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Day of Seafarers: Oyetola, Mobereola, stakeholders eulogise contributions of Nigerian Seafarers to maritime industry 

Funso Olojo

The appreciative stakeholders in the maritime industry on Tuesday, June 25th, 2024, during this year’s Day of the Seaferers, took turns to praise the contributions of Nigerian seafarers to the development of the nation’s economy.
In what appeared to be tributes to the sacrifices of the Seafarers, the stakeholders, including the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola and the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA)  unanimously agreed that the contributions of Nigerian Seafarers were invaluable to the sustainace of the economy.
In his remark, Oyetola said that Seafarers are the lifeblood of the maritime industry, which is essential to the success of the Blue Economy.

 This comes as the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, stated that Nigeria has the potential to be a maritime powerhouse, with the right policies in place.

The Minister, who stated this in Lagos during the commemoration of the 2024 Day of the Seafarer, assured in his keynote address that the Federal Government is committed to the development of the Nigerian maritime sector.

He stated that the theme for this year’s celebration; “Navigating the Future, Safety First,” aligns with the vision of the Ministry of the Marine and Blue Economy.

“Seafarers are the lifeblood of the maritime industry. They endure the isolation of the open sea, the unpredictability of weather, and the myriads of challenges that come with navigating some of the world’s busiest and most perilous waters.

” Their resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment ensure that goods and resources reach every corner of our planet, supporting livelihoods and promoting international trade”, he said.

The Minister who was represented by the Director, Maritime Safety and Security in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Babatunde Bombata, gave the assurance that the Federal Government remains committed to collaborating with industry stakeholders and is steadfast in advocating for the rights and welfare of Nigerian seafarers.

“We are committed to providing comprehensive training programmes, enforcing stringent safety regulations, and offering continuous support to ensure our seafarers are among the best trained and most resilient in the world.

“We are dedicated to building on this foundation, ensuring that Nigerian seafarers are equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities of the modern maritime landscape”, he said.

Furthermore, he pledged the Ministry’s resolve to prioritize the growth and development of the Marine and Blue Economy Sector, noting that its development of the sector will greatly benefit all Nigerians and future generations.

 “We are working closely with stakeholders in the private sector, international organizations, and other government agencies to create an enabling environment for the growth of the Maritime and Blue Economy”, he stated.

He also used the opportunity to call for stakeholders’ support in the development of the sector, noting that the Ministry cannot undertake the task alone.

 “This celebration of World Seafarers Day presents a unique opportunity to explore emerging issues and propose innovative solutions to the challenges facing the sector.
“We must remain resolute and deliberate in promoting the growth and development of the Marine and Blue Economy Sector, as the Ministry cannot achieve this alone”.

 On their part, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, along with his counterpart in the House of Representatives, applauded the seafarers for their resilience and assured them of the Government’s continuous support to guarantee their well-being.

They assured of the readiness of the National Assembly to work with NIMASA and other stakeholders to support any legislation aimed at advancing the rights and safety of all seafarers.

“Together, let us continue to strive for a maritime world that is equitable and inclusive for all,” Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun stated.

On his part, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, acknowledged the uniqueness of the profession and the challenges faced.

He noted that the theme for this year’s celebration, “Navigating the Future: Safety First,” is a call to address the challenging conditions seafarers face while navigating the sea. He emphasized the need for greater focus on their well-being and safety at sea.

“We recognize the humongous challenges Seafarers face while sailing; ranging from piracy, kidnapping, encounter at war zones exposure to health risks and unfair treatment.

” Notwithstanding all these, Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents in the last two years; we will not rest on our oars as the life of every seafarer matters”, Mobereola stated.

He assured that the Agency will continue to collaborate with both local and international organizations to address global issues affecting seafarers and ensure their safety while navigating the future.

“Nigeria has the young population to compete with other countries whose seafarers contribute immensely to their Gross Domestic Product (GDGDP.

” Hence, the Agency will continue to invest in training and capacity-building programs to enhance seafarers’ skills, welfare and employment opportunities”.

Dr. Mobereola used the opportunity to inform stakeholders that the Agency is working tirelessly to strengthen its legal frameworks by domesticating all Maritime Labour-related ILO Conventions ratified by Nigeria.

“These conventions include the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 as amended, the Seafarers Identity Document (SID) Convention as amended, and the Dock Work Convention”, he said.

“We will continue to focus on implementing programs and projects to improve seafarers welfare, including mental health support, safety training, and emergency assistance.

“Also we will continue to eliminate substandard vessels from our waters and ensure wrecks are removed to aid navigation and safety for our seafarers”, he assured.

He also mentioned that many beneficiaries of our Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) are currently undergoing mandatory sea-time training aboard ocean-going vessels.

The Agency is collaborating with key stakeholders like the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Indigenous Shipping Companies and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), all geared towards boosting the capacity of the seafarers.

Katie Higginbottom from the International Transport Federation (ITF), who joined virtually, emphasized that seafarers are a critical part of the maritime sector. She also commended NIMASA’s renewed collaboration with the ITF to ensure seafarers receive the necessary attention from their respective governments.

Professor Max Mejia, President of the World Maritime University, who also joined virtually, expressed gratitude to the seafarers and described them as modern-day heroes who deserve celebration.

In their goodwill messages, stakeholders took turns to praise the invaluable contributions of seafarers to the global economy, urging governments to continue supporting them through favorable policies that will enhance their well-being in line with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006.

They include President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju; President of the Shipowners Association of Nigeria; Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Hassan; among others.”

The International Day of the Seafarer is celebrated annually on June 25 to recognize the contributions of seafarers to international seaborne trade and the world economy as a whole. The day is organized by the International Maritime Organization and recognized by the United Nations as an observance day.

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Analyses

The invisible toll gates:Why National Single Window is Nigeria’s ultimate economic battleground

Monday Discourse with  Ibrahim Nasiru
Walk into any market in Nigeria today, from the commercial hubs of Lagos to the roadside stalls in Yola, and ask why a bag of rice or an imported spare part costs three times what it did last year.
The typical public commentator will blame global inflation, floating currencies, or macro-economic shocks.
But those who understand logistics know the real truth lies buried under layers of paper, manual stamps, and artificial delays at our seaports.
Nigeria’s international trade is suffocating not from a lack of deep water, but from a deliberate design of convenience.
The recent operational rollout of the National Single Window (NSW) has triggered behind-the-scenes panic among Port cartels, and for good reason.
For decades, keeping our clearing processes fragmented, manual, and dependent on desk-to-desk human interaction was the perfect business model for syndicates.
When cargo dwell times drag on for 21 days, those delays are money in the pockets of the gatekeepers and a death sentence for local businesses.
Let us look at the raw field realities. The push by the Nigeria Customs Service to aggressively crash clearance times down to global 48-hour standards is meeting fierce internal resistance.
Why? Because a unified digital ecosystem means you cannot easily manipulate documentation, hide illicit cargo, or demand “mobilization fees” before signing off a container.
The outcry and protests from certain freight-forwarding syndicates aren’t about technical glitches; they are about the sudden closure of invisible toll gates.
This is exactly why governance at our national gateways can no longer be left to the mercy of transactional bureaucratic habits.
Building deep-sea infrastructure like Lekki Port is a massive physical achievement, but concrete and cranes are useless if the administrative processes at the gate remain backward.
 Real structural reform requires turning our Ports into automated, friction-free pipelines that prioritize production over rent-seeking.
If Nigeria wants to survive this fiscal squeeze, the National Single Window cannot just be treated as another glossy IT project launched in Abuja.
 It requires unyielding administrative enforcement to completely dismantle the corrupt cartels managing the manual desk chains.
The invisible toll gates at our Ports must be completely demolished, and that exact same structural discipline must be scaled across our border stations and trade corridors.
The era of managing international trade with 20th-century paper trails is dying. The future belongs to the builders of automated, transparent systems.
Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs analyst,  writes from Abuja 
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Headlines

NANTA Exco embarks on seven-day Ghana retreat, fam trip to deepen regional tourism partnership

Gloria Odion, Reporter

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has commenced a seven-day executive retreat and familiarisation (fam) trip to Ghana, hosted by Safari World, as part of efforts to strengthen regional tourism partnerships and expand cross-border travel opportunities.

The NANTA delegation was received at Safari World Homes in Accra by the Chairman of the Safari World Group, Mr. Ernest Gyekye, who expressed delight at hosting the Nigerian travel trade leaders.

He assured the delegation of a memorable experience throughout their week-long stay.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, NANTA President, Mr. Yinka Folami, described the retreat and familiarisation tour as a strategic initiative aimed at fostering stronger business relationships and promoting collaborative tourism development across Africa.

“This mission is not a leisure trip,” Folami said. “It is a deliberate step to implement and expand our association’s marketing advocacy for Nigerian brands across borders.”

He noted that Nigeria and Ghana share deep historical, cultural and commercial ties that should be leveraged to drive tourism growth on the continent.

“Nigeria and Ghana share history, culture, trade and people. The future of our tourism cannot be built in silos,” he said.

“This retreat is about moving from policy to practice—creating real products, real partnerships and real movement of travellers between Accra and Lagos.”

As part of the programme, the NANTA executives will engage in strategic business-to-business (B2B) meetings with their Ghanaian counterparts, tour key tourism destinations under the Safari World brand, and participate in cultural exchange activities designed to promote stronger bilateral tourism cooperation.

The itinerary spans Safari World’s three flagship destinations, including Safari Homes in Accra, the Aqua Safari riverfront experience, Safari Island Cruise, Safari Nautica, and Safari Recreation and Sports facilities in Ada, as well as the Safari Valley Eco Resort and Safari Eco Park in Dawu.

Operating under the brand promise, “One World, Three Destinations, Over 20 Unique Experiences,” Safari World is leveraging the visit to strengthen its footprint in the Nigerian travel market while positioning Ghana as a premier destination for leisure tourism, conferences, group travel, family holidays and premium tourism experiences.

A major highlight of the visit will be the Executive Dinner scheduled for July 21 at the Safari Valley Eco Resort, where key stakeholders from Nigeria and Ghana’s tourism industries will deliberate on strategies for deepening travel trade and advancing regional tourism development.

The familiarisation tour is expected to provide NANTA’s leadership with first-hand knowledge of Safari World’s tourism offerings, paving the way for the development of attractive travel packages and stronger business partnerships that will benefit Nigerian travellers and the wider West African tourism industry.

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Customs

Ogun Customs spurns claims of Smugglers’ takeover of Idiroko–Sango Ota trading Route

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed as false reports alleging that smugglers had taken over the Idiroko–Sango Ota trading route in Ogun State, describing the claims as a deliberate misrepresentation of a traffic incident.
In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs (SC) Chado, the Command clarified that the traffic gridlock on the route resulted from the breakdown of an articulated commercial trailer after it fell into a badly deteriorated section of Atan Road, temporarily obstructing the free flow of traffic.
According to the Command, the vehicles caught in the ensuing congestion were legitimate commercial trucks transporting red palm oil to various local markets and had no connection whatsoever with smuggling activities.
It explained that the large number of heavy-duty trucks trapped in the gridlock may have led some members of the public to wrongly conclude that smugglers had taken over the road.
“The reports that smugglers blocked the road are inaccurate. The disruption resulted from a road accident and poor road conditions. The vehicles involved were lawful commercial vehicles transporting red palm oil for legitimate trade,” Chado stated.
The Command urged journalists, social media users and the general public to verify information before disseminating reports capable of creating unnecessary panic or undermining public confidence in security agencies.
Observers within the border trade sector noted that the allegation does not reflect the prevailing security situation within the Ogun I Area Command, where anti-smuggling operations have been intensified under the leadership of the Acting Customs Area Controller, Comptroller O.O. Afeni.
Since assuming office, Comptroller Afeni has strengthened intelligence-driven surveillance, enhanced collaboration with other security agencies and host communities, and sustained pressure on economic saboteurs operating along the Ogun border corridors.
These measures, according to stakeholders, have resulted in significant seizures of prohibited goods and reinforced the Command’s resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s economy and territorial integrity.
Maritime and border trade stakeholders also cautioned against the spread of unverified information capable of undermining the efforts of security personnel or creating a false impression of lawlessness in border communities.
They stressed that while combating smuggling remains an ongoing responsibility, responsible and accurate reporting is equally critical to ensuring that operational achievements are not overshadowed by misinformation.
The Ogun I Area Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining its anti-smuggling campaign while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade in line with the statutory mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.

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