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Oyetola predicts excess revenue from Blue Economy with 90 percent growth 

– set to overtake NNPCL in revenue generation 
Funso OLOJO 
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has said that there is a silent revenue explosion in the Blue Economy industry in Nigeria with the potential to overtake the legendary Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited(NNPCL) in revenue generation.
Oyetola, who was speaking to journalists on the sideline of the 2025 Day of the Seafarer held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday June 25th, 2025, said the industry has already generated revenue in excess of 90 percent and is not looking back in its race to outdo the NNPCL.
The Minister said with automation, modernization of the nation’s ports and the deployment of technology, the Blue Economy will be the next cash cow for the country.
He further stated that the Ministry was
doing its best to unlock the potential for the growth of the Nigerian economy through job creation and environmental sustainability.
“I want to assure you, even right now, within a little time, we’ve increased our revenue by not less than 90 per cent.
” We’re just not making noise about it, but with automation, with the modernisation of the port, with the development of technology, we believe that the Blue Economy will surpass the NNPC revenue.
“We’re doing our best to ensure that we’re able to unlock the potential of the options for the growth of the Nigerian economy, job creation and environmental sustainability.”
“In the past, there was no operating policy. We succeeded in putting a policy in place that is very robust and has met the world’s best standards.
“It is a policy that defines in clear terms the operation of the Blue Economy in Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, in what appears to be a major milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards a smarter, more transparent, and efficient maritime sector, the federal government has launched a Maritime Labour E-Platform to digitalise the governance of maritime labour.
Oyetola, who officially unveiled the digital platform at the Port Hacourt event, said the platform is more than just a portal, but offers real-time data access, enhances regulatory compliance, and creates a centralised system for labour administration.
 “This E-Platform is a bold step toward digital governance, improved service delivery, and industry-wide innovation.
” The platform offers real-time data access, enhances regulatory compliance, and creates a centralised system for labour administration.
“I commend NIMASA for this forward-looking initiative, which aligns perfectly with our Ministry’s vision of ease of doing business, global competitiveness, and human capital development in the blue economy.”
While encouraging maritime stakeholders to embrace the new platform and make full use of its capabilities, he remarked that this year’s theme of The Day of the Seafarer “My Harassment-Free Ship,” speaks to the collective duty to make every ship as a safe, respectful workplace.
“Harassment and bullying have no place in our maritime industry. We are prioritising quality training by upgrading maritime institutions, expanding capacity-building programmes, and aligning our seafarer education with international standards.”
“We are committed to full compliance with the STCW Convention, including recent amendments mandating anti-harassment training onboard ships.
” These steps are vital to ensure our seafarers remain competitive and globally employable,” he said.
The Minister assured that the government is investing in seafarers’ welfare through stronger regulation of recruitment and placement agencies, improving access to decent work, and collaborating with shipowners to guarantee fair treatment and onboard safety.
“The recent Collective Bargaining Agreement, facilitated by NIMASA alongside industry unions and employers, sets a new benchmark for fair wages, decent working conditions, and improved dispute resolution.
” NIMASA continues to enforce flag and port state controls, and promote Nigeria’s presence in global shipping, ensuring our seafarers are well-protected and respected internationally,” he stated.
Nevertheless,  the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, called on Shipowners, operators and crewing agencies to review their operational manuals to align with the amendments to the MLC 2006 code.
The MLC 2006 codes, it was gathered, addressed issues affecting Seafarers such as recognition of seafarers as key workers, improved protection against shipboard violence and harassment, enhanced access to shore leave, repatriation, and updated medical and occupational safety standards.
“At the recently concluded 113th session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, seven amendments to the MLC 2006 code addressing a broad range of issues affecting Seafarers, including the recognition of seafarers as key workers, improved protection against ship board violence and harassment, enhanced access to shore leave and repatriation and updated medical and occupational safety standards were approved by an overwhelming majority.
“These seven amendments reflect a collective global effort to align maritime Labour standards with the evolving landscape of global shipping.
” I therefore call on Shipowners, operators and crewing agencies to begin to review their operational manuals to align with these amendments ahead of the expected entry into force in December 2027.
“Our Seafarers must be able to report grievances without fear of retaliation, while also ensuring protection against vexations or malicious complaints.”
Dr Mobereola however urged government, employers, unions, shipowners, and civil society not to leave Seafarers alone in their struggles.
He also argued that a vessel is not just a seafarer’s place of work but a temporary home that must reflect the highest standards of dignity and professionalism, fostering zero tolerance for harassment.
‘Today provides an opportunity for the Maritime Community to honour Seafarers globally for their immense contribution to both domestic and international trade, powering the blue economy and connecting nations across oceans.
“The theme for this year’s celebration — “My Harassment-Free Ship” — is particularly apt, as it is a call to action to ensure that our seafarers feel safe, are valued and protected while at sea because the ship is not just their place of work; it is their temporary home.
“It must therefore reflect the highest standards of dignity and professionalism fostering zero tolerance for harassment.
“NIMASA must therefore continue to play its part in ensuring that Nigeria contributes effectively to regulations affecting Seafarers.
“We remain the highest contributor of Seafarers in Africa. Our men and women sail on vessels in our domestic waters and also globally.
” This will continue to grow through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) and the efforts of our Maritime Training Institutions.”
Dr Mobereola, who further stated that a harassment-free ship is a cohesive ship, stated that Nigeria will create confidential reporting channels for incidents of harassment and ensure that reports are thoroughly investigated and addressed.
“In addition, NIMASA will play its role by establishing clear policies and procedures for preventing and addressing harassment on Nigerian–flagged vessels, ensuring confidential reporting channels for incidents of harassment and that reports are thoroughly investigated and addressed.
“Today is a clear reminder to us all – government, employers, unions, shipowners, and civil society- that Seafarers should not be left alone in their struggles.
” They look up to us to help them foster a culture of zero tolerance on ships to protect their dignity.”
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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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