Headlines

Oyetola reiterates call for phase- out of wooden boats

– as he mourns victims of Sokoto boat mishaps

Funso Olojo

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has called on State Governments to complement the Federal government efforts on safety and security of lives on the nation’s waterways by investing in fibre, aluminum modern boats that can withstand the rigours of water transport.

Oyetola made the call while commiserating with the victims and families of the recent boat accident in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The Minister described the tragedy as deeply painful and extended heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Federal Government to all those affected.

He expressed sadness over the recurring loss of lives on Nigeria’s waterways, stressing that the fatalities are both painful and avoidable.

The Minister reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to prioritising waterways safety, while appealing to State governments to urgently complement these efforts by investing in modern, non-wooden boats for commercial operations in their states.

Oyetola noted that, despite the Ministry’s recent interventions, including the nationwide distribution of 3,500 life jackets to each riverine State, incidents of boat mishaps have persisted largely due to the widespread use of wooden boats.

According to him, the structural weaknesses of wooden boats make them unsafe for modern commercial operations.

He further explained that wooden boats cannot withstand the scale of haulage they are now subjected to, especially under conditions of overloading, thereby making them even more prone to accidents.

“The time has come for a decisive break from outdated practices. Wooden boats have served their time, but they cannot be the future of water transport in Nigeria.

*The tragic mishaps we continue to witness are a direct consequence of the continued reliance on unsafe vessels.

” We must now chart a safer course for our people,” Oyetola declared.

He emphasised that fibre and aluminium boats, being sturdier, safer, and more durable, represent the global standard for inland and coastal waterway transport.

Oyetola called on State governments, particularly those with large riverine populations, to urgently invest in these modern boats, describing such investments as both life-saving and economically strategic.

“Our Ministry has mandated the compulsory use of life jackets, and we have supplied them in thousands to riverine States.

“But life jackets alone cannot guarantee safety without safe boats. I therefore appeal to our State governments to complement the Federal Government’s efforts by deliberately investing in fibre and aluminium boats.

“This is the seed we must sow today to secure a safer, more prosperous tomorrow,” the Minister said.

Oyetola stressed that water transport holds immense promise for easing pressure on Nigeria’s roads, boosting commerce, and unlocking the vast potential of the blue economy.

However, he warned that unless wooden boats and substandard vessels are phased out, the nation risks undermining public confidence in waterways as a safe and reliable mode of transport.

“The blue economy is one of the great frontiers of Nigeria’s growth. For it to thrive, Nigerians must be assured of safety on our waters.

” The Federal Government cannot achieve this alone. It requires partnership and investment from our State governments.

“The safety of our people must be our collective priority,” he said.

The Ministry assured Nigerians that it remains resolute in its commitment to improving waterways safety through stronger regulation, compliance enforcement, and collaboration with States, private investors, and boat manufacturers.

“Every life lost on our waterways is one too many. The time for action is now.

” Together, let us consign wooden boats to history and embrace the standard that guarantees safety, confidence, and prosperity for our riverine communities and the nation at large,” the Minister added.

Aviation

FAAN resumes toll collection at Airports, adopts hybrid payment method

Gloria Odion, Reporter

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) have resumed collection of toll at all its toll plazas located at the airports in the country, including Murtalar Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

The toll suspension arose from the chaos which the new cashless payment method introduced by FAAN recently generated which resulted in long queues of motorists at these facilities.

This development has raised public outcry which necessitated the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who directed the suspension of the cashless payment system.

However, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the resumption of toll collection at all these plazas.

In a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the Minister declared that a hybrid access gate payment should be adopted by FAAN at the toll gates located at the Airports in the country.

“Following the earlier suspension of the full cashless Access Gate payment system as directed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu due to the traffic gridlock it created, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development met with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and senior officials of the Ministry.

“After reviewing the initial implementation and the operational challenges observed, the following decisions were reached:

” The Ministry has resolved to engage concessionaires in order to introduce a fully automated or electronic system at all access gates at our airports in order to fully and eventually eliminate cash payments.

” In the meantime, a hybrid payment system that accommodates both cash and card payments will resume at all airport access gates with effect from Friday, March 13, 2026.

” Motorists who already possess FAAN Go Cashless Cards may continue to use them until further notice.

“Other electronic payment options, including POS terminals and other approved digital channels, will also remain available.

“Members of the public and road users are encouraged to obtain and use the FAAN Go Cashless Card as the Authority continues to enhance and fully optimise the cashless payment system.

“This directive restores the previous access gate payment arrangement whilst the Ministry continues to work on the fully automated or electronic system” the statement concluded.

Headlines

NPA shines as Outstanding Agency of the Year 2025 at Champions newspaper Awards ceremony

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has won another award as the Outstanding Agency of the Year 2025 conferred on the agency by Champions Newspaper at its 2025 Awards ceremony held in Lagos.

Receiving the award on behalf of the Managing Director of the Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, described the award as recognition of Danthoso vigorous leadership in implementing smart initiatives that align with the NPA’s vision to become the Maritime Logistics Hub for Sustainable Port Services in Africa.

The NPA MD highlighted the invaluable support of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, which he said has been instrumental in achieving these remarkable successes.

According Dantsoho, some of the key remarkable performances of NPA include sustained port efficiencies, which contributed to Nigeria’s year-on-year trade surplus of ₦7.5 trillion and ₦6.7 trillion in Q2 and Q3 2025 (per NBS and NESG reports), driven mainly by exports via NPA platforms.

He also mentioned the successful execution of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy for crude and petroleum product sales in Naira, saving billions in FOREX, enhancing energy security, improving trade balance, and creating jobs.

Others include completion of Nigeria’s membership in the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA), paving the way for the National Single Window (NSW) project, technical guidance enabling a significant rise in transhipment cargo at Lekki Deep Seaport, serving landlocked neighbours and recovering cargo lost to competing ports.

Another achievement made under the leadership of Danthoso was his electorial victory as the President of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA), with Dr. Dantsoho also leading PAPC, boosting Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and securing re-admission to IMO Category C.

Champions Newspaper conferred the award in appreciation of NPA’s pivotal role as a leading trade facilitation platform driving national economic prosperity through Nigeria’s maritime endowments.

Headlines

Anti-Corruption Group Commends FG on National Single Window Initiative

Gloria Odion,Maritime Reporter

The Media Anti-Corruption Initiatives (MACI), a leading non-governmental organization(NGO), has applauded the Federal Government’s forthcoming launch of the National Single Window (NSW), a centralized platform designed to integrate all transactions and interactions with public agencies.

In a joint press release, Captain Adamu Mishela (Chairman) and Funso Olojo (Secretary General) emphasized the significance of the NSW as a groundbreaking reform aimed at streamlining trade procedures, enhancing transparency, and strengthening integrity across the public sector.

Originally introduced nearly two years ago by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NSW represents a major fiscal reform intended to boost Nigeria’s competitiveness on the global stage.

Captain Mishela noted that MACI believes the initiative will minimize opportunities for corrupt practices, accelerate service delivery for citizens and businesses, and restore public confidence in government institutions

MACI reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public resources, upholding the rule of law, and promoting transparency.

The organization also expressed readiness to collaborate with government agencies, private sector partners, civil society, and the wider public to ensure the NSW achieves its objectives, mitigates risks, and serves as a strong defense against corruption.

In support of the NSW project, MACI is set to hold a seminar with the theme “Tamper-Proof National Single Window” to ensure that the initiative succeeds where other reforms before it faltered.

This initiative marks a significant step toward building a more open, accountable, and citizen-focused public sector in Nigeria.