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The futility of waiting on Mobereola, NIMASA DG, for CVFF disbursement

Funso Olojo

Thursday, May 9th, 2024, the new Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), for the first time since his assumption of duties, met with the expectant stakeholders in the maritime industry.

The meeting, held at the prestigious Eko Hotels, attracted core maritime players such as shipping companies, terminal operators, maritime labour, Seafarers, ship owners, Navy and other service providers in the industry.

Three former NIMASA DGs, Dr Ade Dosunmu, Ferndinad Agu and Barrister Temisan Omatseye,

were also there to offer their advice and lend their support in solidarity with the new helmsman.

The stakeholders came to the meeting with their plates packed full of a menu of expectations and demands.

Mobereola, who was barely two months in the saddle, sat patiently, with broad smiles, as each category of stakeholders came with their bag full of demands.

At a point during about three hours of engagement, Mobereola lost his trade mark smile when the load of expectations from the expectant stakeholders began to weigh in on him.

Maritime security, infrastructural development, ratification of IMO treaties and conventions, empowerment and training of Seafarers, professionalisation and automation of NIMASA services, upgrade of ship registry.

The list is endless.

Mobereola was taking all these demands and expectations in his stride until the issue of disbursement of Cabotage Vessels Financing Funds (CVFF) came up.

At this point, he lost his smile and assumed a more serious expression as he listened with bewilderment to the tale of a long wait, disappointment and frustration of ship owners over the CVFF disbursement.

Then, Barrister Temisan Omatseye, the former NIMASA DG, dropped the clincher when he turned to Mobereola and told him point blank that he would not be able to disburse the controversial CVFF, giving reasons for his pessimism.

“Let me be frank with you sir, you will not be able to disburse the CVFF” Barrister Temisan Omatseye said with a deadpan expression, which further made Mobereola lose his composure.

Little wonder, the NIMASA DG tactically avoided speaking or making any commitment to the disbursement of the CVFF while responding to the array of demands and expectations of the stakeholders.

He promised to revamp and automate the ship registry, he pledged to run an inclusive administration and be gender sensitive.

As a matter of fact, he promised to defer to the advice and suggestions of the former NIMASA DGs and consider the inputs of stakeholders in forming his policies and programmes as NIMASA DG.

He, however, avoided the issue of CVFF disbursement like a plague as he didn’t make any commitment towards its disbursement.

The decision by Mobereola not to make any commitment towards disbursement of the CVFF, to some stakeholders, was a smart administrative move that will save the new helmsman a load of stress.

To them, making a commitment to the controversial subject will put him under unnecessary pressure from the hapless ship owners who have become weary of long wait.

His commitment will become a yardstick for the assessment of his administration by the critical stakeholders.

The disbursement of CVFF is not only bigger than NIMASA DG but not within his power to determine, so said some discerning industry operators.

The President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners, (NAMM), Captain Tajudeen Alao, said that much when he said disbursement of CVFF is a political game which Mobereola is not cut out to play.

“He does not have the power to push for the disbursement of the fund.

“The law is very clear in the Cabotage Act who is in charge and that money is subject to the approval of the National Assembly because it is an income that goes to the Federation Account but it should not be used like that because it’s a purpose driven contribution” the master mariner noted.

Of course, the disbursement of CVFF has become a political chess game while successive NIMASA DGs were mere pawns on the chessboard.

Since 2002 when the funds debutted from the two per cent deductions from Cabotage contracts, and 2006 when the guidelines for its disbursement were spelt out, no single ship owner, dead or alive, has benefitted from it.

It has never been disbursed.

Former Ministers and NIMASA DGs have all been consumed by the high-wire politics and administrative intrigues surrounding the disbursement of the controversial interventionist funds.

Rotimi Amaechi, the former minister of Transportation, despite his political clout and vibrancy, had to cry out in frustration and asked the ship owners, the supposed beneficiaries, to take their destinies into their own hands when he met a political brick wall.

His successor, Alhaji Sambo Muazu, staked his integrity over the disbursement but lost out, despite his claim of securing the approval of the then President Mohammudu Buhari.

The story was not different from the previous NIMASA DGs who made promises of disbursement but failed.

From Dakuku Peterside to his successor, Dr Bashir Jamoh, the immediate past DG, it was a tale of frustration and forlorn hope.

Of particular instance was Dr Jamoh who showed genuine desire and consuming passion to disburse the funds.

He got to the final stage of the hurdle before the disagreement between NIMASA and the approved primary lending institutions(PLIs) over interest rates chargeable on the loan eventually stalled the process.

He was in the process of resuming the negotiation when he exited the agency after the expiration of his tenure.

So given this scenario, observers noted that it would be futile and a hope stretched too far for indigenous ship owners to wait on Mobereola, a man who is probably not well grounded in the politics of CVFF, for the disbursement of the Funds.

Apart from his innocence and naivity in the politics of CVFF disbursement, his position is not helped by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, who has not shown any interest and commitment towards the disbursement of the funds.

Any NIMASA DG who will pull the chestnut of CVFF disbursement out of fire must have a strong-willed Minister, someone in the mould of Rotimi Amaechi, to lend his political weight to the battle.

From all indications, Gboyega Oyetola does not cut the picture of such a strong-willed character that can exert the necessary political pressure to pull off the disbursement of CVFF, notwithstanding his perceived closeness and affinity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

With such weak political support and lack of commitment towards the controversial subject, indigenous ship owners will be stretching their luck too far if they should expect the disbursement of the CVFF under the NIMASA administration of Dr Dayo Mobereola.

Headlines

Tantita intercepts stolen crude on escort of Delta Marine Police, arrests four suspects

Funso OLOJO

Tantita Security Services Limited, a pipeline surveillance operations company, has intercepted a tanker vessel, MT Thor, laden with suspected stolen crude oil.

The interception, which occurred on December 15th, 2025, around the Koko–Excravos axis of Delta State, happened while the vessel was allegedly being escorted by personnel of the Police Marine Unit, Delta State, who reportedly claimed they were acting on directives from the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja.

Four suspects have been apprehended in connection with the incident and are currently facing investigation for possible prosecution.

The arrest was announced during the handover of the suspects at Koko Port in Delta State by Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSNL), a firm engaged in pipeline surveillance operations.

Speaking at the handover of the vessel and the suspects at Koko Port, Delta state, the Executive Director of Operations at Tantita, Captain Warredi Enisouh, said the suspects were apprehended with an unspecified quantity of suspected illegally sourced petroleum products aboard the vessel.

According to a situation report made available by the Special Prosecution Team (SPT) of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Product Theft, Tantita alerted the Head of Investigation of the SPT after intercepting MT Thor, which was allegedly laden with crude oil obtained through illicit means.

Preliminary investigations by law enforcement agencies revealed that the vessel, now classified as an exhibit in an ongoing criminal investigation, is linked to a jetty operated by Ebenco Global Services Limited.

Investigation officers disclosed that documents and correspondence connected to the jetty were obtained and are currently under review.

“The owner of the jetty, Mr. Ebenezer, was contacted by investigators and reportedly provided additional documents, including court orders, which are also being analysed as part of the investigation.

“On December 16, a joint investigation team led by the Head of Investigation of the SPT conducted a Joint Inspection Visit in Koko.

The team first met at Tantita’s corporate headquarters in Warri for a briefing, which was also attended by the jetty owner.

“During the inspection, investigators attempted to obtain samples from MT Thor but were unable to do so immediately as the vessel had not yet arrived at the jetty, having been towed from an earlier location by security operatives.

“While awaiting the vessel’s arrival, the team inspected other containers suspected to be carrying crude oil within the premises of Ebenco Global Links Limited, where samples were taken from a storage barge.

“MT Thor eventually berthed at about 8:30 p.m. on 16 December, prompting the joint team to adjourn sampling and other procedures until the following day.

As of 17 December 2025, investigators were reported to be en route to Koko to continue sample collection and complete investigation formalities,” the report read.

Receiving the suspects, the Head of the Special Prosecution Team of the Inter-Agency Task Force, Omar Sini, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to dismantle crude oil theft networks in the Niger Delta, assuring that all findings would be thoroughly examined and prosecuted in line with the law.

Headlines

Mobereola, NIMASA DG, reflects on year 2025 with satisfaction, says 2026 holds promising opportunities for maritime industry

Funso OLOJO

The Director -General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has expressed his satisfaction over the achievements recorded in the maritime industry in the outgoing year of 2025, while looking forward to a promising 2026 with hope.

In his Christmas message to the stakeholders in the maritime industry, Dr Mobereola noted that the 2026 ended well with the election of Nigeria into the category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) after 14 years of failed attempts as well as zero occurrence of piracy attacks on Nigeria’ waters.

“The year 2025 has been a good one for our industry as once again, we have not recorded a single piracy attack in our waters in a whole calendar year, Nigeria was also able to deposit three Instruments of Accession to IMO Conventions that were signed by President Bola Tinubu ,we have been able to maintain industrial harmony in the sector all of which culminated to Nigeria’s election into the category C Council of the International Maritime Organization.

“We couldn’t have done this without our stakeholders who have contributed in various ways in the course of their operations during the year. We see you, we thank you and we felicitate with your during this yuletide season”Mobereola observed.

He however assured that the Agency will re-double efforts in ensuring that 2026 is even better for every stakeholder.

While calling on industry operators to brace up for the new year with hope of better times, Dr. Mobereola noted that “at NIMASA, we appreciate the weight of our renewed responsibility by virtue of Nigeria’s membership of the IMO Council because to whom much is given, much is definitely expected.

” You can therefore be sure of an increased momentum in our resolve to sustain maritime safety, security, environmental protection and adherence to relevant conventions and protocols with renewed vigour.”

The DG concluded by acknowledging the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, industry stakeholders, management and staff of NIMASA as well as all Nigerians and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Headlines

FG trains 75 boat operators on safe inland waterway navigation

Funso OLOJO

The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, in collaboration with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has concluded a three-day Boat Navigation and Safety Training for 75 boat drivers and skippers, as part of efforts to improve safety and professionalism on Nigeria’s inland waterways.

The training, which ran from Monday, 22, December, 2025 to Wednesday, 24 December, 2025 focused on equipping participants with the practical knowledge and operational competence required for the issuance of the Certificate in Safe Boating and Navigation.

Participants were drawn from major boating associations, including the Maritime Workers Union, the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATAN), and the Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria (WABOTAN).

Boat operators from Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states took part in the programme.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Timothy Clement of the NIWA Lagos Area Office described the training as a significant intervention aimed at reducing accidents on inland waterways.

He noted that many previous boat mishaps were caused by limited technical knowledge and insufficient experience among operators, adding that sustained capacity-building would help address the challenge.

Clement also highlighted ongoing safety measures being implemented by NIWA, including the removal of wrecks to improve navigation and continuous sensitisation of boat operators along major routes such as CMS, Ikorodu, Badore, Badagry and Port Novo.

According to him, NIWA has intensified awareness campaigns, moving from jetty to jetty to educate operators on safe practices, while encouraging boat owners to release more skippers and captains for structured training programmes.

“So far, so good. We thank God for the success of this three-day training for boat skippers.

“Participants came from Lagos and other parts of Nigeria, and over the past three days, they have learned a great deal,” Clement said.

“This year alone, NIWA conducted sensitisation exercises two to three times across different jetties.

“We are encouraging operators to make more of their captains and skippers available for this kind of training.

” I believe that by this time next year, we will have even more reasons to celebrate improved safety on our waterways,” he added.

Also speaking, the Lead Trainer and Consultant, Dr. Sileola Akinbowale, described the programme as a life-saving initiative designed to strengthen manpower capacity and reduce waterway accidents.

She explained that the training was structured to ensure boat operators are properly equipped with both theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills required to operate safely and efficiently.

Akinbowale commended the Federal Government, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the former Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, for prioritising safety and capacity development in the sector.

Assessing the programme, she rated it about 90 per cent successful, noting that it combined classroom sessions with practical exercises on the water.

“We did not limit the training to classroom lectures. Participants were taken out for practical sessions at the jetty, which made the programme very effective. It was an all-inclusive training, not just theory,” she said.

She assured that the initiative would be sustained, stressing that continuous capacity enhancement remains critical to saving lives and improving professionalism on inland waterways.

Participants expressed satisfaction with the training, describing it as timely and impactful.

A Lagos-based boat operator, Wasiu Olalekan, said the programme had strengthened participants’ ability to respond to emergencies and distress situations.

“With this training, we now know how to handle distress situations on the waterways because of the knowledge given to us. On behalf of the Lagos State participants, we appreciate the Minister and NIWA management for this opportunity,” he said.

Another participant from Ondo State, Biobaku John, said the training exposed him to critical safety and emergency response skills that would enhance his professionalism.

“I gained important safety and firefighting skills during these three days. As a boat driver, I learned a lot and I am proud to have participated,” he said.

Similarly, the leader of the Ogun State delegation, Pami Ronald, said participants were trained in boat handling, safety procedures, first aid, emergency response, engine maintenance and effective waterway transport management.

“For the past three days, we learned extensively about safety, first aid, how to raise alarms, call for rescue teams and even engine maintenance. The training was very educative,” he said.

The programme forms part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and NIWA, in line with recommendations from investigation reports under the tenure of former NIWA Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, to improve safety standards, professionalism and confidence among inland waterway operators nationwide.