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

Blue Lagos, New Generation Directorate bring 250 riverine youths together for development dialogue

Gloria Odion, Maritme reporter

The Blue Lagos Sustainability Initiative, in partnership with the New Generation Directorate, has brought together 250 young people representing 125 riverine and coastal communities across Lagos State to discuss grassroots development,youth empowerment, and inclusive governance.

The Lagos Riverine Community Youth Leaders Dialogue, held at the Badore Ferry Terminal, Ajah, provided a platform for youth representatives to present community challenges, identify development priorities, and propose practical solutions to issues affecting underserved riverine and coastal settlements.

The initiative aimed to strengthen engagement between government institutions and grassroots communities while ensuring that young people in hard-to-reach areas have a voice in decisions concerning their welfare, opportunities, and future.

Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Blue Economy, stressed the importance of involving young people in governance and development planning, particularly in communities facing geographical and socioeconomic challenges.

Emmanuel emphasised that sustainable development requires effective communication between government and the people, noting that understanding local needs and incorporating community perspectives into policy formulation and implementation are essential to achieving meaningful progress.

During the interactive session, youth leaders outlined pressing challenges confronting their communities, drawing attention to gaps in essential services, infrastructure, and economic opportunities.

The issues raised included inadequate access to education and healthcare, unemployment, environmental sustainability, transportation, poor infrastructure, youth empowerment, and limited access to essential social services.

Participants also called for improved access to government programmes and the implementation of targeted interventions that reflect the unique circumstances of riverine and coastal communities.

Emmanuel acknowledged the concerns presented by the youth representatives and assured them that their requests and recommendations would be communicated to the appropriate government authorities for consideration and necessary action.

He reiterated the importance of maintaining constructive engagement with grassroots communities to identify development priorities and explore practical approaches to addressing their needs.

In her goodwill message, Princess Damilola Sonayon James, APC Deputy Governorship Candidate in Lagos State and Director of the New Generation Directorate, urged young people across the state’s riverine and coastal communities to take an active role in governance and contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities.

She encouraged the youth leaders to move beyond expressing concerns about government policies by actively contributing ideas, engaging constructively with public officials, and participating in decision-making processes at both grassroots and state levels.

According to her, young people possess the energy, creativity, innovation, and community level understanding needed to promote responsive leadership and sustainable development.

James also urged the participants to remain united, organised, and committed to the progress of their respective communities, stressing the need for continuous engagement with government institutions and other relevant stakeholders.

She further called on young people to see themselves not merely as beneficiaries of government programmes but as active partners in governance, community development, and the future of Lagos State.

The dialogue also featured engagement with Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, alongside other stakeholders from the New Generation Directorate.

The engagement provided an opportunity to discuss issues affecting young people in riverine and coastal settlements, particularly youth development, employment and livelihood opportunities, education, healthcare, infrastructure, environmental protection, and community welfare.

Participants emphasised the need to strengthen communication between grassroots communities and public institutions, improve awareness of available government initiatives, and ensure that the needs of underserved settlements are adequately reflected in development plans.

With 250 young people representing 125 riverine and coastal communities in attendance, the dialogue underscored the importance of grassroots participation in shaping policies and programmes that respond to the realities of local communities.

The partnership between Blue Lagos and the New Generation Directorate also highlighted the role of collaboration in promoting youth inclusion, strengthening community engagement, and expanding development opportunities across Lagos State.

The initiative further reinforced the need for a coordinated approach involving government agencies, traditional and community leaders, youth organisations, civil society groups, and other stakeholders to address the challenges confronting riverine and coastal settlements.

For the Blue Lagos Sustainability Initiative, the dialogue represents a step towards strengthening grassroots participation, promoting inclusive governance, and ensuring that the concerns of underserved communities receive attention in development planning.

Through the engagement, Blue Lagos and the New Generation Directorate reaffirmed the importance of sustained dialogue with young people as partners in building stronger communities, improving access to opportunities, and advancing sustainable development across Lagos State’s riverine and coastal areas.

Headlines

Germany-Nigeria film week ends on high note, honours Schlöndorff, Musawa, Gani Adams, others

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The inaugural Germany-Nigeria Film Week has concluded successfully after ten days of film screenings, industry engagements, cultural exchanges and award presentations across four German cities, marking a significant step towards strengthening cinematic collaboration between Nigeria and Germany.

Held from October 1 to 10, 2026, the festival brought together filmmakers, government representatives, cultural institutions and creative industry stakeholders from both countries to promote cross-cultural engagement, explore co-production opportunities and expand the international reach of Nigerian cinema.

The festival opened on October 1 at the Arsenal Film Institut in Berlin with the screening of The Chronicles of Afrobeats, directed by Nigerian filmmaker and music executive Oluseun John Abisagboola, popularly known as Bankuli.

The opening ceremony featured a fireside chat between the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Ali Nuhu, and the Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr. Shaibu Husseini.

Their discussion examined the growth of Nigeria’s film industry, international partnerships and opportunities for deeper collaboration between Nigerian and German filmmakers.

Among the dignitaries at the event were Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Senator Ita Enang, and the Director of Arsenal Film Institut, Stefanie Schulte Strathaus, alongside filmmakers, producers and other creative industry stakeholders.

A major highlight of the Berlin programme was the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to renowned German filmmaker Volker Schlöndorff in recognition of his contributions to international cinema. His distinguished career spans several decades and includes documentary filmmaking in Africa, including Nigeria.

The Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, also received a Special Recognition Award for her contributions to the development and promotion of Nigeria’s creative industry. The award was received on her behalf by Dr. Husseini.

From Berlin, the festival moved to Hannover, where SONNENKINDFILM e.V., led by Michael Davies, co-founder of the Germany-Nigeria Film Week, hosted a press conference attended by festival delegates, filmmakers and industry representatives.

During the Hannover programme, a Special Recognition Award was presented to Chief Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, in recognition of his contributions to promoting and preserving African culture and heritage.

The city also hosted screenings of Nigerian productions, including Amanyanabo: The Eagle King, produced by veteran Nollywood actress and filmmaker Ibinabo Fiberesima and directed by Fred Amata and Ibinabo Fiberesima.

Another featured production was Evi, directed by Uyoyou Adia. Adia received an award in recognition of her creativity and artistic achievement in directing the film, while Fiberesima was also honoured for her contributions to the Nigerian film industry.

The festival subsequently extended to Bremen and Hamburg, further showcasing Nigerian filmmaking to German audiences.

Love and New Notes, directed by Kayode Kasum, was screened in both cities, while On Different Grounds, directed by Mildred Okwo, was screened in Bremen.

The Germany-Nigeria Film Week was founded by Mykel Parish Ajaere of Nigeria’s Pan-African Film Development & Advancement Foundation (PAFDAF) and Michael Davies of Germany’s SONNENKINDFILM e.V.

The initiative was established to create a sustainable platform for filmmakers from both countries to exchange ideas, build professional relationships, develop co-production partnerships and explore international distribution and other commercial opportunities.

Beyond showcasing films, the festival seeks to strengthen cultural relations between Nigeria and Germany while providing Nigerian filmmakers with greater access to European audiences and international industry networks.

The organisers said the inaugural edition received institutional and logistical support from the Office of the Mayor of Hannover, Arsenal Film Institut Berlin, KoKi Cinema Hannover, City 46 Cinema Bremen and Metropolis Kino Hamburg.

The Nigerian Film Corporation and the National Film and Video Censors Board also supported the initiative, reinforcing its objective of building sustainable partnerships between the two countries’ film industries.

With its inaugural edition completed, the organisers have scheduled the second Germany-Nigeria Film Week for October 4–9, 2027. The next edition is expected to feature expanded programming, broader industry participation and stronger international partnerships.

The successful conclusion of the maiden festival underscores the potential of cinema as a vehicle for cultural diplomacy, creative-sector development and stronger economic ties between Nigeria and Germany.

Customs

Export activities surge at Lilypond Export Command, records export value of US$752.9m in Q3 of 2026

DC Salako, Ag.Controller Lilypond Export Command

— as Agricultural, Solid minerals exports plunge

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Lilypond Export Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ijora, Lagos, recorded export transactions valued at $752.9 million in the third quarter of 2026, representing a 22.14 per cent increase over the $586.152 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

The growth was driven largely by a sharp increase in manufactured goods exports, which more than doubled during the period, offsetting declines in agricultural produce and solid minerals exports.

The Acting Controller of the Command, Deputy Comptroller Olusola Oluyemi Salako, attributed the overall improvement to favourable government export policies, the Customs Service’s commitment to trade facilitation and the support of the NCS management under the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

Salako disclosed the figures while briefing the media on the Command’s third-quarter performance on October 28, 2026.

A breakdown of the monthly figures showed that export value rose from $202.604 million in July 2025 to $217.526 million in July 2026, representing a 6.86 per cent increase.

In August, exports increased from $176.628 million to $297.919 million, reflecting a reported growth of 40.71 per cent, while September exports rose from $206.919 million to $237.406 million, representing a 12.84 per cent increase.

Manufactured goods drive export growth

An analysis of the sectoral performance showed that manufactured goods emerged as the leading driver of export growth, with export value increasing from $169.902 million in the third quarter of 2025 to $402.520 million in the corresponding period of 2026.

The performance underscores the growing contribution of manufactured and value-added products to Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings.

Salako said the trend reflected the Federal Government’s drive to encourage domestic processing and value addition rather than continued dependence on the export of raw commodities.

“This performance underscores the growing contribution of manufactured and value-added products to Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings,” he said.

According to the Acting Controller, the Customs Command has continued to sensitise exporters on the need to move beyond the export of raw agricultural produce and embrace processing and value-added production.

He explained that more agricultural commodities were being processed into manufactured and value-added products for export, a development that he said was contributing to the growth in manufactured goods exports and supporting greater foreign exchange repatriation into the Nigerian economy.

Agricultural exports suffer decline

Despite the overall growth in export value, agricultural exports recorded a decline, falling from $346.107 million in the third quarter of 2025 to $310.981 million in the corresponding period of 2026.

Salako, however, maintained that agriculture remained a significant component of the Command’s export portfolio.

He attributed the decline partly to the Federal Government’s increasing emphasis on processing agricultural commodities and improving their value before export.

The policy direction, he said, was intended to encourage domestic value addition, expand manufacturing activities and improve the returns Nigeria earns from its exports.

The Command, he added, would continue to engage exporters and provide guidance on compliance with government policies aimed at strengthening the country’s non-oil export base.

Solid minerals exports plunge

Solid minerals exports recorded the steepest decline among the major export categories, falling from $62.271 million in the third quarter of 2025 to $6.487 million in the same period of 2026.

Salako attributed the sharp drop to government policies discouraging the export of unprocessed solid minerals and requiring greater processing and conversion into derivatives before export.

He also cited efforts to curb illegal mining activities, particularly those involving foreign operators, as another factor contributing to the decline.

The Acting Controller said the Command would continue engaging stakeholders in the solid minerals sector to better understand operational challenges and support legitimate export activities within the framework of existing government policies.

In contrast, exports classified under the other-products category increased from $7.870 million to $32.863 million during the period under review, reflecting improved performance.

Export container throughput rises

Beyond the increase in export value, the Command recorded significant growth in export container throughput.

The number of export containers processed rose from 10,987 in the third quarter of 2025 to 16,345 in the corresponding period of 2026, an increase of 5,358 containers.

The growth points to increased cargo movement through the facility and an expansion in the volume of export transactions handled during the quarter.

The Command also reported increases in export-related collections.

According to Salako, the 2.5 per cent re-export surcharge increased by ₦90.019 million, while the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) charges rose by ₦517.923 million during the period.

He said the increase in collections highlighted the importance of efficient cargo processing, accurate documentation and compliance with established Customs procedures in supporting legitimate trade.

Customs pledges faster processing, stronger compliance

Salako commended compliant exporters, licensed Customs agents, export processing terminals, relevant government agencies and other stakeholders for their cooperation and commitment to the export process.

He said the Command would sustain its support for legitimate trade through improved trade facilitation, timely dissemination of relevant information and consistent enforcement of applicable Customs regulations.

“The Command will continue to support legitimate trade through effective trade facilitation, timely dissemination of relevant information and consistent application of extant rules and regulations. At the same time, we will sustain our commitment to enforcing compliance with all applicable Customs laws and government policies,” he said.

Looking ahead, the Acting Controller said the Command would intensify efforts to sustain export growth through faster and more efficient cargo processing, stakeholder engagement, advocacy and the effective deployment of the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), also known as B’Odogwu.

He said the system continued to support Customs operations and trade facilitation by improving the management of export transactions.

The Command would also leverage World Customs Organization (WCO) trade facilitation instruments, including the Time Release Study (TRS), where applicable, to identify operational bottlenecks and improve efficiency.

Salako said the third-quarter performance demonstrated the potential of manufactured and value-added products to strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil export base, even as the declines in agricultural and solid minerals exports highlighted the need to address sector-specific challenges.

“Our commitment remains to facilitate legitimate trade, strengthen compliance, enhance revenue collection and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Nigeria’s non-oil economy,” he said.