February 2025 – Shipping World News Magazine

Feb282025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

RECURRING BOAT MISHAPS ON OUR WATERWAYS: THE OYETOLA ANTIDOTE. BY ASU BEKS.

Misc, News Feature

In what appears as bold move to nip in the bud the recurring incidents of boat mishaps in our Waterways, Nigeria's Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, has inaugurated a Special Committee which is charged with the responsibility of reducing, if not completely eliminating the scourge. Headed by the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, Mr Bolaji Oyebamiji, the Committee has the responsibility to ensure that our Waterways are safe and secure in line with the theme of the 2024 World Maritime Day which is " Navigating the Future: Safety First ". Oyetola in a strong message to the ommittee charged them to come up with ways and means that will guarantee that Nigeria's Waterways are the safest and most secure in the West and Central African ...

Feb272025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

BEHOLD THE MOST OUTSTANDING CUSTOMS AREA CONTROLLER, ANTI SMUGGLING.

Misc, Port News

Customs Area Controller in Charge of Onne Port, Compt. Mohammed Babandede, is a no nonse officer. Babandede shocked the World last year when he made an arms seizure worth over N35billion last year. For this demonstration of bravery and other critical interventions at the Command, including high revenue yield, he was voted the MOST OUTSTANDING CUSTOMS AREA CONTROLLER IN ANTI SMUGGLING by Maritime Media Ltd. His investiture ceremony is billed for the Oriental Hotel Victoria Island Lagos on Tuesday, April 15. Elder Asu Beks, CEO of Maritime Media Ltd was at Onne Port on Wednesday to present him with his letter of nomination.

Feb242025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Sanwo-Olu, Diri, Others To Headline MIMA 2025 Awards _Akutah to clinch 2024 Maritime Man of the Year_

Maritime, News Feature

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Governor Douye Diri, are among eminent Nigerians that will be celebrated for their sterling contributions in the maritime sector at the 2025 Maritime Industry Merit Awards (MIMA). Sanwo-Olu will be honoured as the Most Outstanding Governor (Maritime Infrastructure Development) while the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri will be celebrated as the Best Maritime Friendly Governor. In a statement released week end by Local Organising Committee, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, will be receiving the Marine and Blue Economy Pacesetter Award; while the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah,will be celebrated as the 2024 Maritim...

Feb212025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

SAMBO REPRESENTS MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR, AT IBRAHIM BADAMASI BABANGIDA, GCFR, BOOK LAUNCH

News Feature

Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, CON, the immediate past Minister of Transportation, represented Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, at the book launch of the former Nigerian Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), ‘A Journey in Service’ in Abuja on Thursday, February 20, 2025. The event drew an elite gathering of past and present leaders who reflected on IBB’s legacy and the state of democracy in West Africa. The event, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, attracted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, top members of his cabinet, former presidents of Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, former Nigeria Vice Presidents, State Governors, past and present, Ministers and heads of Parastatals, both former and present, military leaders, Captains of Industry, and statesmen from Nigeria and beyond...

Feb202025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Who is Afraid of the International Cargo Tracking Note? By Asu Beks.

Misc, Press Release

The only permanent thing in life is change. And yet ,people would go out of their way to prevent change, even when in the long run, such changes are for the common good of society.What an irony.Once again, the reintroduction of the controversial International Cargo Tracking Note is in the news. The International Cargo Tracking Note, ICTN is a mandatory Shipping document required by certain countries, primarily in Africa, which details the specifics of a cargo shipment before it arrives at the port of destination, allowing Customs authorities to monitor import/export traffic efficiently. Simply put,it is a form of electronic cargo tracking note used to provide transparency and security regarding the movement of goods across borders. Mooted by the Nigerian Ports Authority in 2010, there h...

Feb192025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

SOUTH-SOUTH CAUCUS MEETS PETROLEUM MINISTER TO ADDRESS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND OIL INDUSTRY CHALLENGES

Misc, News Feature

The South-South Caucus in the House of Representatives, led by its Chairman, Rt. Hon. Fred Agbedi, PhD, has engaged the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, in a high-level discussion aimed at tackling critical socio-economic and environmental issues affecting the oil-rich region. The meeting, held on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at the Minister’s office in Abuja, provided a platform for robust dialogue on key concerns, particularly the impact of oil exploration on local communities and strategies for fostering sustainable development. KEY ISSUES DISCUSSED During the meeting, Hon. Agbedi, who also serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on FCT Area Council and Ancillary Matters, outlined several pressing matters affecting the South-South region:...

Feb182025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Gov. Diri Mourns Passage Of Pa Clark

Press Release

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, received the news of the passing of the Ijaw ethnic nationality’s foremost personage and leader, Chief (Dr.) Senator Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, with sadness and equanimity. The Ijaw nation has lost its father-figure and irrepressible voice. Chief Clark was an icon, a treasure of inestimable value and a nationalist par excellence. He was a distinguished patriot, who dedicated his whole life to the service of Nigeria. Until the very end, he was unrelenting. As the Ijaw nation reflects on the passage of this exceptional sage, we take solace in his matchless contributions to national development. On behalf of the Ijaw nation, the government and people of Bayelsa State, I express heartfelt condolences to the Clark family of Kiagbodo i...

Feb152025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

VP Shettima Storms Yenagoa to Celebrate Diri’s 5th Anniversary * 60mw Gas Turbines Expected In Two Months

News Feature

The fifth anniversary thanksgiving service of the Senator Douye Diri administration in Bayelsa State, on Thursday, offered a platform for the governor to render his stewardship. The well-attended event had prominent Nigerians, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife, Dame Patience, Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Muftwang, National Assembly members among others in attendance. The thanksgiving service was held at the Ecumenical Centre, Igbogene, Yenagoa, and had renowned Ghanaian preacher, Dr. Otabil Mensah, as the guest speaker. Governor Diri, in his remarks, said Bayelsa was witnessing a transformation with the completion of several impactful projects as well as ongoing and newly-awarded projects. He listed some to include the three...

Feb132025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

GLOBAL TARIFF WAR: NPA’s ABUBAKAR DANTSOHO HITS TARGET By Asu Beks.

News Feature, Port News

When Donald Trump threatened the world, during his campaign for the US top job , especially China, Candada and Mexico that they should prepare for a barrage of tariff increases once he wins the election, only a few took him seriously. Even though our Nigerian born headmistress of the World Trade Organization, Dr Ngozi Okonji-Iweala, promptly cautioned against the threats which she warned might be catastrophic, she underestimated the swiftness with which Donald Trump struck once he won the November elections. A tariff is a tax on imported goods and services . Tariffs are typically a percentage of the value of the goods. The purpose of tariffs is to raise revenue for government and to protect domestic industries from foreign competition. About a fortnight ago, the Nigerian Ports Autho...

Feb112025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

PANDEF Appeals To Tinunu To Sign South-South Development Commission Bill.

Breaking News

The Pan Niger Delta Forum ( PANDEF )has pleaded with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign into an Act the bill for the South-South Commission with the same speed he signed others. At the end of an emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees in Abuja yesterday, a statement issued by the Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador Dr. Godknows Igali and read by the Spokesman, Dr. Ominimini stated in part: "The bill after passage by the National Assembly Assembly was submitted at the same time as other geo-political zone's Commissions bill tickets to the President, but ours is yet to be assented to. "We subscribe to the desirability of having a development commission for all the six geo-political zones of the country without exception. "And therefore views the withholding as a grave oversight or erro...