Asu Beks – Shipping World News Magazine

May302025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Diri’s Leadership Style Investment-Friendly, Says Dangote As Firm, Bayelsa Sign MoU

News Feature

Business mogul and chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has said Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri’s style of leadership has made the state a safe haven for investment. Dangote, who is Africa’s richest man, spoke on Friday at Government House, Yenagoa, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between his firm and the state government on investments in various sectors. These include oilfield and gas development, agro-allied processing, seaport and infrastructure. The visit was a follow-up to the governor’s visit to the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, Lagos in July 2024 and an earlier meeting between both parties at Nassau, The Bahamas, during the AFREXIM annual meeting in June 2024. Dangote expressed delight that work at his gas pipeline proj...

May302025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

At Last ,Regional Maritime Development Bank Berths in Abuja. By Asu Beks.

News Feature

After several false starts, the much awaited, and talked about West and Central African Regional Maritime Development Bank has anchored in Abuja. Thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ,and Marine and Blue Economy Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola, for making this 16 year old dream come true. Only about three weeks ago, I had revealed in my weekly Marine and Blue Economy Digest column that Minister Oyetola was on the path of history. I had predicted that contrary to what sceptics think about him as a "non performer ", Chief Oyetola was silently pulling some strings that would place him as the best Minister this sector had ever produced since Independence. In that piece, I had explained that given the landmark achievements he had recorded in just under a period of two years, it is obvious that...

May302025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

The Media And My Takeaway From PDP NEC Meeting By Daniel Alabrah

Misc, News Feature

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) eventually held its long-expected National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. It was the 99th in the series. The meeting held at the party’s Legacy House in Abuja was significant for many reasons. To be sure, it was an opportunity for the party that had been enmeshed in a self-inflicted crisis since the 2023 presidential poll to re-invent and reposition itself ahead of the 2027 general election. The atmosphere at the meeting, which had in attendance key leaders and organs of the party, was convivial. For a party that had in the last two years severally shifted this all-important meeting, it was not only an opportunity for frank deliberations but also for some form of back-tapping. Indeed, it was an important turn of events ...

May292025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Slain Graduate Will Get Justice, Gov Diri Assures Family

Misc

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has assured the family of slain 26-year-old Daniel Ayama that the state government will ensure they get justice. Governor Diri gave the assurance on Wednesday when he visited the family over the killing of the fresh graduate of the Federal University, Otuoke, on May 16 at the INEC Junction in Yenagoa, the state capital. The family claimed policemen were responsible for his death while the police authorities in the state said he was a victim of cult groups rivalry. Senator Diri, who commiserated with the family at their residence in Kpansia, Yenagoa, said a thorough investigation will be conducted to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death. The governor said the state’s Special Committee on Security and Human Rights Viol...

May282025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

SGF Akume Visits NSC, Reaffirms Support for Maritime Sector Reforms

Maritime, Misc

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), H.E. Senator George Akume, KSJI, fnim, paid a high-level visit to the Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC) headquarters in Lagos. The high-level visit underscores the Federal Government's commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda and the development of the Marine and Blue Economy. Addressing the Council’s Management staff, Akume commended the NSC leadership and reaffirmed the government's support for strategic reforms aimed at improving Nigeria's port sector. The SGF highlighted the President's significant contributions to infrastructure, education, and empowerment, showcasing the country's overall development. The NSC's Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Akutah Pius, MON, said that the visit of the SGF emphasiz...

May282025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

CGC Wale Adeniyi’s Presidential Endorsement Excites Stakeholders .BY ASU BEKS.

Maritime, Misc, Port News

Some critical stakeholders in the maritime sector have applauded the endorsement of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, mfr, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as timely and a call to do more. In a statement last week by Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu had commended the outstanding performance of the Customs helmsman whose leadership style it said was top notch, yielding great dividends in the area of revenue generation , trade facilitation and anti smuggling. Speaking exclusively with Shipping World, President emeritus of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, observed that President Tinubu's endorsement of Bashir Adewale's successes at Customs House, was not only a moral boosting gesture for officers and men and o...

May252025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Lekki Deep Seaport: NPA Targets 19 metres Draft

News Feature, Port News

The Federal Government has given the Nigerian Ports Authority the nod to dredge $1.5bn Lekki Deep seaport channel from its present 16.5metres to 17metres in the first instance, as it targets 19meters depth. Disclosing this over the weekend during his maiden visit to Lekki port, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abubakar Dantsoho in the company of senior management staff of the Authority, urged Lekki Port to consolidate transshipment volumes to landlocked neighboring countries. According to Abubakar Dantsoho, "The rise in throughput volume at Lekki Port is exciting to us. "Lekki’s capacity to berth super post-panamax vessels and deliver rapid cargo and vessel turnaround positions is a game-changer for Nigeria’s export competitiveness, particularly for agro-alli...

May222025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Abubakar Dantsoho : An Open Door Policy that has Renewed Hope for Nigerian Port Users . By Asu Beks.

Maritime, News Feature

It was a sigh of relief for Nigeria's Maritime Stakeholders when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on July 12, 2024 named Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority. Dantsoho is not only an accomplished international technocrat and professional of repute, he is also someone who had paid his dues. He was a one time Port Port Manager, a former Chief of Staff to the immediate minister of Transportation, among other critical portfolios. His appointment came at a time Nigerians were already getting frustrated that the NPA was becoming a breeding ground for political settlement , with appointees deviating from NPAs core functions as a critical component of our economic wellbeing, as gateway to the nation's economy . For instance, when during the Buhari administration Hadiz...

May182025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Ibadan stands still For Diri as Bayelsa Governor is Honoured

News Feature

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, was on Saturday honoured as the Most Outstanding Friend of Ibadan (MOFI) by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII). The elaborate ceremony held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium) in Ibadan, Oyo State, was the culmination of the 2025 Ibadan Cultural Festival, which promotes unity and friendship between indigenes and other Nigerians. Present at the event were the state governor, Oluseyi Makinde, his deputy, Adebayo Lawal, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, a former governor and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rasheed Ladoja as well as other prominent personalities from the state and members of the Ijaw community in Ibadan. On his choice as an awardee, the CCII described Senator Dir...

May162025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Planned disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund: An Open Letter to Dayo Mobereola. By ASU BEKS.

News Feature

My dear brother, Dayo Mobereola, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, i hope this letter meets you in a perfect condition of health?As DG NIMASA, I appreciate the burden on your shoulders as you navigate through these turbulent times to justify the confidence reposed on you by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. My prayers today, and every day, is that God should bestow on you the wisdom of Solomon and heart of a lion to overcome the myriad of problems you have had to contend with since the mantle of leadership fell on you to take NIMASA to the promise land. As a critical stakeholder, I appreciate the enormous responsibilities which rests on your shoulders. I guess you know that this is a thankless job ....only a few would wish that you succeed, while o...