Tuesday, December 30Nigeria's Authoritative Maritime News Magazine
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Gov Diri Presents N998bn 2026 Budget Proposal To State Assembly *Infrastructure Gets N298bn, Education N75bn, Pipe-borne Water N10bn

Gov Diri Presents N998bn 2026 Budget Proposal To State Assembly *Infrastructure Gets N298bn, Education N75bn, Pipe-borne Water N10bn

Misc, News Feature
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Thursday, presented the state’s 2026 appropriation bill of N998,371,313,943.04 to the House of Assembly. Governor Diri said the proposal tagged: “Budget of Assured Prosperity II” would be funded through various projected revenue sources, including statutory allocation N42.2bn, Value Added Tax N84bn, 13% derivation N212.6bn and other FAAC allocations N488bn. Other projected receipts are internally generated revenue of N85.9bn, internal and external grants amounting to N24.9bn while domestic loans would be N50bn. Capital expenditure is expected to gulp N645.2, which is 64.6% of the total budget while recurrent expenditure is projected at N353.1bn (35.4%) As in previous years, the Works and Infrastructure Ministry got the lion’s sh...
I Won’t Insist My Deputy Moves With Me to APC…Gov Diri

I Won’t Insist My Deputy Moves With Me to APC…Gov Diri

News Feature, Politics
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said he will not compel his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to join him in the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he formally joined on November 3. Governor Diri resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 15 citing obvious reasons for his decision but his deputy did not join him in the new party. Speaking during the weekly state executive council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday, with Ewhrudjakpo also present, the Bayelsa governor said as a matter of principle, he believes in engagement rather than confrontation and that he will continue to discuss with his deputy. While admitting that it is difficult for both of them to be in different political parties, Diri expressed the optimism tha...
Africa Needs Collective Action for Port Growth — Dantsoho

Africa Needs Collective Action for Port Growth — Dantsoho

Misc, News Feature
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, has emphasized that the interconnectedness and interdependence of African nations make cooperation an essential precondition for the collective advancement of seaports across the continent. Dantsoho made this known at the closing ceremony of the 45th Annual Council of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA) held in Pointe-Noire, Congo. Speaking in his capacity as President of PMAWCA, Dantsoho said the level of enthusiasm, goodwill and altruism displayed throughout the technical sessions and deliberations convinces him that ports within the sub-region are well-positioned to confront future challenges with renewed confidence. Represented by the General Manager Corporate Aff...
Oyetola, South South Commission Set to Reactivate “Abandoned” Deep Seaports Completion Projects in the Niger Delta .

Oyetola, South South Commission Set to Reactivate “Abandoned” Deep Seaports Completion Projects in the Niger Delta .

News Feature
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Tuesday received in audience the Managing Director of the South South Development Commission (SSDC), Ms. Usoro Akpabio , in Abuja, where both parties reaffirmed commitment to strengthening collaboration towards sustainable maritime growth and regional development in the South-South. Ms. Akpabio commended the Minister for his visionary leadership and ongoing reforms in the maritime sector, noting that his initiatives were “repositioning the marine and blue economy as a new driver of national GDP growth.” “We see the reforms in port operations, logistics, and maritime governance that are enhancing trade facilitation, transparency, and investor confidence,” she said. “Our strategic role as a statutory regional...
We Tried To Save PDP, Says Diri At Formal Defection To APC  *He’s New Party Leader In The State – Shettima, Yilwatda

We Tried To Save PDP, Says Diri At Formal Defection To APC *He’s New Party Leader In The State – Shettima, Yilwatda

Politics
‎Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Monday, disclosed why he left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress APC), saying he did his best to salvage his former party. Speaking during his formal defection and reception ceremony in Yenagoa, Senator Diri said the PDP had been hijacked by undertakers bent on destroying the party and that he had no choice than to join the ruling party in order the protect the political future of members and his followers in the state. ‎ He also stated that President Bola Tinubu’s expressed love for development of the state and the Ijaw nation through developmental initiatives, including the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, the second phase of the Nembe-Brass road and also a N4bn tax waiver gran...
MIMA 2026 Nominations Unveiled: Celebrating Excellence in Nigeria’s Maritime Industry

MIMA 2026 Nominations Unveiled: Celebrating Excellence in Nigeria’s Maritime Industry

Maritime, News Feature
Maritime Media Ltd, Publishers of Shipping World Magazine and Organizers of the Annual Maritime Industry Merit Awards, MIMA, are pleased to announce Nominations For the 2026 Edition. Below are the nominations: 1 .LIFETIME MARITIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ( i) Prince Olayiwola Shittu JP. ( Chairman Skelas Group) (ii) Dr Taiwo Afolabi ( Chairman Sifax Group) (iii) Adegboyega Oyetola ,CON ( Minister Marine and Blue Economy) 2. MARITIME MAN OF THE YEAR. (i)Dr Adewale Adeniyi MFR ( CGC, NCS) (ii)Dr Taiwo Afolabi ( Chairman Sifax Group). (iii) Dr Adewale Adeyanju ( BOT Chairman MWUN/ Vice President NLC). 3. MOST IMPACFUL MARITIME CEO. (i) Dr Dayo Mobereola ( DG, NIMASA). (ii) Dr Abubakar Dantsoho (MD, NPA) (iii) Dr Kelvin Okonna ( Acting Rector, MAN, Oron). 4. MASTER MARINER OF TH...
Coup Rumour on Ogbuku: NDDC demands apology from Punch.

Coup Rumour on Ogbuku: NDDC demands apology from Punch.

Misc, News Feature
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has demanded a retraction and apology from the Punch and Daily Times newspapers over an alleged coup rumour against the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Commission’s Legal Counsel, ADEDIPE AND ADEDIPE Legal Practitioners, in a strongly worded letter signed by Chief Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, demanded that The Punch, the Daily Times and others retract the offensive and false publication and tender an unreserved public apology. Adedipe said the report, “falsely alleged that Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), was arrested by military intelligence for allegedly co-sponsoring a failed coup plot against President Tinubu. “The publication further claimed, without any factual or evidential basi...
Another Bayelsa PDP senator Sunday Agadaga defects to APC, says PDP in shreds

Another Bayelsa PDP senator Sunday Agadaga defects to APC, says PDP in shreds

News Feature
Sunday Agadaga, a senator representing Bayelsa east, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Agadaga announced his defection in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during the plenary on Wednesday. The letter was titled “Notice of resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party and formal movement and defection to the All Progressives Congress”. “As the saying goes, change is the only permanent thing in life,” the senator wrote in his letter. “Indeed, as the Holy Scriptures remind us, to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens. I believe that the time for change in my political sojourn on earth has come.” He said the decision to leave the PDP was no...
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON RECENT FALSE REPORTS ABOUT TIMIPRE SYLVA

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON RECENT FALSE REPORTS ABOUT TIMIPRE SYLVA

News Feature
In the past forty-eight hours, I have been inundated with calls from members of the press, political associates, and concerned individuals regarding a circulating report alleging that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, has “fled” the country in connection with certain purported matters. For the avoidance of doubt, it is true that the residence of His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, was recently subjected to a raid by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters. During the said operation, considerable damage was inflicted upon the property. Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid. To the best of my knowledge, the officers involved did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either...
OTC Approves Tantita’s Drone Security Lecture for 2026 Offshore Technology Conference

OTC Approves Tantita’s Drone Security Lecture for 2026 Offshore Technology Conference

News Feature
The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) has officially approved a technical lecture by Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) for its 2026 edition, spotlighting the use of drone technology in offshore oil platform protection. The presentation, scheduled for next year’s global gathering of energy innovators, will showcase Tantita’s pioneering efforts in leveraging unmanned aerial systems to monitor and secure Nigeria’s vast offshore assets. �The company’s Executive Director of Technical and Operations, Captain Dr. Warredi Enisuoh, confirmed the development, noting that the approval reflects growing international recognition of Tantita’s operational success and technological innovation. Tantita’s lecture will delve into real-time surveillance, threat detection, and collaborative ...