Headlines

Public hearing on Nigerian Shipping bill holds, not postponed- Abdussamad Dasuki

Tajudeen Abbas, Speakers House of Representatives.

–as House Committee on Shipping Services tackles Port and Harbour Committee over purported cancellation

Funso Olojo

There is an intense intrigue to frustrate the bill that seeks to give legal backing to the Nigerian Shippers’Council as the economic regulator of the maritime industry.

After many years of wearing the toga of an economic regulator devoid of legal powers, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, sponsored a bill to repeal the NSC Act (Cap N133, LFN 2004) and 2010 and enact The Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Bill that will empower the Shippers’Council to regulate the services of service providers in the industry.

The Committee on Shipping Services, which is handling the bill, therefore called and fixed a public hearing on the bill for Monday, May 27th, 2024, thus sending invitations to all the relevant stakeholders to attend the session.

Curiously, about 48 hours before the event, another committee in the House, the Committee on Ports and Harbour, announced that the event, which it was not the major convener, had been postponed indefinitely.

In its letter of postponement written to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, the Clerk of the Committee, Delupe Abiodun Suraj, said the postponement was due to another national engagement which the committee has the same day.

However, our reporter gathered that the purported letter was a clear game plan in the series of political intrigues meant to frustrate the bill seeking to empower the Shippers’Council as an economic regulator with the force of the law.

It could be recalled that since the Council assumed the role of economic regulator, it has been struggling to enforce the rules of engagement with the service providers without success due to lack of legal powers.

However, the Chairman of House Committee on Shipping Services, who convened the public hearing, has said that the event will still hold on Monday, May 27th, 2024.

Sources in the Shippers’Council, also confirmed the position of the lawmaker, saying the event will still go ahead as scheduled and the Council is on ground to attend the public hearing on Monday, May 27th, 2024.

Prince Olayiwola Shittu, another visible stakeholder and former National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) said the purported postponement was not true as relevant stakeholders are already in Abuja as at Sunday, May 26th, 2024 to attend the public hearing.

“It’s not true, Sir( the purported postponement). The program is going on. We’re already in Abuja” he declared via Whatsapp message.

However, sources in the industry accused those who ” are threatened by the legal powers that the bill seeks to give the Nigerian Shippers’Council” of being behind the efforts to truncate the bill.

“We know them. They are threatened by the bill which will transform the Council from a toothless bulldog they usually call the agency to a biting dog” But we are not perturbed by their antics”

The source declared that the bill presents a unique opportunity for genuine stakeholders to attend the public hearing in order to make the Council a formidable force that will effectively regulate the services of the service providers.

He allayed the fears of those who are threatened by the bill that the powers being sought for the council under the proposed Act are to regulate the services and not the organizations.

Another source queried the legality of the Committee on Ports and Harbour to issue a postponement of an event it did not convene.

“It was the Chairman of the Committee on Shipping Services, Abdussamad Dasuki, who invited the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola to the event.

” What justification did a clerk of the Committee on Ports and Harbour have to write to the same minister, canceling the invitation” the source queried.

However, a source close to the Minister said the ministry has no position on the controversial letter.

” It is an issue between two committees in the House which they have to resolve.

“As you know, the legislature is independent of the Executive so we don’t have any position,” the ministry source said.

A source in the Shippers’Council also agreed with the position of the ministry source over the independence of the two arms of government.

” Even if the Minister doesn’t appear at the hearing, it won’t stop the event from being held because the Minister is just one of the stakeholders invited, and if the committee discovers that there is a reasonable attendance of stakeholders, they will conduct the hearing. They are independent of the legislature” he noted.

Another source said if there was going to be any postponement, it should come from the Speaker of the House who sponsored the bill or the Chairman of the Committee on Shipping Services, Abdussamad Dasuki, who invited the minister and not the Clerk of Committee on Ports and Habour.

It could be recalled that a group called Maritime Advocacy Foundation has stated its opposition to the bill, saying, if passed into law, it will run counter to the interests of Nigerian shippers.

Another group which called itself Marine and Blue Economy Integrity Group, has countered the position of the MAF, calling it self-centered and mischievous.

The two opposing groups have further lent credence to the notion that there are some entrenched interests who are threatened by the emerging powers of the NSC and are hell-bent to truncate it.

”They are simply mischious. These are the same people who always said the Council lacks powers as economic regulator. Now it is the same people who are trying to truncate the process to make the council acquire the nececcesry legal backing as economic regul1ator”, another industry stakeholder observed

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.

Headlines

FG approves 50 percent price slash on Yuletide train services

— as passengers flood train terminal

Funso OLOJO

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has commenced 50 percent price discount on Yuletide train services across the country which was approved by the Federal Government to ease traveling during this festive session.

The 50 percent slash in the prices of train services runs between Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 to Sunday, January 4th, 2026.

According to the statement from the NRC, the commencement of the price reduction attracted huge turn out of passengers who thronged major railway corridors across the country to take advantage of the offer.

At major stations along the Lagos–Ibadan, and Abuja–Kaduna, as well as key narrow gauge routes, passengers turned out in large numbers, with several train departures operating at near full capacity as early bookings reflected strong public response to the 50% discount initiative.

The festive rail service, being implemented by the Nigerian Railway Corporation, runs from Tuesday, 23 December 2025 to Sunday, 4 January 2025, during which passengers enjoy a 50 percent discount on train fares nationwide to ease the cost of festive travel.

Many passengers who interacted with NRC officials expressed appreciation for the 50 percent discounted fares, describing the initiative as timely, thoughtful, and economically relieving, especially for families and group travellers journeying to reunite with loved ones during the Yuletide season.

According to the NRC , the 50 percent Yuletide Train Ride is a people-oriented intervention under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at reducing transportation costs, promoting inclusive mobility, and encouraging the use of rail transport as a safe and reliable alternative during peak travel periods.

Speaking on the commencement of the discounted festive operations, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, assured passengers of the Corporation’s preparedness to sustain safe, efficient, and customer-focused services throughout the Yuletide period.

The Corporation confirmed that both standard gauge and narrow gauge services are fully operational, with enhanced security, safety, and customer service arrangements in place across stations and onboard trains to manage increased passenger traffic resulting from the 50% discount offer.

Passengers travelling on standard gauge routes are advised to continue using NRC-approved online booking platforms, while passengers on narrow gauge services can purchase their tickets directly at designated railway stations.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation reiterates its commitment to seamless festive operations and urges passengers to cooperate with railway officials and comply with all travel guidelines to ensure smooth journeys throughout the 50% discount Yuletide Train Ride period.