Headlines
Another boat capsizes in Kogi as NIWA sends team to rescue missing passengers.
Funso OLOJO
Fresh tragedy struck on Nigeria’s waterways when a wooden boat capsized on the waters of Ebe community in Kupa South Local Government Area of Kogi state.
The wooden craft, operated by an unknown boat operator, left with unsubstantiated number of passengers at the wee hour of Friday, November 29th, around 1 am in the morning,from an abandoned jetty with intent to beat NIWA’ s tight surveillance on the waterways.
Preliminary findings by NIWA indicated that the wooden boat was travelling to the Katcha market in Niger State when it suddenly went under due to poor visibility and overloading.
There are no details of lives lost so far as at the time of this report.
NIWA has set up an investigation panel to ascertain the real cause of the accident, the total number of passengers onboard, and the owner of the craft.
Meanwhile, the top management team of NIWA is leading and coordinating the rescue operations as well as making sure the survivors of the boat mishap receive urgent medical attention.
NIWA promised to release more information after the investigation has been concluded.
” We are shocked by this incident despite all our efforts to sensitize Nigerians about safety measures on waterways.
” Not quite long, we unveiled the National Waterways Transportation Code, visited communities and stakeholders to make them have a buy in to our strategy to curb accidents on water, and also discussed with State governors in Nigeria to partner with us in providing safe water crafts to help move people and goods safely across our waterways and now sadly , this happened.
“NIWA will investigate this accident and will prosecute the boat captain and owner for deliberate disobedience to the Extant law on waterways, Bola Oyebamiji, NIWA MD , declared.
Continue Reading
Headlines
NIMASA pledges to priotise safety of dockworkers
Headlines
Exclusive: The real reason why Effedua resigned as Rector, MAN, Oron
Funso Olojo
On November 13th, 2024, Commodore(rtd) Duja Effedua, tendered his letter of resignation as the Rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria(MAN), Oron, to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, in a dramatic way that left maritime stakeholders dumbfounded.
They were shocked at Effedua’ s sudden resignation because of several reasons.
Firstly, Effedua still has over one year in his 8 – year tenure .
He was first appointed by the former President Mohammad Buhari in 2017 and subsequently reappointed for a second term in office in September, 2021.
Also, Effedua had run an impactful and effective administration as he repositioned the Nigeria’s apex maritime training institution which he patterned along the international maritime organization(IMO) model for maritime training institutions.
He has also cleaned the institution of its age- long rot, boosted the morale of staff through impressive welfare packages and thrust the institution into the global recognition.
More intriguing was the fact that Effedua was then just appointed by the Minister as a member of the high- powered ministerial committee to drive Nigeria’s reelection bid for the IMO category C seat.
Why then will a government appointee, despite his high performance and efficient service, resign when he still has over a year to complete his tenure, a decision alien to the culture of sit- tight syndrome of government appointees who dig in their feet even against overwhelming allegations of incompetence.
However, our reporter has stumbled on the real reason why the high- performing Rector signed.
Even though, the retired Commodore attributed his sudden decision to “personal reasons” but sources close to the former Rector whispered to our reporter that Effedua resigned because of his opposition to the controversial Nigeria Coast guard bill currently before the National Assembly.
It was alleged that the ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is hell- bent to have the bill sail through the national Assembly.
Even though, it could not be independently confirmed yet why the ministry has such high interest in the passage of the bill( other than the proposed body will domicile under it), despite the overwhelming opposition of the maritime stakeholders, it was however gathered that the Ministry instructed all the heads of the agencies in the industry, to support and buy-in to the ministry’s crusade of getting the bill scale through the national Assembly.
It was gathered that prior to the Public hearing of the bill at the National Assembly which held on December 9th, 2024, the ministry has convened a meeting in November with all the heads of the maritime agencies which include the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA), National Inland Waterways Authority( NIWA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council and Maritime Academy of Nigeria(MAN), Oron.
At the meeting, the heads of these agencies had allegedly been mandated to support the passage of the bill.
It was further learnt that though most of these heads of the agencies have their reservations against the bill because of its potential to create bad blood among other agencies such as NIWA and NIMASA and create over lapping functions with the Nigerian Navy, but they lacked the will power to voice their opposition for fear of reprisal action from the ministry.
It was further alleged that NIMASA was particularly uneasy with the bill as it is being speculated that the agency may fund the NCG if the bill eventually trasmutes into an Act.
So all of the heads of these agencies alleged swallowed their opposition and grudgingly accepted to support the crusade.
However, sources close to the meeting claimed that it was only Duja Effedua, who allegedly voiced our his opposition to the bill, giving his reasons why the proposed legislation may not be in the best interest of the Nation.
As a Naval officer, though retired, he explained the implications of having another body in the maritime space which may spark off unhealthy rivalry with the Nigerian Navy.
Knowing the consequences of his act of bravery, the ex- Naval officer was said to have later tendered his letter of resignation to the ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Though he said his decision was personal, but Effedua alluded to what may befall him if he fails to throw in the towel.
” It is best to leave when the ovation is loudest, not when they ask you to leave” he has told reporters who were pestering him for his reasond shortly after his resignation.
Headlines
Opposition mounts against Nigeria Coast guard bill
-
Headlines3 months ago
Deep Seabed Mining: Open vista to economic prosperity for Nigeria
-
Economy3 months ago
NNPC sells Dangote September fuel delivery at N950.22 per litre in Lagos
-
Headlines3 months ago
Credit Corp applauds Tinubu over N50 billion Fund
-
Headlines3 months ago
Nigeria seeks to expand its revenue base through exploitation of Deep Seabed resources
-
Headlines3 months ago
NIMASA secures support of Bank of Industry for enhanced capacity building in maritime industry
-
Headlines2 months ago
Immigration arrests Bobrisky at Seme Border as he attempts to flee the country