Headlines

From LAMATA to NIMASA: The Task Before Dayo Mobereola.

Dayo Mobereola, taking over the mantle of office at NIMASA

The Eyewitness Reporter

Last week Friday, March 22nd, 2024, the new Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dayo Mobereola quietly walked into the Kanti Towers( now NIMASA Towers), the new ultra-modern headquarters of the agency, to assume duties.

He was pronounced the new helmsman of the rich government parastatal on March 11th, 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to replace Dr Bashir Jamoh, whose four-year eventful tenure lapsed on March 10th, 2024.

As expected, the former Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority(LAMATA )boss was elated by his new office and status.

He said this much when he expressed his enthusiasm to become the new NIMASA DG.

” It is with great enthusiasm and a sense of purpose that I step into this position” he had said with a glowing mien when he took over the baton of leadership from Mr Chudi Offodile, the Agency’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, who had been acting since the exit of Jamoh.

It is expected that Dr Mobereola should be elated given the fact that he now sits atop an international-inclined, money-spinning government agency which is by far bigger in status, stature and scope than LAMATA.

However, we want to advise Mobereola not to be carried away by the euphoria of his new office and position as he is faced with the daunting task of driving the most critical, dynamic and highly technical agency which is by far more tasking, engaging and challenging than LAMATA.

He should also know that he is in an industry that is international in operation and whose operators are cynical but discerning and sophisticated in thoughts and actions, who are unsparing in their criticism, who are impatient with laggards and who are quite friendly and supportive of intelligent, proactive and impactful Chief Executive officers of the frontline regulatory agency in the industry.

The industry whose stakeholders are intoxicated by successes but incensed by failures.

So Mobereola should know what he is up against as he is stepping into the big shoes vacated by his predecessor, Dr Bashir Jamoh, whose modest achievements have now set parameters by which his performance shall be assessed.

Such parameters include but are not limited to shipping development, CVFF disbursement, full deployment of the agency’s floating dock, change in Nigeria’s fortune at the IMO elections where the country has become a serial loser, the proactive approach to the controversial National Seafarers Development Programme(NSDP).

Cabotage Vessels Financing Funds(CVFF)

Mobereola is coming into the office to meet one of the most controversial, highly politicized and brazenly abused interventionist Programmes of the agency, the Cabotage Vessels Financing Funds (CVFF).

Initiated in 2003 through the Cabotage Act, it is meant to empower indigenous ship owners to enable them to compete effectively in the Cabotage trade.

The fund is the accruals from the two per cent deductions made from Cabotage contracts of indigenous ship owners.

The special purpose loan facility is meant to be disbursed to qualified beneficiaries who meet the stringent guidelines.

Instructively, the funds have not been disbursed 20 years after it started. and it is said to have accrued the sum of $700milion as at 2023.

It has suffered several abuse and postponements of disbursement dates and become an object of official deceit and controversy so much so that the indigenous ship owners for whom it is meant have lost hope and confidence in government sincerity.

Under Jamoh, who appeared genuinely sincere and committed, the funds came close to disbursement as it got two presidential approvals under President Mohammudu Buhari, first to Rotimi Ameachi and then in December 2022, to Muazu Sambo, both former Ministers of Transportation.

Sambo even had to stake his integrity on the disbursement of the controversial funds when in December 2022, he bragged “Hold me responsible if this funds is not disbursed. I am staking my integrity on the approval granted by Mr President”

We need not say that the funds were still not disbursed before he exited.

We went into the intrigues and opaque manner in which the vexed issue of CVFF disbursement had been handled for 20 years so Mobereola would know the task at hand.

If he could eventually break the 20-year-old jinx of CVFF disbursement before he leaves office, he would become an instant celebrity among the highly sceptical stakeholders who have already written him off as a misfit before he even assumed duties.

Nigeria’s Serial loses at IMO Category C elections

Another parameter that will be used to measure the performance of the new NIMASA DG is how he would turn the fortunes of Nigeria around at the International Maritime Organisation(IMO) elections.

Since 2007, when Nigeria last won the election into the Category ‘C’ council of the IMO under the former NIMASA DG, Dr Ade Dosunmu, it has been A string of consistent loses after then.

Since 2009 till date, Nigeria’s bids to win the coveted position at the IMO have been met with crushing defeats and near-misses.

The country became defeat-weary so much that it chickened out of the 2023 biannual elections when it failed to participate in the election held in the London headquarters of the IMO in December 2023.

Gboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, who led other government officials on a jamboree visit to London in 2023 to observe the election which Nigeria ought to have participated, said Nigeria will not participate in that year’s election to give ample room for preparations for the 2025 edition.

Mobereola, with the active support and guidance of the minister, should leverage the giant stride made by his immediate predecessor towards this direction.

Jamoh has built international goodwill and made the government invest in robust maritime infrastructure which engender maritime security and safety.

It behoves the new helmsman at the agency to harness all these and deliver to Nigeria a place in the prestigious category C at the IMO Council.

If he does that in the next council elections in 2025, then some of his critics, especially in the maritime media, would be falling over themselves to confer on him the Maritime Man of the Year Award reserved for the performing CEOs in the industry.

Full deployment of the agency’s floating dock.

Again, his immediate predecessor, Bashir Jamoh, had prepared a ground for the eventual deployment of this national asset.

NIMASA acquired the giant floating dock in 2018 at the staggering sum of N50 billion in what appeared that the agency put the chart before the horse as it searched for a suitable operational base for six years while the facility was idling away and gulping national resources.

However, Jamoh made what appeared to be concrete steps towards the eventual deployment of the giant floating dock before he bowed out of office.

He convinced the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to lease its facilities at the Continental shipyard for the anchorage of the floating dock.

He also engaged the services of Melsmore Marina Nigeria Limited as a technical partner to drive the deployment of the dock.

Shortly before Jamoh exited, the floating dock had been dragged to a jetty at the Standard Flour Mills, Apapa in preparation for its final movement to its scheduled operational base at the Continental Shipyard.

So, Mobereola has had its work cut out for him by his immediate predecessor.

All he needs to do is finalize the arrangement that would enable the floating dock to commence operations that will conserve the scarce foreign exchange that Nigeria’s local ship owners use to dry dock their vessels outside the shores of the country.

Sustaining the momentum in the fight against piracy.

One of the legacies left behind by Bashir Jamoh is the highly emasculated pirate attacks on Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea.

Nigeria led the international onslaught on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea which recorded a considerable decline in the operations of pirates in the last few years.

Through the deployment of its sophisticated infrastructures under the Deep Blue project, Nigeria has fought piracy to a standstill.

This laudable effort was further boosted by the promulgation of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, 2019 (SPOMO) Act which helped in speedy and effective prosecution of pirates in the country.

With these far-reaching measures and efforts, all that Mobereola needs to do is to sustain the fight against piracy.

He can’t afford to ease his foot on the pedal as a spike in the unholy activities of pirates will deal irreversible damage to his tenure.

Revival of dying indigenous shipping operations.

One of the cardinal objectives of NIMASA is shipping development.

However, this is a dark spot on what could have been a glittering tenure of his immediate predecessor, Bashir Jamoh.

Under Jamoh, shipping development didn’t enjoy as much attention as other areas of the agency’s mandates as businesses most of the indigenous ship owners went under.

Probably due to the non-rebursement of the controversial CVFF which should have empowered the indigenous ship owners, the operations of these operators nose-dived as substantial numbers of them went out of business.

To worm himself into the hearts of the distressed and depressed indigenous ship owners, Mobereola should court them, consult them and engage with them in decisions that would be taken by the agency concerning the promotion of their businesses.

The National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP)

The National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) was initiated by NIMASA in 2008 under the former DG, Dr Ade Dosunmu. It was designed to train Nigerian youths up to a degree level in Marine Engineering, Nautical Services and Naval Architecture in some of the best maritime training institutions abroad.

Since its inception, the programme is reputed to have produced about 2,000 beneficiaries.

However, the sore point in the programme is that most of the cadets who passed through the programme lack the requisite sea-time training as that important component was not initially embedded in the terms of engagement between NIMASA and the foreign training institutions.

Also, it has been alleged that the programme has largely been an instrument of nepotism as beneficiaries are friends, relatives and cronies of highly placed Nigerians in government, including successive Minister of Transportation (Marine and Blue Economy ministry).

As a result, some stakeholders have called for its scrapping.

Mobereola should look into these allegations and provide workable solutions that would address the lack of seatime training for the cadets and the issue of nepotism should be looked into.

The duties of the new NIMASA DG have clearly been cut out for him and adequate ground was prepared for him by his immediate predecessor.

It is now incumbent on Mobereola to latch on these opportunities to drive the maritime industry higher than he met it.

Failure to do this and make an impact within the next six months of his tenure, he would have the harsh, hard and highly sceptical stakeholders to contend with.

His short speech at the handing-over ceremony last week Friday, March 22nd, 2024 was not inspiring as it gives him away as someone who hasn’t gotten a grasp of the task ahead

“I do not doubt that every individual within our organization has the potential to achieve greatness.

” We will, therefore, ensure that we build a purpose-driven organisation by investing in our staff, processes, and the entire system to achieve our mandate.

” I aim to foster an environment of innovation, collaboration and synergy, creating an atmosphere that encourages the development of our employees’ skills, talents, and creativity” he has said.

To stakeholders, the statement is nebulous as it was not specific on key areas of interest to industry operators.

So, the sooner Mobereola knows that the maritime industry and administration is more technical, engaging, and in-depth in the conception and execution of ideas and policies than land transportation, the better.

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.