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Breaking! Indigenous ship owners to access $700m CVFF in August, 2025– Mobereola

–as NIMASA appoints 12 PLIs to administer the fund
Funso OLOJO
Hope of the indigenous ship owners to access the much elusive Cabotage Vessel Financing Funds(CVFF) after  over  two decade delay, brightens as the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA) , Dr Dayo Mobereola, has disclosed that the disbursement of the controversial fund with commence in August, 2025.
Mobereola, who was speaking  on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025 during the over sight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, said the process for the disbursement of the $700m intervention funds has reached an advanced stage with the appointment of 12 Primary Lending Institutions(PLIs) to administer the funds.
Five PLIs were initially appointed by the immediate past administration of the agency led by Dr Bashir Jamoh.
The accelerated process for the disbursement of the funds followed the marching order given by the Minister of Marine and Blue economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to NIMASA to immediately proceed with the disbursement process.
 “What we have done is to streamline the guidelines according to what has been approved by the Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy in order to ensure that it takes nothing less than three to four months for ship-owners to access the funds.
“What is most important about it is that we are also making use of the banks.
” So it will not be totally a NIMASA project. The banks are going to carry out the initial risk assessment, to be sure that whoever wants to access this fund has the capacity in terms of his own financial capacity.
“The bank is going to lend 35 percent while NIMASA is going to lend the other 50 percent while the remaining 15 percent equity shares will be provided by the beneficiary of the fund.
“So that risk is being taken on by the bank to ensure that whoever is coming to us is a bonafide shipping company, who has capacity to trade and who has the capacity to also repay back because it’s a revolving fund.
“The strength that we do not have, we have handed it over to the bank to help us to manage that side of it.
“Once we start it, before the end of this year, by God’s grace, it will be revolving and it will be just continuous over the years.
“We have expanded the PLIs to 12 banks. We re-advertised and the former ones also applied.
“So we have 12 banks now. And the fact remains that we are still insisting that we want single digits interest rates because we want our shipping companies, our vessels ,to be able to compete with international shipping companies.
“And we need patient capital, meaning that when a loan is given, the loan is given for about 15 years, 20 years, so that a shipowner doesn’t have to be under pressure to pay back immediately. That is one side of it.
“The other part of it is that we are also working to ensure that there is cargo for them to carry.
We are working with the cargo generators, the NNPCs, the NLNGs, the exporters, to make sure they patronise Nigerian vessels that will be available at that time.
” So it’s a win-win and the ship owners are on board with us.”
Speaking earlier, the acting Chairman of the House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Honorable Uduak Odudoh, assured the NIMASA DG of the support of the committee.
 “I can say of the truth that what we’ve seen so far today, starting from the presentations that were made by the DG, that we are impressed.
“We are impressed primarily when the DG was doing his presentation.
“We saw that in the last three years that we’ve not had one single piracy and other maritime crimes.
“And what does that entail? That means people that are doing business in the water now has the opportunity to do their businesses freely.
“And NIMASA will now also have more opportunity to generate more funds to the nation.
“Let me also tell the DG, he’s about one year now on the saddle and a lot of innovations that he has brought into work, we are impressed.
“And what is left for him is for him to improve upon the achievements of his predecessor and even surpass them.
“When he was doing his presentation, he also mentioned some challenges which we had taken so seriously.
“When we get to the National Assembly, we will continue to work, collaborate with NIMASA, collaborate with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, for the success of this present government, the success of Nigeria.” the law maker declared.
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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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