December 2024 – Shipping World News Magazine

Dec302024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

TRIBUTE TO LATE DIG MOSES AMBAKINA JITOBOH By Prof Moni Gold

News Feature

The Ijaw Diaspora grieves the profound loss of one of its most illustrious sons, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Moses Ambakina Jitoboh, whose life epitomized integrity, excellence, and an unwavering dedication to justice. Born on June 1, 1970, and enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on June 10, 1994, as a cadet assistant superintendent of police, his passing signifies not merely the end of a distinguished career but the extinguishing of a bright light in the fight against systemic inequities. DIG Moses Ambakina Jitoboh’s remarkable journey was marked by professionalism and merit, yet his boundless potential was thwarted by the persistent shadows of ethnic discrimination and political favoritism. Twice, he was unjustly denied the opportunity to ascend to the esteemed position of Inspe...

Dec282024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

FUBARA, DIRI MEET IN PH…resolve dispute over SOKU oil well

News Feature

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed delight over the peaceful resolution of the Soku oil well dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa states. Speaking in Porthacourt on Saturday during a Yuletide visit to his Rivers counterpart, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Governor Diri said he was delighted that under Fubara, both states have agreed to return to status quo, thus ending the dispute and withdrawing the case from court. The Bayelsa governor said the peaceful relations between both states was necessary for their development and called for its continuity. Diri also lauded Fubara for his handling of the demolished property of the Bayelsa government in Pott Harcourt, which is still in court while both states are close to reaching an amicable settlement. He stressed the...

Dec272024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Unprofessionalism as the Bane of Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy. By Asu Beks.

Maritime

"Pofessionalism and Continuity as the Panacea for Sustainable Development and Growth in Nigeria's Marine and Blue Economy, " is the topic the Editorial Board of Maritime Media Ltd, Publishers of Shipping World Magazine, has chosen as its theme for its annual lecture next year. This topic is in response to concerns and recent calls for the full professionalism in the new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. Goggle describes profession as " a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and formal qualification. It also describes a professional as " relating to belonging to a profession; engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a past time". If there is any sector in our recent political history that has suffered a high influx of " ...

Dec212024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

GOV DOUYE DIRI GOES TO FARM … takes possession of 4 rice mills from South Korea

News Feature

Bayelsa State Government has announced its renewed plan to invest massively in agriculture in this second term of the Prosperity Administration. At the flag-off of the 2024-2025 dry season farming at the rice farm in Otuasega, Ogbia Local Government Area attended by the Deputy Governor, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and other top government functionaries, Governor Douye Diri, encouraged the people of the state including himself and all political appointees to own their own farms, particularly in clusters. Gov. Diri who said the government would focus on areas where the state has comparative advantage including rice, plantain, banana, cassava, oil palm, assured that his administration would train more young people in different aspects of agriculture. Commissioner for Agriculture and Na...

Dec202024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

BRASS: Old Fishing, Slavery Gateway as Bayelsa’s New Industrial Hub

News Feature, Press Release

Founded in 1895, Brass used to be, traditionally, a fishing settlement. But early in the 19th century, it became a strategic route not only for slave trade but for palm produce and was aptly dubbed the "Venice of Niger Delta" by some authors. In today's Nigeria, Brass is unarguably to Bayelsa what Lekki is to Lagos. Brass is an emerging investment and industrial hub. While the Lekki free trade zone and the Dangote Free Zone Enterprise both located in Lekki, Lagos parade a world class refinery and a Deep Sea Port with potentials for huge domestic and foreign investments, Brass Oil and Gas Free City Zone, when fully operational, is blessed with a Liquified Natural Gas plant, a proposed refinery and a port terminal that is blessed with several jetties, with proximity to the Atlantic Ocean....

Dec162024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

I AM BACK ON DUTY…Gov Douye Diri

News Feature

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, today ended his annual leave and will resume his official duties immediately. A statement by his spokesperson, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, on Monday, informed that the Bayelsa Governor, who went on a three-week leave on November 25, will resume on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. Governor Diri expressed appreciation to people of the state for their prayers and continuous support for his administration while he was on vacation. He said the administration remains steadfast, united and committed to its social contract with the people and will continue to deliver projects and policies that positively impact on the lives of all inhabitants of Bayelsa.

Dec132024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

GOV DIRI WINS 2024 OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE GOVERNOR (MARINE AND BLUE ECONOMY) AWARD — Dedicates award to the people of Bayelsa State

Maritime, News Feature

The Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri has won the outstanding Performance Governor of the Year 2024 Award, in the category of Marine and Blue Economy. The award was presented to him by the Nigeria Today Magazine, a global publication for the promotion of good governance and selfless service to humanity, on Wednesday at the Shehu Musa Yara’dua Centre, Central Business District, Abuja. In his remark, Senator Diri said he was deeply honoured to receive the award on behalf of the people and government of Bayelsa State, noting that it is gratifying to see his administration's pioneering efforts in the marine sector being acknowledged. The Governor thanked organizers of the event and acknowledged that the honour will serve as a motivation to deepen his adminis...

Dec122024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

THIS IS NOT WHAT WE ARE A KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY ELDER ASU BEKS, CEO, MARITIME MEDIA LTD, AT THE MAIDEN IJAW PUBLISHERS’ FORUM WORKSHOP IN YENAGOA

News Feature

Protocol Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to stand before you today. I must thank the organizers for finding me worthy to address this gathering. This is certainly not the topic allocated to me. But in view of the exigencies of the moment and the mood of the nation, I decided to speak on the topic THIS IS NOT WHAT WE ARE. Yes, this is not what we are. Izon means truth and I grew up to this grand norm that an Ijaw man or Izon keme abhors lies. If you like, put a gun on his head. He will stand by the truth. Growing up as a barrack child, I had the rare privilege of criss crossing the length and breadth of Nigeria depending on where duty took my father to. My late father, Edward Erete Asu, was a police officer having worked briefly as a school teacher before joining...

Dec122024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Port Infrastructure Ugrade: Abubakar Dantsoho’s Herculean Task . BY ASU BEKS

Maritime

Like a man who came prepared for his new role as the helmsman of Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho is not taking chances in his drive to change the face of Nigerian Seaports. Unlike his two immediate predecessors , Dr Dantsoho is not here to play politics. The mandate handed over to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was clear, and without any ambiguity. "Go reform Nigerian Seaports in line with my renewed hope agenda". Not only has his rich and intimidating credentials made his task a lot easier, he is enjoying the full backing of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy as well as the relevant committees in both chambers of the National Assembly. Basking from the euphoria of his new role as Chairman of the Port Management Association of West and Central African...

Dec82024 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Bayelsa Govt Condoles With Former Deputy Governor Peremobowei Ebebi at Father’s Funeral

News Feature

The Acting Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, at the weekend, led a high-powered delegation to the funeral of the late Chief Simon Micah Ebebi, the Alei of Aleibiri and father of the former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Peremobowei Ebebi. Other top dignitaries in attendance were the former Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson; the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Chief Abraham Ingobere, the Chief of Staff Government House, Yenagoa, Pastor Peter Akpe and state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Solomon Agwanana. In his sermon at the funeral mass drawn from Matthew Chapter 25, the Bishop of Bomadi Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend, Hyaci...