Headlines

NBS exposes lack of depth of reforms in maritime industry as it rates sector low in contribution to Nigeria’s GDP

Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy

Funso Olojo

The National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) has exposed the shallow depth of the reforms in the maritime industry, which according to the ratings of the agency, have not yet produced desired results to catapult the sector into its reckoning.

In his latest ranking of the contributions of various sectors to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023, the maritime sector was not captured in the data for the assessment.

The NBS, in its data analysis, only mentioned water transport, as the contributor to the country’s GDP.

In the 2023 report, the NBS noted that water transport contributed a mere N12.6 billion which was 0.01% of GDP.

In Q2 of 2022, the maritime sector as represented by the water transport in the report, contributed a mere N2.4 billion to the GDP out of N45.5 trillion GDP for that period.

Stakeholders believed that this was a reflection of the so-called reform programmes which the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy prided itself on having initiated in the sector.

They noted that the ministry has not done enough to trigger the necessary transformation in the sector which could lead to the full exploitation of the huge potential in the industry.

The low rating of the sector by the NBS and the below-average performance of the new ministry came amidst the controversial award which was curiously given to the Ministry by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council(PEBEC) as the best-performing ministry in driving ease of doing business.

It could be recalled that on June 28th, 2024, the Special Adviser to the President on

Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, at a town hall meeting, pronounced the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy as the Best Performing Ministry in the delivery of the reform activities, a claim which stakeholders have roundly condemned and faulted.

Muda Yusuf, the CEO of Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE), has bemoaned the lightweight performance of the maritime industry despite its huge potential.

The former Director-General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, however, condemned the underreporting of the maritime sector by the NBS.

Some stakeholders have however attributed the non-recognition of the capacity of the sector by the NBS to the gross failure of the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Meanwhile, Dr. Yusuf, who was the lead speaker at the breakfast meeting convened by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria(MARAN) in Lagos, believed that the maritime industry has contributed far more than what was reported by the NBS.

“There is evidently a gross under-reporting of the activities of the maritime sector by the National Bureau of Statistics.

“For instance, in the Q2 GDP report, the maritime sector (water transport) was said to have contributed a mere 2.4bn Naira to the GDP out of N45.5trn GDP for the quarter.

“This is a contribution of a mere 0.01 percent. In the first quarter of 2022, the NBS recorded 0 percent contribution of the sector to GDP.

“In the GDP numbers, water transport is the only proxy closest to maritime. But maritime sector activities are beyond water transportation.” Dr Yusuf observed.

However, while delivering a paper at the breakfast meeting with the theme: Trade Facilitation and President Tinubu Economic Agenda: Matters Arising, the CPPE boss frowned at the lack of recognition of the maritime industry’s contributions to the GDP.

“As a country, we are yet to appreciate the full significance of trade and the international trade ecosystem as leverage for economic transformation.

“This perhaps is why trade issues have not attracted the level of attention commensurate to their contribution to the economy.

“The trade sector accounts for 16% of our GDP in 2023 which amounts to over N27 trillion.

” But this data reflects largely domestic trade – that is wholesale and retail trade.

“The contribution of international trade and the entire ecosystem is yet to be adequately captured in our GDP data.

“This is what the maritime sector or the blue economy represents.

“I am hoping that as the GDP is rebased, this grave shortcoming in our economic data will be corrected.

“What we have in the NBS data is water transport.

“But the maritime sector or blue economy is beyond just water transportation.

“Water transport for instance contributed a mere N12.6 billion in 2023, which was 0.01% of GDP.

“This certainly cannot be what the maritime sector contributed in the whole of 2023.

” And this has been the trend over the years.

“The maritime sector handles over 95% of our international merchandise trade.

“The value of trade in 2023 was N71.9 trillion in 2023, with import accounting for N36 trillion and export accounting for another N36 trillion.

Stakeholders have therefore tasked the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola to go beyond rhetoric but stimulate the sector to enable it to leverage the enormous resources in the industry for maximum growth.

“What impact has the new ministry made barely 11 months after its creation and the resumption of duties by Adegboyega Oyetola as the minister that will justify the pyrrhic award by PEBEC? , a concerned maritime operator queried.

Oyetola was first appointed as the Minister of Transportation on 16th August 2023 but redeployed four days later to head the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

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.