August 2024 – Shipping World News Magazine

Aug292024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

A Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure?

News Feature

Governor Sheriff, you goofed! Governor Sheriff Oborevwori recently announced the creation of a Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure in Delta and immediately appointed a rights activist of Ijaw extraction, Mr Ebikeme Clark, as the pioneer Commissioner. The creation of this unique ministry will certainly find a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Details of the role of this Ministry and what informed its creation are still sketchy as I write this piece. There is no doubt that Governor Sheriff means well for riverine communities in Delta State. As a grassroot politician, most of his policies on assumption of office have been geared towards uplifting the living conditions of Deltans, and truly deserves the commendation of all and sundry. However, my take on this development is that by n...

Aug272024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Gov Diri Unveils New Agenda At State Exco Retreat *Agric, Power Supply, Education Top Priorities

News Feature

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said that his second term agenda will be hinged on a comprehensive framework built on seven pillars representing critical aspects of his administration’s developmental strategy. Senator Diri stated this on Tuesday while declaring open a three-day State Executive Council Retreat with the theme: "Consolidating The Dividends of Shared Prosperity," in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Delivering the keynote address, the governor stressed that the retreat was essential for key government officials to foster collaboration, drive innovation and ensure that policies and programmes align with common goals as well as consolidate on his first term efforts. The state's helmsman said his administration has developed the acronym, A.S.S.U.R.E.D, which was h...

Aug232024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

AN address by Prince Olayiwola Shittu at the AGM of the League of Maritime Editors,on Friday, August 23, 2024 at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

Maritime, News Feature

Protocol. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I send you my best wishes on this auspicious occasion of your Annual General Meeting. But before I proceed further, let me congratulate my inlaw and sister, Remi Itie and other contestants who emerge victorious at the keenly contested elections last night. We are happy that the elections were held in the most peaceful manner. I want to urge those who won to be magnanimous in victory . I urge Remi Itie and other members of the exco to stretch their hands of fellowship to other contestants in the over all interest of the League. Once again, accept my congratulations. In my opinion, today should be a day of stock taking on how the League has fared in the past 25 years. Has the League achieved the dreams of its founding fathers? Has the welfare o...

Aug232024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

One Year In Office: An Open Letter To His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola*

News Feature

Your Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola CON, Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, I trust that this letter meets you well. First, let me use this opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The creation of this Ministry was a dream come true for maritime stakeholders who over the years had yearned for specialized Ministry for the maritime sector. Your Excellency, sir, please convey our best wishes and warm appreciation to His Excellency, the President. Tell him we will not take this gesture for granted. As pioneer Minister of this Ministry, the burden on you to deliver Mr. President's vision in the Marine and Blue Economy is better imagined. This has been made worse, Mr Minister,due to the fact that you have little or no background in this sector prior to your appointment...

Aug232024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Supreme Court Judgement Triumph Of Truth, Says Diri

Law, News Feature

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has described Friday’s judgement of the Supreme Court, which affirmed his victory in the November 11, 2023 governorship election, as the triumph of truth over falsehood and evil. Speaking in Abuja after the apex court gave its verdict, Governor Diri said the victory was not for him or his deputy alone but also for people of the state whose choice was validated by the courts. A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying that his victories at the courts have renewed his hope in the judiciary and in democracy. He said no matter the level of hardship in the country, the forthrightness of the judiciary has given him assurance that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and called on Nigerians to...

Aug212024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

BRIBE SCANDAL ROCKS NIMASA….Executive Director Fingered * 296 Cadets risk deportation. * NIMASA may face court action in UK, Nigerian .

Maritime, News Feature

These are certainly not the best of times for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency , NIMASA and its Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr Jibril ABBA, considering the damning allegations made against him by an NSDP Vendor, , Messrs SPRINGDALE ACADEMY OF MARITIME EDUCATION & TRAINING TRUST(SAMET), India. Should NIMASA fail to act promptly, indications are rife that two legal actions ; one in UK and another in Nigeria for breach of contract might be filed against the Agency in a matter of days. Already , letters from two law chambers in UK and Nigeria have served a notice of a possible legal action for a breach of contract. In one of such letters of "Compaint and Demand" from Kunle Adegoke & co, a Lagos based firm of Legal Practioners , dated...

Aug182024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

BREAKING: President Tinubu slashes,NPA, NIMASA, Shippers Council, others IGR deductions to 20 per cent.

News Feature

Indications are rife that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may have ordered that the deductions of IGRs from Federal Government Parastatals be reduced from 50 to 20 per cent. Shipping World Magazine learned from usually dependable sources that Mr President may have to bowed to pressure from his economic team that the 50 per cent deduction not only counter productive but was likely to cripple the affected MDAs. Sources at the Presidency informed our magazine that the move was aimed at easing the burden of the MDAs and encourage financial autonomy.

Aug162024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

The ‘Orphan’ Called Nigerian Ship Owner By Asu Beks

Maritime, News Feature

If the famed founder of the Synagogue Church of all Nations, Pastor T. B. Joshua, were alive, I would have mobilized the rank and file of Nigerian indigenous ship owners to his Church for a seven-day dry fasting to break this 18 years jinx that has made the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) a mission impossible. Or maybe I should consider Rev. Fr. Mbaka or the maverick pastor Indaboski for this divine intervention which seems to be the only option left. If there is any indigenous group that has never benefited from any direct government bail out in the last two decades, it is the Nigeria ship owner. From the Obasanjo administration to late Yar'Adua, Jonathan and Buhari, various sectors of Nigeria's economy, including aviation, agriculture, energy, oil and gas...

Aug152024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

CHIEF MICHAEL ONUOHA TO NDIGBO MEDIA FORUM: The Economic and Political Emancipation of Ndigbo lies on your shoulders…. wins Most Outstanding Oil and Gas Personality Award

Maritime

Chairman of AILES GROUP, Chief Michael Onuoha , has charged the South East Media Forum, to champion the crusade for the economic, political and social emancipation of Ndigbo . Chief Onuoha made the call in Owerri Wednesday at the maiden edition of the South East Media Summit, presided over by him. The event which had the Imo State Governor, Sen Hope Uzodinma, as Special Guest of Honour had as its theme" The Media, Ethical Responsibility and Democracy : South East in Perspective" . Chief Onuoha who is on the board of Champion Newspapers and Maritime Media Ltd, charged media practitioners of south east extraction to spearhead the Vanguard in the crusade for a paradigm shift in how best to market the challenges and prospects of Ndigbo. He urged Ndigbo to invest in the establishment of the ...

Aug132024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

PROF. WOLE SOYINKA AT 90: A GALA OF HIGH COMMENDATIONS AND DISSECTIONS

News Feature

On Friday July 13, 1934, contrasting events unfolded around the world. Far away in Europe, Adolf Hitler launched the “Night of Long Knives” in Germany, causing great global unease and rapple. But in British West Africa, a bouncing baby boy, later named Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka, was born in Abeokuta, in the hear of Yorubaland, , amidst jubilation. Today, that infant boy, Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka has acquired several sobriquets and nom-de-guerre, depending on the circumstance. On his 90th birthday, he has severally been given such by-names as “Kongi”, the “Lion of African Literature”, the “Bard of Ogun” and the “Sage of Abeokuta” (right from his hometown). Others refer to him as the “Literary Giant of Africa”, “Poet Laurette of the Black World”, The “Champion of Justice...