January 2025 – Shipping World News Magazine

Jan312025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

BREAKING: ABANDONED NSDP CADETS IN GREECE SEND SOS TO ASU BEKS TO SAVE THEM FROM DEPORTATION.

News Feature

No fewer than 150 cadets sent to Greece under the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, flagship NSDP program risk deportation if by month ending February, 2025, NIMASA fails to meet her statutory financial obligations. In an emotion laden Save our Souls letter sent to the Editor Shipping World tagged " Urgent Appeal for Awareness,Nigerian NIMASA Cadets in Greece Facing Unpaid Stipends and Crisis", dated January 29, 2025, the students alleged that they have been abondonded by their sponsors, NIMASA, which despite repeated appeals, by the prioprietors of the Metropolitan College, Greece, has fallen on deaf ears. They have therefore appealed to the Publisher of Shipping World, Elder Asu Beks, to prevail on Dr Dayo Mobereola, the Director General of NIMASA, to do the nee...

Jan292025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Douye Diri to PANDEF: Concentrate on the the Development of Niger Delta

News Feature

Gov Diri To PANDEF: Focus On Region’s Development Issues Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged leadership of the Pan Niger Delta Development Forum (PANDEF) to focus on issues that border on the region’s development in its advocacy as a voice of the region. Senator Diri gave the admonition on Wednesday when a delegation of PANDEF led by its new chairman, Amb. Godknows Igali, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa. He expressed his administration's commitment to collaborate with the forum to address issues of development bedevilling the Niger Delta region. The Bayelsa governor stressed that PANDEF needed the collaboration of governors of the region as well as interventionist agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the pr...

Jan292025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Port Efficiency: National Single Window is the Game Changer…Oyetola

News Feature

The implementation of a National Single Window for Nigeria will improve port efficiency, improved revenue collection, and drive economic transformation, according to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola. The Minister stated this on Wednesday in Lagos at the Stakeholders’ Forum on the Establishment of the National Single Window (NSW). The NSW project was launched in April 2024 by President Bola Tinubu as a pioneering cross-government system designed to streamline trade facilitation by integrating and syncing data from various government agencies to improve economic efficiency. Speaking at the event, Oyetola further stated that the implementation of the NSW project will further enhance trade facilitation in the country. “The implementation of the Single Win...

Jan282025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Diri Emerges South-South Governors Forum Chairman *Region Backs FG’s Tax Reform, Demands Increased Oil Derivation

News Feature

Governors of the South-South geo-political have unanimously picked Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, as chairman of the South-South Governors Forum. Senator Diri was elected on Tuesday during the forum’s meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, the state capital. Cross River Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, emerged as vice chairman of the forum. Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, moved the motion nominating Diri while his Rivers State counterpart, Siminalayi Fubara, seconded it. Responding, Diri said his emergence as chairman was a call to higher service and promised to serve the forum and the region diligently. He said it was not an office for him alone but a collective task for all governors of the South-South to move the region forward. Diri s...

Jan272025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Oyetola to Asu Beks: We will Get to the Promise Land Under my Watch

Maritime, Misc, News Feature

Right of Reply: A Case for Quality Leadership in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy: An Open Letter to Adegboyega Oyetola Dear Elder Asu Beks, Happy New Year. Your open letter to His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola is well received and appreciated. It is heartwarming to know that you, as a renowned stakeholder in the sector, also acknowledge the accomplishments of His Excellency, not only the immediate past Governor of Osun State, but also in his current role as pioneer Minister of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. It is pertinent to address the issues you raised in your letter, which was published online and in the SUN Newspapers. As many stakeholders have affirmed, since he was appointed to steer the Ministry, Oyetola has continued to demonstrate dedication and commitmen...

Jan262025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Frank Onyeka: A Breath of Fresh Air at Tin Can Customs. By Asu Beks.

News Feature

Frankly speaking, Frank Onyeka, the new Customs helmsman at Tin Can insists his mission at his new duty post is not any different from the vision and mission of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. Since his appointment as Comptroller General of Customs, Adeniyi has not compromised on professionalism and excellence. His watch word has been hard work ,and more hard work ,without compromising trade facilitation and standards. Onyeka faces a daunting task surpassing the record he met on ground, but according to him, this was not going to be contest between him and the immediate past Customs Area Controller, Dera Nnadi, who has just been promoted to the rank of an Assistant Comptroller General, but that of building on the legacies left behind by his predecessor. Said he:...

Jan242025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Marine and Blue Economy’s ‘Paltry’ 2025 Budget By Asu Beks

News Feature

"Mr President, please have mercy". This refrain was made popular by a Bishop who on January 20 officiated at the inauguration National Prayer Service of President Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States. She could barely control her emotions as she pleaded with the then incoming President to have a human face and allow the fear of God to guide him in the way and manner he will govern America in his second coming, obviously drawing inference from his campaign threats, especially about his planned crackdown on illegal immigrants. This is the same prayer maritime stakeholders are taking to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to "have mercy" on an industry that rightly deserves a State of Emergency, after it was announced that only a paltry N12 billion was approved for the Minist...

Jan242025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Gov. Diri’s former Aide Urges NIMASA to Fast-Track Maritime Skills Acquisition Centre in Bayelsa State

Maritime, News Feature

Former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Bayelsa State Governor on Tourism, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo is urging the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola to speed up the development of the proposed Maritime Skills Acquisition Centre in Bayelsa State, adding that: "This facility has the potential to significantly boost blue tourism in the BRACED region." According to Dr. Kiyaramo, the centre will not only contribute to the growth of blue tourism but also promote sustainable tourism practices and create job opportunities while fostering community engagement and participation. "This aligns with NIMASA's commitment to introducing educational and skills acquisition programmes for coastal communities, as se...

Jan212025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

I Will Not Let You Down..Dantsoho, NPA MD Assures Tinubu. *** Receives Nomination as Most Promising Maritime CEO.

News Feature

Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, has promised not to relent in his efforts to reposition Nigerian Seaports for greater efficiency in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has promised not to let Mr President down at ensuring that Nigerian Seaports become the first port of call for goods destined for the West and Central African sub region. Dr Dantsoho gave the pledge in his office , Monday when he received a letter from the Publisher of Shipping World Magazine, Elder Asu Beks, on behalf of the the Editorial Board of Maritime Media Ltd, organizers of the annual Maritime industry MERIT AWARDS, MIMA, nominating him as the Most Promising Maritime CEO in 2024. The NPA helmsman was full of praises for the Minister of Marine a...

Jan192025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

ASU BEKS TO OYETOLA: Compel NIMASA to disburse CVFF, deploy floating dock. By Sylvanus Ekpo.

Maritime, News Feature

Fiery rights activist and Convener of the elite Maritime Elders FORUM, Elder Asu Beks, has challenged Marine and Blue Economy Minister , Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, to compel the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to immediately commence the disbursement of Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund. He also wants Oyetola to compel NIMASA to deploy the N50b floating dock which has been laying idle for years. In open letter to the Minister over the weekend, Asu, who is Publisher of Nigeria's flagship Maritime journal, Shipping World, said it is completely unacceptable that the current leadership at NIMASA has not offered any timeline for disbursement of the CVFF, neither has there been an official explanation as to the reasons behind the inability to put the multi billion faci...