Headlines

Porbeni, former Transport Minister, advocates development of diving sector to boost massive employment

Rear Admiral(rtd)Festus Porbeni

Funso OLOJO

A retired Rear Admiral and former Transport Minister, Festus Porbeni, has advised the federal government to explore the creation of massive employment opportunities by prioritising the development of the diving sector.

Porbeni ,who is the chairman of Bics Garden, made this recommendation while speaking with journalists in Lagos on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 ,lamented that the nation is grossly neglecting the huge potential in the diving sector despite having millions of unemployed youths.

The former Minister recommended the establishment of modern state-of-the-art training institutions for the development of divers who can work across various sectors ranging from oil and gas to maritime, underwater archaeological activities to understanding and exploring the marine and blue economy.

“In this country, they are not many divers. Diving schools are very few. So, we have foreigners doing diving jobs for us in all the oil exploration, diving and repair, working at pipelines, as well as other areas.

“Diving should be taken more seriously and the government should put some more effort.

“I was a Frogman, a naval diver, and I know the many advantages of having divers in our seas.

“As a Frogman, I could dive under ships to install bombs; but for real diving, you can also repair the propeller, lay underwater pipelines, carryout anti-fouling, do underwater exploration, etc.

Noting that in other countries, it is easier to obtain requisite training and a certificate as a trained and certified diver, Porbeni called on the federal government to intentionally establish training institutions that would equip Nigerian youths with skills for gainfully employment.

“If Nigerians have to go to South Africa and to other countries to be trained on diving, it is a challenge.

“Hence, there is a need to establish diving schools that will train young Nigerians to be experts and to be certificated,” he said.

Meanwhile, the maritime veteran equally recalled some of his activities as a former Minister of Transportation; including the dredging of River Niger and addressing challenges arising from siltation.

He admonished the government to dredge the nation’s inland waterway channels and river ports in order to transform the nation’s transport system with waterways as first-choice for conveying goods and persons.

To enhance the development of the nation’s waterways transport, Porbeni averred that synergy and inter-agency collaboration is needed between the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and State Government organisations like the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA).

While congratulating President Bola Tinubu on his a economic reforms, Subsidy removal,

Forex stability ,Coastal road, and super high ways under construction, He commended Tinubu for making tough decisions to salvage the nation’s economy.

Porbeni also pleaded with Nigerians to exercise patience with the current administration, adding that despite the tough economic times ,the nation will fare better in the near future.

“It has been 26 years of uninterrupted democracy since 1999. There have been challenges, conflicts and heated electoral processes; but the nation has stood firm.

“This is something that is worth celebrating even as we look forward to achieving more with democracy,” he remarked.

Headlines

MWUN promises to rally support for Nigeria’s bid for IMO council elections

Funso OLOJO

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has pledged to activate its international goodwill and global connections to ensure that Nigeria wins the election into the elusive Category C seat of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Making the pledge at the weekend, the President -General of the Labour Union, Comrade Francis Bunu, noted that the country has what it takes to contribute to the growth of maritime industry in Africa, saying a vote for Nigeria in the IMO Council election is a vote for Africa.

“Nigeria is long overdue for a return to the IMO Council. A vote for Nigeria is a vote for Africa,” he declared.

Comrade Bunu commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for its transformative role in maritime security and governance, especially combating piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

He noted that the Agency’s efforts have significantly improved safety and stability on Nigerian waters.

“We now have peace on our waters, and this achievement is commendable. It also enhances regional stability and boosts investor confidence,” Bunu stated, citing NIMASA’s commitment to maritime safety as a key driver of Nigeria’s growing prominence in global maritime affairs.

The labour leader also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry, describing it as a “bold and visionary step” that will unlock investment opportunities and create employment across the maritime sector.

“The creation of the Ministry is a strategic move that aligns with global trends. It opens new economic frontiers and supports our youth through job creation and skills development within the blue economy space,” Bunu stated.Reaffirming the Union’s commitment to collaboration, the MWUN leader assured stakeholders of continued engagement aimed at fostering industrial harmony, particularly within the dock labour sub-sector.

“Under my leadership, MWUN will continue to work with all maritime stakeholders to ensure peace, progress, and sustained sectoral growth,” he pledged.

As the world looks ahead to the 2025 Day of the Seafarer, themed “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity,” Bunu emphasized the importance of sustainable ocean governance and the critical role of seafarers in global trade.

“MWUN remains steadfast in its advocacy for seafarers’ rights, decent work conditions, and responsible stewardship of our ocean resources.

” Nigerian seafarers deserve our gratitude for their immense contributions to global commerce,” he said.

Customs

Apapa Customs engages NRC to facilitate quick evacuation of cargo by rail

Funso OLOJO

The Apapa command of the Nigeria customs service has engaged the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in a strategic partnership that will facilitate quick evacuation of cargo from the port through rail transport.

The engagement, at the instance of Wale Adeniyi, the Comptroller- General of Customs, was meant to encourage and prioritise the use of rail transport for evacuation of goods to engender trade facilitation.

At the event on Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 where the collaboration was consummated in the presence of other stakeholders such as freight forwarders,both the Apapa Customs and the NRC expressed mutually commitment to the rail movement of cargo from the port.

The Apapa port Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, noted that the meeting was in line with the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, to improve logistics through multimodal transport systems.

“Recall that rail has been in operation for quite a while, so we want to fine-tune the process to improve our trade objectives. When we have a seamless trade process, it will benefit our stakeholders who are here today.” Olomu noted.

He also lauded the commitment of the partners present at the meeting, describing their participation as a “confidence booster” that reinforces the shared goal of efficient cargo movement.

Representing the NRC, the Head of Operations, Akin Oshinowo, reiterated the agency’s longstanding cooperation with the Service.

“We have always found a willing partner in the Comptroller and his men, which forms part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) established years ago.”

“The discussion we had today aligns with the NRC’s objectives and supports the renewed hope agenda for rail transportation in Nigeria,” he said.

Stakeholders commended the initiative, noting its potential to reduce the cost of imports and improve the overall efficiency of cargo distribution.

The National Coordinator of the Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders, Importers & Exporters Coalition, Dr Osita Chukwu, said, “With what the government is doing, we hope it will not be limited to just one region but extended across the entire country, as is the case elsewhere.”

The engagement featured an interactive session during which participants discussed the challenges facing cargo rail transport and proposed actionable solutions for improvement.

Headlines

Shipping companies hit back at APMT over empty containers congestion at Port.

— accuse the terminal operator of closing gates against empty containers

Funso OLOJO

The blame game between the APMT and the shipping companies has continued to rage unabated over the glut of empty containers at the Port.

Following the bourgeoning numbers of stranded containers that was threatening to escalate into congestion at the port, the management of the APMT put the blame on the door steps of the shipping companies which it said has the exclusive responsibility to manage the evacuation of empty containers as the owners who control the process.

The APM Apapa Terminal Manager, Steen Knudsen, has also said in a press statement that due to a sharp and sustained surge in import cargo volumes over recent weeks, shipping lines have had to prioritize discharging incoming laden containers over evacuating empties.

“This operational shift has resulted in a growing inventory of empty containers within the terminal, significantly limiting yard space” the terminal operator has declared.

But the shipping companies, who were summoned by the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), latched back at the APMT, alleging the refusal of the terminal operator as the cause of the imbroglio.

According to them, the congestion of empty containers at the port was due to the simultaneous gate closure to all the shipping lines by the management of APMT.

The APMT management, according to them, had insisted that its terminal had reached its full capacity due to increased import and export volume, arguing that there was a notable delay in the evacuation of both imports and exports by the shipping lines.

However, dependable sources said that the Managing Director of NPA, Dr

Abubakar Dantsoho ,convened a meeting of all the shipping companies and the APMT in order to de-escalate the growing tension between the two parties and deflect the threatening congestion of empty containers.

Represented at the meeting by the Port Manager, Apapa port complex, Mr Adebowale Lawal, the NPA MD enjoined all the parties involved to work towards smooth resolution of the crisis.

In attendance at the meeting held on Wednesday,June 4th, 2025 were Maersk Line, Hapag Lloyd, Pacific International Lines, PIL, CMA CGM, COSCO shipping and APM Terminals.

At the meeting, all the shipping lines present claimed that they had holding bays, which according to them, was a prerequisite for license renewal by the NPA.

They also stated that the NPA Headquarters’ Operations Team usually inspects those holding bays to ascertain their capacity before license renewal.

However, the NPA management enjoined all the shipping lines to submit a list detailing their holding bays, including locations and capacity.

The NPA management also requested to be involved in the examination of those holding bays so as to keep abreast of the potential operational challenges.

The shipping lines however claimed that the management of APMT usually communicates available free pools to each shipping line in order to guide their container movement.

A source in the meeting disclosed that all the parties agreed that the APMT should regularly communicate yard stock levels to the shipping lines to improve planning and coordination.

“It was also resolved that the notification period prior to terminal gate closure should be revised as follows: five days initial notice in advance; three days reminder before closure and one day final notice before closure.

“While it was further resolved that APMT was to engage off dock terminals by moving import containers to off dock terminals in order to create more space within the terminal.

It was also agreed that the NPA management should actively participate in the inspection and assessment of holding bays to better understand and manage capacity and operational challenges.

“While all parties acknowledged their respective responsibilities, it was agreed that better communication, timely notification and strategic use of holding bays and bonded terminals were critical to alleviating pressure on terminal capacity.

The representative of NPA MD at the meeting, Mr Adebowale Lawal, emphasised the urgent need for enhanced coordination among terminal operators, shipping lines and the port management to address the growing challenges related to terminal congestion, especially due to the accumulation of empty containers.