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Maritime agencies groan under delayed release of 2024 sectoral budget 

Adegboyega Oyetola,Minister of Marine and Blue Economy
–-accuse National Assembly of complicity 
— We have passed, released budget— N/A fires back 
—Marine and Blue economy ministry keeps mum 
Funso OLOJO 
The alleged delayed release of the maritime industry sectoral budget has become a subject of speculation and ding-dong affairs between the agencies in the sector and the National Assembly.
Sources close to some of these agencies have claimed that their 2024 sectoral budget has not been released by the National Assembly seven months into the year.
A concerned source close to one of the affected agencies, who pleaded for anonymity for fear of reprisal, confided in our reporter that the 2024 sectoral budget for his agency is yet to be passed and released by the National Assembly, a claim which a source close to the  Assembly has denied.
“This was despite our budget presentation and defence at the twilight of 2023” a source close to one of the affected agencies disclosed.
The source accused the members of the House Committees of the Senate on Marine Transport and the House Committees on Ports and Harbour, Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Inland Waterways and Shipping Services of complicity in the delayed release of the budget.
The source alleged that due to the refusal of some of the agencies to accede to what he claimed has become a practice of budget padding, their budgets are delayed.
” During last administration, budgets were quickly passed and released because the agencies consented to budget padding”
” For instance, if an agency proposed a budget of N100m, it could be padded with an additional 30 million which would be taken upfront for the budget to be quickly passed and released” the source alleged.
The source however claimed that under the present government, everyone was being cautious as nobody wanted to go to jail.
” Under the present dispensation, nobody wants to go to jail hence the refusal to consent to budget padding which may have resulted in the delay” the source further alleged.
The source further declared that the delayed release of the budget has hampered the operations of these agencies as they could not embark on critical infrastructural and operational projects.
” We are only allowed to spend between 20 percent to 25 percent of the proposed budgets before they are passed”
” And these are used to pay salaries and other overhead costs”
” If you embark on any project outside the discretionary percentage of your budget as critical expenses, you will go to jail, so this has hamstrung the agencies’ Heads from embarking on major operational projects” the source alleged.
However, National Assembly sources who spoke to our reporter on strict instruction for anonymity faulted the claims of the agencies.
” These are a pack of lies” one of the sources countered.
” It is not true that the National Assembly is holding on to the budget of the agencies nor engages in budget padding.
” Which of the agencies are you talking about?
” Is it NPA, NIMASA, Shippers Council , MAN, Oron, or NIWA?
” Their budgets have been passed”, the source claimed, and went on to explain the principles governing budget consideration, passage, and transmission.
“A budget runs a 12-month cycle.
” The recurring expenditures such as salaries and other overhead costs start from January to January.
“But the budget proper doesn’t start in January but from around June to June, each year.
“To take care of exigencies that may disrupt the 12-month cycle period of budget implementation, the National Assembly usually extends the implementation of previous budgets like the 2023 budget, to December.
” When you run a budget late, you cannot shut down the old one completely.
” Constitution allows you to spend existing sub-head up till half of the year.
” I believe their budget is ready.
”The National Assembly extended the implementation of the 2023 budget till December because they have not finished its implementation, so nothing is crippled as they claimed.
” There are certain things that are automatic. The salaries and other overhead costs are automatic.
” It is only new projects they are not allowed to dabble into before the current budget is passed and released.
” This will allow them to complete the existing projects they have been committed to before they undertake new ones”
The highly placed National Assembly source insisted that the sectoral budget of the maritime agencies has been passed and said if they haven’t got them, it was probably because the documents are in the middle of conveyance.
The source claimed that the budget is no longer transmitted directly to the agencies as was the case before but through their parent ministry, which is the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy which in turn transmits it to the Ministry of Finance where the government will deduct at source 50 percent of the budget before the balance is transmitted to the respective agencies.
” Remember, as contained in the 2024 Finance Act, the Federal government deducts at source 50 percent of the value of budgetary allocations to all the self-funding agencies and parastatals before the balance is remitted”
” Now that the Federal government has taken over the receipt of their money and deducts 50 percent before remittance to them, sometimes it may be delayed before remittance is done to the agencies.
The source said this may have led to their present financial crunch which they should not blame on the National Assembly.
” At no point in time did the agencies have no budgetary allocations.
” If they are complaining about lack of adequate funds, that is a different thing entirely.
” They should not hold the National Assembly responsible for their present financial predicament”
The source accused those peddling the allegation of an attempt to give the National Assembly a bad name.
“What I know and can confirm to you is that their budgets are no longer with the National Assembly.
 According to the source, MAN Oron got its budget about two months ago.
The same thing goes for Nigerian Shippers’Council and NIWA.
” If there is still any other agency which has not received its own, it may probably be with the Ministry of Marine and Blue economy for necessary scrutiny or within the conveyance process”
The source said that the NPA has a peculiar case because the new MD has just resumed and could not be allowed to start spending money without studying the situation he met on the ground.
” Even, the NPA which has a peculiar case cannot complain of budget delay because they got virement.
” Not only that, the period of its budget implementation was extended.
” It was supplemented around February or March 2024 when the agency got additional budgetary allocation”
” National Assembly has no hand in the delay budget release or withholding or inadequate funds they may be facing and I challenge anyone with contrary position” the source declared.
Meanwhile, the efforts of our reporter to get the position of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy on the sectoral budget controversy met hostile reactions.
It would be recalled that in December 2023, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, presented N10.9billion budget to the joint House committees on Marine Transport and the House of Representatives committees on Ports and Harbour, Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Inland waterways and Shipping Services.
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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.
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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.

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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.
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