Headlines

The futility of waiting on Mobereola, NIMASA DG, for CVFF disbursement

Funso Olojo

Thursday, May 9th, 2024, the new Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), for the first time since his assumption of duties, met with the expectant stakeholders in the maritime industry.

The meeting, held at the prestigious Eko Hotels, attracted core maritime players such as shipping companies, terminal operators, maritime labour, Seafarers, ship owners, Navy and other service providers in the industry.

Three former NIMASA DGs, Dr Ade Dosunmu, Ferndinad Agu and Barrister Temisan Omatseye,

were also there to offer their advice and lend their support in solidarity with the new helmsman.

The stakeholders came to the meeting with their plates packed full of a menu of expectations and demands.

Mobereola, who was barely two months in the saddle, sat patiently, with broad smiles, as each category of stakeholders came with their bag full of demands.

At a point during about three hours of engagement, Mobereola lost his trade mark smile when the load of expectations from the expectant stakeholders began to weigh in on him.

Maritime security, infrastructural development, ratification of IMO treaties and conventions, empowerment and training of Seafarers, professionalisation and automation of NIMASA services, upgrade of ship registry.

The list is endless.

Mobereola was taking all these demands and expectations in his stride until the issue of disbursement of Cabotage Vessels Financing Funds (CVFF) came up.

At this point, he lost his smile and assumed a more serious expression as he listened with bewilderment to the tale of a long wait, disappointment and frustration of ship owners over the CVFF disbursement.

Then, Barrister Temisan Omatseye, the former NIMASA DG, dropped the clincher when he turned to Mobereola and told him point blank that he would not be able to disburse the controversial CVFF, giving reasons for his pessimism.

“Let me be frank with you sir, you will not be able to disburse the CVFF” Barrister Temisan Omatseye said with a deadpan expression, which further made Mobereola lose his composure.

Little wonder, the NIMASA DG tactically avoided speaking or making any commitment to the disbursement of the CVFF while responding to the array of demands and expectations of the stakeholders.

He promised to revamp and automate the ship registry, he pledged to run an inclusive administration and be gender sensitive.

As a matter of fact, he promised to defer to the advice and suggestions of the former NIMASA DGs and consider the inputs of stakeholders in forming his policies and programmes as NIMASA DG.

He, however, avoided the issue of CVFF disbursement like a plague as he didn’t make any commitment towards its disbursement.

The decision by Mobereola not to make any commitment towards disbursement of the CVFF, to some stakeholders, was a smart administrative move that will save the new helmsman a load of stress.

To them, making a commitment to the controversial subject will put him under unnecessary pressure from the hapless ship owners who have become weary of long wait.

His commitment will become a yardstick for the assessment of his administration by the critical stakeholders.

The disbursement of CVFF is not only bigger than NIMASA DG but not within his power to determine, so said some discerning industry operators.

The President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners, (NAMM), Captain Tajudeen Alao, said that much when he said disbursement of CVFF is a political game which Mobereola is not cut out to play.

“He does not have the power to push for the disbursement of the fund.

“The law is very clear in the Cabotage Act who is in charge and that money is subject to the approval of the National Assembly because it is an income that goes to the Federation Account but it should not be used like that because it’s a purpose driven contribution” the master mariner noted.

Of course, the disbursement of CVFF has become a political chess game while successive NIMASA DGs were mere pawns on the chessboard.

Since 2002 when the funds debutted from the two per cent deductions from Cabotage contracts, and 2006 when the guidelines for its disbursement were spelt out, no single ship owner, dead or alive, has benefitted from it.

It has never been disbursed.

Former Ministers and NIMASA DGs have all been consumed by the high-wire politics and administrative intrigues surrounding the disbursement of the controversial interventionist funds.

Rotimi Amaechi, the former minister of Transportation, despite his political clout and vibrancy, had to cry out in frustration and asked the ship owners, the supposed beneficiaries, to take their destinies into their own hands when he met a political brick wall.

His successor, Alhaji Sambo Muazu, staked his integrity over the disbursement but lost out, despite his claim of securing the approval of the then President Mohammudu Buhari.

The story was not different from the previous NIMASA DGs who made promises of disbursement but failed.

From Dakuku Peterside to his successor, Dr Bashir Jamoh, the immediate past DG, it was a tale of frustration and forlorn hope.

Of particular instance was Dr Jamoh who showed genuine desire and consuming passion to disburse the funds.

He got to the final stage of the hurdle before the disagreement between NIMASA and the approved primary lending institutions(PLIs) over interest rates chargeable on the loan eventually stalled the process.

He was in the process of resuming the negotiation when he exited the agency after the expiration of his tenure.

So given this scenario, observers noted that it would be futile and a hope stretched too far for indigenous ship owners to wait on Mobereola, a man who is probably not well grounded in the politics of CVFF, for the disbursement of the Funds.

Apart from his innocence and naivity in the politics of CVFF disbursement, his position is not helped by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, who has not shown any interest and commitment towards the disbursement of the funds.

Any NIMASA DG who will pull the chestnut of CVFF disbursement out of fire must have a strong-willed Minister, someone in the mould of Rotimi Amaechi, to lend his political weight to the battle.

From all indications, Gboyega Oyetola does not cut the picture of such a strong-willed character that can exert the necessary political pressure to pull off the disbursement of CVFF, notwithstanding his perceived closeness and affinity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

With such weak political support and lack of commitment towards the controversial subject, indigenous ship owners will be stretching their luck too far if they should expect the disbursement of the CVFF under the NIMASA administration of Dr Dayo Mobereola.

Headlines

NIMASA flaunts automation process of Nigerian ship registry at 2- day webinar with stakeholders

Funso OLOJO Editor

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will host a two-part stakeholder webinar on October 6 and 8, 2026, to showcase the ongoing automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry as part of efforts to modernise ship registration services and enhance the competitiveness of the Nigerian flag.

The webinars will provide shipowners, operators, maritime professionals, financial institutions, insurers and other stakeholders with insights into the new digital registration platform and its potential to significantly improve the speed, transparency and efficiency of ship registration and related services.

The automated system is designed to enable 24/7 access to registration services, streamline application and approval processes, and facilitate faster issuance of electronic certificates, thereby reducing administrative delays associated with conventional paper-based procedures.

A key feature of the platform is its capacity to provide secure, real-time tracking of ship mortgages and related registry transactions. This will strengthen transparency and provide greater visibility for stakeholders, including financial institutions and other parties involved in vessel financing.

The automation initiative is also expected to make interaction with the Nigerian Ship Registry more seamless for local and international shipowners, while improving the Agency’s ability to deliver efficient, responsive and globally competitive flag-state services.

Speaking on the initiative, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the automation of the Ship Registry was part of the Agency’s broader commitment to transforming the Nigerian flag and creating an enabling environment for increased participation in the global shipping industry.

“The automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry represents a significant step in our commitment to providing efficient, transparent and globally competitive services to shipowners and other maritime stakeholders.

“Our objective is to make the Nigerian flag more accessible, responsive and attractive through technology-driven processes that meet international standards,” Mobereola declared.

The ongoing user-testing phase is focused on validating the platform’s functionality, security and user experience ahead of its official deployment.

NIMASA said the webinars would also provide an opportunity for stakeholders to understand the platform, experience its key features and provide feedback as the Agency moves towards full implementation.

The Agency is inviting shipowners, ship managers, maritime professionals, financial institutions, insurers, legal practitioners, classification societies and other interested stakeholders to participate in the webinars.

Headlines

NRC joins global community to celebrate customers’ loyalty

Funso OLOJO, Editor

For the first time in its 128 years of existence, the Nigerian Railway Corporation(NRC) joins the global community to commemorate 2026 Customer Service Week from October 5 to 9, with a renewed commitment to putting passengers at the centre of its operations.

The week, being celebrated under the theme, “The Extra Mile,” marks a significant milestone for the 128-year-old Corporation, which is observing Customer Service Week for the first time in its history.

For the NRC, the celebration goes beyond appreciating its passengers. It is also an opportunity to recognise employees who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to service delivery while reinforcing a culture of customer-centricity across the Corporation.

The initiative is in line with the vision of the Managing Director of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, who has consistently emphasised the need to place passengers at the heart of the Corporation’s operations and improve their overall travel experience.

Opeifa said the experiences of the Corporation in recent times had further underscored the importance of listening to customers and responding more effectively to their needs.

“Customers are at the heart of everything we do. Their feedback, trust and partnership challenge us to keep improving and delivering value every day.

“Customer Service Week is an opportunity to recognise that relationship and remind ourselves that great service must go beyond expectations,” he said.

According to the NRC, the theme, “The Extra Mile,” reflects the changing expectations of modern train passengers and the need for service providers to go beyond routine obligations.

Going the extra mile, the Corporation noted, could mean listening more attentively to passengers, resolving complaints more quickly, providing clearer and timely information, anticipating customer needs, simplifying processes or demonstrating empathy when it matters most.

The NRC said the commitment would apply across all its operational areas nationwide, with emphasis on providing passengers with a consistent, responsive and dependable experience regardless of where or how they interact with the Corporation.

The Corporation also pledged to strengthen its customer-feedback mechanisms and establish a closer link between passenger insights and continuous improvements in service delivery.

It said its objective was to ensure that exceptional customer service becomes an everyday practice rather than an activity reserved for Customer Service Week.

“Every interaction presents an opportunity to listen better, respond faster, show genuine care and create greater value for our customers,” the Corporation stated.

For the NRC, therefore, “The Extra Mile” is more than a theme for a week-long celebration. It represents a commitment to making every passenger interaction count and ensuring that customers enjoy a safer, more responsive and rewarding experience throughout their journey on Nigerian trains.

Commentaries

Our Oceans, Our Wealth: The real benefits of new fishing port

Monday Discourse with Nasiru Ibrahim

Nigeria has a very long coastline, but we have ignored our oceans for decades. Our major sea gateways, from Apapa to Port Harcourt, are mostly built to handle crude oil exports and heavy manufacturing containers.

Meanwhile, the local fishing industry—which has the capacity to feed the entire nation and create vast wealth—has been left to survive entirely on its own.

This is why the recent announcement by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, makes a lot of sense.

Speaking through a representative at the National Conference on Sustainable Fishing in Lagos, the NPA boss stated that Nigeria plans to build a specialized fishing port to finally harness the true value of our ocean resources.

As the country tries to grow its marine and blue economy, this move is completely long overdue.

For a very long time, Nigeria has suffered from an intense oil blindness, focusing all investments on petroleum while ignoring the massive economic potential floating right on our waters.

Right now, our deep seas are teeming with valuable fish, but because we lack proper docks, specialized marine structures, and secure landing sites for large fishing vessels, foreign ships enter our territory and steal our marine resources every single year.

A dedicated fishing port will change this entirely. It will give our local operators and commercial fishing trawlers a safe, modern, and legally protected base to harvest, dock, and process their catch.

Instead of letting foreign poachers dominate our waters, a specialized port ensures that Nigeria profits directly from its own geographical blessings.

We cannot talk about maritime infrastructure without looking at the kitchen table, especially since the average Nigerian family is facing a massive food crisis.

Severe inflation has turned basic proteins like fish and beef into luxury items that ordinary people can no longer afford.

A specialized fishing port will help fix this supply chain problem. The NPA’s plan involves creating dedicated fish terminals equipped with modern cold-room facilities, meaning local fishermen can preserve their catch immediately without it spoiling on the high seas.

When fish can be safely stored and transported into local markets without rotting, the overall supply goes up. When supply goes up, the price goes down, helping ordinary citizens put affordable protein back on their dining tables.

Furthermore, a modern fishing port is much more than just a place to park boats; it is a full-scale industrial business hub.

Building a specialized facility will spark immediate economic activity along our coastlines, naturally attracting seafood processing factories, boat repair yards, ice-making companies, and specialized transport networks.

This infrastructure will create thousands of genuine jobs for young people, refrigeration technicians, boat mechanics, and market women who dominate the local seafood trade. It bridges the gap between rural, traditional fishing and modern, industrial maritime commerce, bringing life back to struggling coastal communities.

The NPA has presented a great vision, and using a Public-Private Partnership model to fund it is a smart strategy.

But as Nigerians, we know our main problem is never a shortage of good plans—it is making those plans actually happen on the ground.

If this fishing port is going to transform our economy, the government must move quickly from conference papers to physical construction. We need to see real investments start on our coastlines.

Utilizing our ocean resources is one of the smartest ways to build a country that does not rely solely on oil. It is time to stop looking at our waters as just shipping lanes, and start treating them as the goldmines they really are.

Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja.