Headlines

NPA ecstatic as it welcomes first wholly Nigerian- owned container vessel

Funso OLOJO

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has berthed the first- ever wholly Nigerian- owned container vessel into the port.

The epoch- making event which took place on July 2nd, 2025, marked a turning point in the readiness of Nigeria to maximize the gains derivable from the African Continental Free Area( AfCFTA)

The container vessel with International Maritime Organization (IMO) number 9508770 and christened MV Ocean Dragon is owned by Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited.

It has a capacity of 349 Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units (TEUs) which gives a boost to concerted investment drive geared towards reaping the cost and time saving benefits of short-sea shipping by plying in-country maritime trade routes across Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

It also offers an efficient alternative to road transport as the Authority’s efforts at deepening multi modalism crystallize.

The vessel is scheduled to operate across West Africa and beyond, servicing ports in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Egypt, South Africa and others, with expressions of interest for business already being established.

The Managing Director of the NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho was ecstatic over the development.

“This development is a testament to our relentless commitment towards deepening efficiencies required for maximizing our Marine and Blue Economy potentials in line with the prompting of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, whose tenacity of purpose culminated in the recent FEC approval of the national policy on Marine and Blue Economy”.

On her part, Vice President of Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited, Bernadine Eloka, described the acquisition as a bold solution to the high-risk, road-dominated movement of cargoes within Nigeria and a strategic move to deepen regional trade under the AfCFTA.

She said that the Clarion Group aims to offer more efficient intra-African shipping services while opening up new business opportunities across ports in Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and beyond.

“We acquired MV Ocean Dragon to offer a seamless alternative to container haulage by road.

“Rather than struggling to move containers from Lekki to Onitsha, Port Harcourt, or Calabar by trucks, Ocean Dragon can move up to 349 containers by sea and deliver within two days from port to port,” Eloka said.

According to her, enforcement of the cabotage regime would encourage local investment, create jobs, and reduce Nigeria’s dependency on foreign-owned shipping lines.

Also, Managing Director of Clarion Suncity Terminal Logistics Limited, Mustafa Mohammed, said the company would take aggressive steps to compete with global giants, such as Maersk Line and MSC, by leveraging its status as Nigeria’s first indigenous shipping liner, investing in assets that directly support Nigerian exporters and importers, particularly in the landlocked regions.

He said the company had already secured bookings for 1,300 export containers, and is helping farmers and manufacturers to avoid losses caused by delays and lack of containers.

This development is coming on the heels of the announcement by the MD NPA Abubakar Dantsoho of fresh injection of 60 million USD in fresh investments towards the establishment of eco-friendly ports developments catalyzed by the Authority’s renewed orientation towards Nigerian content development.

Headlines

Oyetola solicits IMO assistance on sea- time training for Nigerian cadets

– As Dominguez applauds Nigeria’s maritime infrastructures

Funso OLOJO

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has appealed to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to help Nigeria in securing international sea- going vessels for sea- time training for her cadets at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron.

He made this appeal during the visit of the Secretary General of the IMO, Arsenio Dominguez ,to Nigeria on Thursday, October 2nd, 2025.

The IMO Chief Scribe was at the headquarters of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) , Lagos .

During the visit where all the heads of the maritime government agencies and Directors in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy were present, Oyetola said Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, has the capacity to produce Seafarers that can cater for the whole world but lamented that lack of sea- time training has been a challenge for its cadets.

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The Minister was speaking in response to the accolades heaped on the maritime training institution at Oron where he lauded the training infrastructures and the the caliber of cadets being churned out from the institution.

“I’m very impressed with the facilities, and wished I could have visited the Academy.

” I congratulate you with that. And please tell the seafarers and the cadets that I think they’re very luck.

“They’re very lucky to have those facilities, to see the changes from 2017 to 2025.

“That’s impressive. That means that there’s a lot of commitment from the government and from the academy to continue to demonstrate great facilities, I have to say, very good” the IMO chief scribe declared.

However, Oyetola said in as much as the Academy has a world class training infrastructure which can produce Seafarers for the whole world, he lamented that the cadets lack sea- time training.

“But let me just say a few remarks about the Maritime Academy ,Oron.

“It is an institution that has the capacity to train seafarers for the entire world.

“We talk about 200. We can do more than several 200.

” But what is important is for us to be able to place the seafarers on international vessels.

” They need practical experience. The capacity within the country may not give them sufficient exposure.

“So we need your assistance in ensuring that these seafarers, once they attain the

primary academic qualification, they have the opportunity to be able to be put on international vessels to have the kind of practical experience.

“So we can supply the entire world with seafarers.

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“With the kind of shortage that we’re talking about, Nigeria alone can provide the gap.

“When you’re looking for gaps, we can supply the seafarers for the entire maritime industry in the world.

“So please, let’s see how much you can assist to be able to place seafarers on international vessels.

” The population, like you mentioned, about more than 60% are youths.

“They are quite interested in maritime, but it’s not enough for you to acquire the qualification.

“If you don’t have the job, then you are discouraged. So be able to train them and put them on international vessels, then you can be too sure that a lot of them are interested in making seafarering a career” the Minister appealed.

Meanwhile, Arsenio Domínguez, has lauded Nigeria’s remarkable achievements in maritime security, particularly its success in recording zero piracy incidents for over three years and the groundbreaking Deep Blue Project, which he described as a model for regional cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea.

He noted that Nigeria’s investment in maritime safety infrastructure and the collaboration of its security agencies, especially the Nigerian Navy, have yielded tangible results in combating piracy and maritime crimes.

According to him, these efforts demonstrate Nigeria’s leadership and commitment to ensuring safer seas, not just for its own waters but for the wider West and Central African region.

The IMO chief acknowledged Nigeria’s recent submission to the organization outlining its national and regional security initiatives, and while commending the progress made, he stressed the need for continued support in infrastructure development and acquisition of modern equipment.

He assured that the IMO would remain committed to providing technical assistance through awareness campaigns, training programmes and capacity-building initiatives.

In highlighting the organization’s ongoing projects, Mr. Domínguez referenced a regional conference scheduled to hold in Ghana in January on the Safe Seas Project, designed to consolidate contributions from Nigeria and other partner states.

He also announced ongoing discussions with the European Union aimed at launching a new maritime governance project focused on ports and security, as well as two regional projects in Southern and Western Africa where progress would be tracked through defined indicators.

Beyond security, Mr. Domínguez emphasized the need for countries to prepare for wider global challenges including the energy transition, the adoption of biofuels, and financing mechanisms to support training of seafarers, infrastructure development and the adoption of future fuels.

He praised Nigeria’s Blue Economy Policy as a forward-looking initiative for harnessing marine resources sustainably and expressed admiration for the facilities at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron, especially the training infrastructure. He encouraged greater collaboration between the academy, the Ministry of Education and industry stakeholders to guide young Nigerians in pursuing maritime careers.

Oyetola said the IMO chief’s visit reflected the strength of Nigeria’s relationship with the global maritime body.

He noted that Nigeria’s partnership with the Nigerian Navy and other stakeholders had been pivotal in suppressing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and reaffirmed the country’s determination to consolidate recent gains and expand opportunities in the marine and blue economy.

He thanked Mr. Domínguez for choosing Nigeria for the visit and expressed optimism that the discussions would further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

During the visit, presentations were delivered by top government officials and key stakeholders in the sector.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, highlighted ongoing reforms and initiatives in security, seafarer welfare and regulatory frameworks aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading maritime nation.

The Acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Dr. Kevin Okonna, showcased the academy’s modern training facilities and underscored the importance of international partnerships in cadet exchange and simulator-based training.

The Managing Director of the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Mr. Wang Qiang, outlined the port’s role in boosting Nigeria’s cargo handling capacity, creating jobs and attracting long-term foreign investments.

Mr. Domínguez also interacted with cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, urging them to embrace emerging opportunities in the maritime sector, particularly in renewable energy, green shipping and maritime technology.

He reaffirmed IMO’s commitment to working closely with Nigeria to strengthen maritime safety, enhance governance structures, and drive the sustainable growth of the blue economy, noting that the country’s achievements already serve as a model of excellence for Africa and beyond.

Headlines

Kukah, Fayemi, Anya, Mohammed endorse “Beneath the Surface”

By our Reporter

A distinguished group of Nigerian thought leaders has endorsed “Beneath the Surface,” a compelling collection of essays and public policy analyses by Dr Dakuku Peterside.

Their endorsements, representing the Church, academia, and public service, highlight the book’s significance to Nigeria’s democratic evolution, governance challenges, and human development discourse.

Bishop Matthew Kukah, a prominent Catholic bishop and advocate for justice and democracy; Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State and war studies scholar; Prof. Anya O. Anya, former President of the Nigerian Academy of Science and founding Director-General of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group; and Prof. Kyari Mohammed, historian and former Vice-Chancellor of Modibbo Adama University of Technology as well as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Nigerian Army University, Biu, have all praised Peterside’s new volume.

Bishop Matthew Kukah, author of Religion, Politics and Power in Northern Nigeria (1993), Democracy and Civil Society in Nigeria (2001), and The Church and the Politics of Social Responsibility (2007), writes: “Dr. Dakuku Peterside has served us a salad plate of exquisite writing, flowing in prescient prose and narration, an in-depth kaleidoscope of exciting and alluring themes.

“The author has opened a window for future exploration of the options for a new Nigeria.”

Dr Kayode Fayemi, author of “If This Giant Must Rise” and former Governor of Ekiti State, observes: “Every so often, we come across remarkable individuals who revive the politician as a public intellectual in our challenged polity.

“With his incisive and irreverent op-eds now compiled in this volume of essays, Dakuku Peterside offers us a valuable opportunity to learn from his fertile mind about our national foibles and the immense possibilities of building a nation where justice and peace prevail. It is a must-read!”

Professor Emeritus, Anya O. Anya, national merit award winner, adds: “This book is insightful, incisive, and above all, written from the perspective of Dakuku Peterside’s exceptional experience within the Nigerian context.

“Only a man of his wide-ranging service in Nigeria could produce such a unique collection of essays that are intellectually challenging yet easy to read.

“As you journey through this fascinating book, you cannot help but ask: why, despite our rich pool of exceptional human talent and resources, does Nigeria perform so poorly?”

Prof. Kyari Mohammed, historian and former Vice-Chancellor of Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH), Yola, and pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Nigerian Army University, Biu, states: “Beneath the Surface -offers an insightful and comprehensive exploration of the complex Nigerian state and society.

” In this nuanced and engaging appraisal of his country, Dr. Peterside avoids lamentations, instead deftly pointing the way forward.

“This book is essential reading for policymakers, academics, and the general public.”

“Beneath the Surface” gathers Dakuku Peterside’s most incisive essays on Nigeria’s politics, governance, economy, and society.

Combining straightforward storytelling with rigorous analysis, the book examines the causes of national underperformance and charts practical pathways to reform grounded in accountability, institutional renewal, and human development.

It is written for public officials, business leaders, scholars, students, and citizens seeking a more precise understanding—and better solutions—beneath the noise.

Customs

Beyond euphoria of WCO chairmanship: Stakeholders urge Nigeria to translate global Customs ascendency to reformation of Port industry

Funso OLOJO

The stakeholders at the maritime industry were firm and unanimous in their admonition that the Nigerian government should leverage the ascendency of Nigeria to global Customs top hierarchy to position the Port industry into a world player with improved port efficiency, world class infrastructure and automated port system.

It could be recalled that the Comptroller- General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, in June, 2025 became the first Nigerian to be elected as the Chairman of the World Customs Organization(WCO).

His historic election elicited wild jubilation and encomiums as Nigerians expressed undisguised happiness over the feat.

However, maritime experts who spoke at the one- day seminar organized by the League of Maritime Editors(LOME) in Lagos on Tuesday, September 30th,2025, warned that Nigerians should not be carried away with the historic feat.

The lead speaker, Dr Eugene Nweke, the Head of Research at Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC), who spoke on the theme of the seminar “Nigeria ‘s Chairmanship of WCO Council: The Impact on Nation’s Economy” advised that the position is not a trophy to decorate the shelf but rather it was a call to duty and a rare opportunity for the country to leverage the feat to stimulate its maritime industry.

Represented by Francis Aneze-Chukwu, Dr Nweke, said the country’s new customs global status will pale into insignificance if Nigeria fails to leverage the position to improve Port efficiency, engender reforms and strengthen regulatory laws to protect legitimate trade

Addressing the gathering which cut across operators of the port industry, Nweke declared that Nigeria’s July 1, 2025 assumption of the WCO Council chair—an institution representing over 180 customs administrations and 98 percent of world trade—places the nation under an unforgiving global spotlight.

“This position is not for celebration alone; it is power to influence customs standards and champion Africa’s trade future. Leadership without domestic discipline is hollow,” he said.

He warned that despite Customs generating ₦1.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, port congestion and inefficiencies continue to drain an estimated $4 billion annually.

Nweke outlined six key reforms under Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi—Time Release Studies, data-driven inspections, advance ruling applications, the Authorized Economic Operator programme, the B’Odogwu single-window migration, and rapid cargo scanners—as the springboard to leverage Nigeria’s WCO status, but cautioned that infrastructure decay, policy flip-flops and entrenched bureaucracy could erode the gains.

Turning his focus to the media, he charged maritime journalists to “educate, interrogate and shape narratives” rather than indulge in “undue praises that make us a collective ridicule,” urging them to become professors of the maritime space and watchdogs of reform.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, who was also represented by Mrs Margaret Ogbonna, Director Regulatory Services department, insisted that Nigeria’s international leadership must be matched by “strong, clear and enforceable laws” to regulate ports and protect shippers.

He called for the urgent passage of the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill to give the NSC a statutory mandate to curb monopolies, enforce competition and end opaque concession renewals.

“The world is watching Nigeria, and credibility abroad will only be matched by credibility at home,” he warned.

The former General Manager of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogwu, reminded the gathering that the Customs Service remains the frontline enforcer of border laws and the first symbol of government authority at every port.

“For us who are professionals, the rest of you can look at the signboards and say NPA ports, but we insiders know it is first a customs area.

“That is where customs enforce all border fiscal regulations, demonstrate trade facilitation, and show that they can attract foreign investment,” he said.

While congratulating the Comptroller-General on his global appointment, Ebubeogwu warned that the WCO Council is a “salad of interests—country interests, regional interests, diplomacy and politics,” and urged stakeholders to rally behind Adeniyi to protect Nigeria’s and Africa’s stake in the organization.

He called on the maritime press to “manage his image and talk up his reputation” so that Nigeria’s tenure at the WCO strengthens the nation’s profile rather than diminishes it.

Earlier in her welcome address, President of the League of Maritime Editors, Mrs. Remi Itie, described Adeniyi’s election as “a historic moment for Nigeria” and a clear signal of the country’s growing influence in global customs affairs.

She noted that as WCO chair, Adeniyi now provides strategic leadership to the global customs agenda on trade facilitation, revenue optimization, security, and digital transformation.

But she challenged participants to go beyond celebration and interrogate how this elevation will “boost the nation’s growth index and possibly change the narrative concerning Nigeria’s trade and image abroad.”

Calling on government to harness the country’s maritime potential to create jobs for Nigeria’s vast youth population, Itie urged coastal states to look beyond federal allocations and invest in maritime opportunities such as seafaring, fishing, agro-tourism and coastal security.

“We cannot run away from global trade,” she said. “Nigeria has the natural resources to create more jobs through the nation’s maritime potentials.”

The speakers and stakeholders agreed that Nigeria’s WCO chairmanship offers a rare chance to align with global best practices on customs governance and trade facilitation.

But they stressed that prestige alone will not cut cargo dwell times that still average 20–25 days—among the worst in West Africa—nor end the corruption and inefficiency that cost traders billions.

“Let Customs deliver, let industry comply, and let the press profess,” Nweke charged.

The speakers were unanimous in their conviction and submission that Nigeria’s new global customs power is a weapon.

They believed that without decisive reforms, strong laws and relentless enforcement, the global recognition will remain an unused sword while the nation’s ports will continue to wallow in inefficiency and corruption.

The event witnessed presentations of awards to deserving industry players such as the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council NSC Barrister Pius Akutah, the Controller of Lagos A Federal Operations unit of Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller MS Shuaibu.

Others were the Tin Can Island Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, the Assistant Comptroller- General Babatunde Olomu and the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola.

Charles Edike, a retired Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs(ACG) presided over the event.