April 2025 – Shipping World News Magazine

Apr272025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Irregularities in pension remittance by Shipping Companies:Francis Bunu Bears his fangs

Maritime, Misc

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) under the leadership of Comrade Francis Bunu Abi vows to descend heavily on Terminal Operations and Employers of Seafarers' and Dockworkers over irregularities of Maritime Workers pensions remittance nationwide. The leadership of the Union recently got the wind of these employers of labour and terminal operators over their acts of irregular remittance of their employees pensions to its appropriate quarters, thereby, shortchanging the Seafarers' and their counterparts, the Dockworkers, both categories of workers from the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria. It was also learnt that some Ship Owners and Terminal Operators have allegedly stopped the remittance of Dockworkers and Seafarers' PSA in there employ, which is a gross violation of l...

Apr252025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Will Oyetola Prove Doubting Thomases Wrong? By Asu Beks

News Feature

Not many gave him a chance to succeed when in August 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him to midwife the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. Coming from the hangover of the lacklustre performance of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, whose eight years tenure as Transportation Minister was nothing but unimpressuve ,the general expectation was that this time around, a core industry professional would be picked. Not another politician. But this was not to be. For an industry bedevilled with myriad of problems ranging from the non-disbursement of Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF), Nigeria's perennial failure to make the IMO Category 'C' seat, to the discrimination against products of cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, as largely ha...

Apr172025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Oyetola ‘ s April 15 Declaration and the Fate of Nigerian Shipowners

News Feature

Mixed reactions have continued to trail the April 15 declaration by Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, Nigeria's Marine and Blue Economy Minister, ordering the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to immediately commence the disbursement of Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund, CVFF. Coming 14 days after April Fools Day, this does not appear to me as an April joke. It sounds so real to me, even though I am still evaluating the context under which the 10 paragraph press statement signed by, Bolaji Akinola, Oyetola's newly appointed Media and Communications Advisor, was made. Was it a coincidence that this declaration coincided with the day Oyetola was being conferred with the Marine and Blue Economy Pacesetter by Maritime Media Ltd, organisers of the Maritime Merit Industry Mer...

Apr162025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Gov Douye Diri receives Most Maritime friendly AWARD at MIMA ’25. :

Maritime, Misc, News Feature

Bayelsa State Governor, Sen Douye Diri, yesterday in Lagos received an award as the Most Maritime Friendly Governor at the 27th Edition of the Maritime Industry Merit AWARD, MIMA , which held at the Ball Room of Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos. Gov Douye Diri who was represented by the Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Prof Nibofa Ayawei, reiterated the commitment of his administration in harnessing the full potentials of the Marine and Blue Economy. He appealed to prospective investors to take advantage of the abundant marine resources in Bayelsa State. Also in attendance at the event was the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Faith Zibs Godwin.

Apr152025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

In Historic Move, Oyetola Orders NIMASA to Commence Process of CVFF Disbursement

Maritime, News Feature

In a landmark move poised to reshape Nigeria’s maritime landscape, the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola (CON), has directed the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to commence the process that will lead to the long-awaited disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF). This directive marks a significant shift from over two decades of administrative stagnation and ushers in a new era of strategic repositioning of Nigeria’s indigenous shipping. The CVFF, established under the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act of 2003, was designed to empower Nigerian shipping companies through access to structured financing for vessel acquisition. However, successive administrations failed to operationaliz...

Apr132025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

We’re Committed to a Holistic Development of Ports Nationwide —Oyetola

Maritime

IN the vast expanse of Nigeria’s poential, where the azure waters meet the burgeoning ambition of a nation, stands a figure of transformative vision: His Excellency, Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola, CON. Appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August 2023, he assumed the mantle of Nigeria’s pioneer Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, a portfolio charged with charting a course towards sustainable prosperity through the nation’s rich maritime resources. A seasoned technocrat, whose tenure as Executive Governor of Osun State (2018-2022) etched a legacy of infrastructural advancement and economic fortitude, Oyetola arrived at this nascent ministry with a pedigree of proven excellence. His appointment was a strategic alignment of experience with opportunity, a recognition of his capacity to n...

Apr132025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Oyetola Appoints Dr. Bolaji Akinola as Media and Communications Adviser

Breaking News, Misc

The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola (CON), has approved the appointment of Dr. Bolaji Akinola as his Adviser on Media and Communications. Dr. Akinola, a highly respected maritime and corporate communications expert, brings over twenty-five years of extensive experience and deep industry knowledge to his new role. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Akinola has built a strong reputation for his insightful analysis of the maritime sector and his expertise in strategic communications. He is the CEO of leading maritime media and public relations organization, Ships & Ports Communication Company, and is widely recognized for his contributions to the discourse on port reforms, maritime security, shipping development, and the broader ...

Apr112025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Adewale Adeyanju: 8 years of Uncommon Leadership at MWUN*

Maritime, Misc, News Feature

Founded about 29 years ago, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, (MWUN) remains one of most formidable labour unions given its prime position coming perhaps next to oil and gas sector workers. As an import dependent economy, each time the Maritime Workers sneeze, there is usually a near earthquake as import and export activities are brought to a standstill. Given its key bargaining powers, the Nigerian Labour Congress holds Maritime Workers Union as a strategic partner at times of serious trade dispute between Labour and the Federal Government. And it is in recognition of this crucial role that it has been the tradition for almost every President General of the Maritime Workers Union to be "allocated" the position of Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC). In it...

Apr32025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

PRO WIKE RALY REMAINS BANNED IN BAYELSA, GOV. DIRI INSISTS

News Feature, Politics

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said his administration would always abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in respecting the fundamental rights of individuals but will ensure that the prevailing peace and security of the state was not compromised. Senator Diri stated this on Wednesday at the 158th state executive council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa. The governor explained that the administration would not stop any group from holding rallies in the state but emphasised that it would be unwise and counter-productive at a time lasting peace was being sought to address the political crisis in Rivers State. He noted that Rivers and Bayelsa were sister states and that whatever happened in Rivers had a ripple effect in Bayelsa, and e...