look at what Mr. President did. Look at the CBN Governor, look at the economic team.

” You look there, you see experts. Why do we play politics with the maritime sector? A sector that is so critical.

“When Bello-Koko leaves, the next MD of NPA should be somebody from the Nigerian Port Authority.
Let’s stop this idea of looking for politicians to run our ports, for as long as we are doing that, our ports will not grow”.

“It is not just enough for you to go and sign a performance bond, the willpower, the will has to come from this ministry, and the way this ministry is constituted, the will has to come from within.“So I pity our ship owners. They have to put their acts together, they should stop being beggarly, and they should confront the government.

“If they go on like this, in all our lifetime, that CVFF fund will not be disbursed” Elder ASU Beks declared.

The general trepidation among the industry stakeholders is their belief that Adegboyega Oyetola may not possess the requisite attributes and capacity to drive a grade-A sector like the marine and blue economy.

As an insurance expert, maritime is certainly not his familiar turf.

Related Topics:featured How far can Oyetola

Up Next

Nigeria’s crude faces declining demand as OPEC market share shrinks in 2024

Don't Miss

News Alert! Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo gov, dies in German hospital

Click to comment

Headlines

NIWA partners ICPC to strengthen internal transparency in its operations

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has announced new strategies aimed at improving its operational system and enhancing collaboration with key stakeholders as part of efforts to boost efficiency and accountability.

Speaking at a post event Press Conference at NIWA Headquarters Lokoja, the Acting Managing Director, Umar Yusuf Girei, while answering questions from journalists stated that, the organization convened a two -day Executive and Anti-Corruption training with the theme “Strengthening Integrity and Revenue System in Inland Waterways Management” organized for Board Members, Management and Area Managers and also 2026 NIWA Management Retreat in Abuja.

The Acting MD noted as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,with the support Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Authority is focused on aligning institutional goals in ensuring better service delivery to Nigerians.

He further said, as part of its anti-corruption drive, the Management held discussions with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to explore measures for strengthening transparency within its operations.

Girei therefore, assured staff that the ongoing reforms under his watch would translate into improved service and better working conditions.

“NIWA remains committed to continuous improvement and stakeholder engagement and the reforms are expected to enhance both internal performance and public confidence”. he stated.

Headlines

Navy appoints new Maritime Guard Commander for NIMASA

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has approved the appointment of Commodore Reginald Odeodi Adoki as the Commander of the Maritime Guard Command at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Commodore Adoki takes over from Commodore H.C Oriekeze who has been redeployed.

Commodore Adoki, a principal Warfare Officer specializing in communication and intelligence, brings onboard 25 years experience in the Nigerian Navy covering training, staff and operations.

As a seaman, he has commanded NNS Andoni, NNS Kyanwa and NNS Kada.

It was under his command that NNS Kada under took her maiden voyage, sailing from the country of build (the United Arab Emirates) into Nigeria.

He was commissioned into the Nigerian Navy in 2000 with a BSc in Mathematics.

He has since earned a Masters in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos and an M.Sc in Terrorism, Security and Policing at University of Leicester, England.

He is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Defence and Security Studies at the National Defence Academy (NDA).

He is a highly decorated officer with several medals for distinguished service.

Welcoming the new MGC Commander to the Agency, the Director General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, expressed confidence in Adoki’s addition to the team, emphasising that it will further strengthen the nation’s maritime security architecture given his vast experience in the industry.

The Maritime Guard Command domiciled in NIMASA was established as part of the resolutions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Navy to assist NIMASA strengthen operational efficiency in Nigeria’s territorial waters, especially through enforcement of security, safety and other maritime regulations.

Customs

Customs collects N1.585 trillion from 51 compliant traders under AEO programme

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), one of the trade facilitation tools introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service in 2025, has begun to yield bountiful harvests with the revenue growth of ₦362.79 billion recorded in 2025.

According to the AEO scorecard released by the Service, the facilitation tool grossed the sum of N1.585 trillion after certification, an increase revenue from N1.222 trillion before certification.

This represents the growth of N362.79 billion(29.68 per cent) for 51 AEO – certified entities as at October, 2025.

The Programme, according to the NCS, also contributed 21.77% to its total revenue collection of ₦7.281 trillion in 2025, while customs duties paid rose by 85.66% due to enhanced compliance and increased volumes of legitimate trade.

According to AEO Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Report, the Programme achieved an average compliance rate of 85.45 per cent with the highest at 100 per cent and the lowest at 60 per cent.

“The evaluation applied rigorous methodologies to ensure objectivity, transparency, and alignment with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards and the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

“In the area of trade facilitation, AEO participation reduced average cargo clearance time from 168 hours to 41 hours, representing a 75.60% time saving.

“Company operating costs declined by 57.2 per cent while demurrage payments dropped by 90 per cent, limiting capital flight to foreign-owned port service providers and strengthening foreign exchange retention.

” Overall trade efficiency improved by 77.11 per through digitalisation, simplified procedures, and targeted risk management” the Customs declared in the AEO scorecard.

However, the Service singled out with Eight companies for commendation due to their integrity and compliance under the programme.

The companies include Coleman Technical Industries Limited, WACOT Rice Limited, ROMSON Oil Field Services Ltd, WACOT Limited, Chi Farms Ltd, CORMART Nigeria Ltd, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.

The Service lauded them for a cumulative voluntary remittance of over a billion naira into the Federation Account following their self-initiated transaction review and disclosure.

“These actions reflect the strengthening of post-clearance audit mechanisms and a growing culture of voluntary compliance within the trading community.

Nevertheless, the Service suspended a firm under the programme for its non- compliance and display of lack of integrity.

The suspended firm engaged in false declaration of consignments contrary to programme obligations.

“Consequently, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, directed the immediate suspension of the company’s AEO status in accordance with the AEO Guidelines, the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards, and Section 112 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

The NCS reiterated that the AEO Programme is founded on trust, transparency, and continuous compliance.

“While compliant operators will continue to benefit from expedited clearance and reduced inspection, appropriate sanctions will be applied where violations are established.

“The Service remains resolute in safeguarding national revenue, facilitating legitimate trade, and preserving the integrity and global credibility of Nigeria’s AEO framework” the NCS concluded in the report.