Thursday, October 30Nigeria's Authoritative Maritime News Magazine
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Author: Asu Beks

FG unlocking inactive energy assets to boost production, Lokpobiri hints

FG unlocking inactive energy assets to boost production, Lokpobiri hints

News Feature
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reassured its commitment to unlocking inactive and untapped energy assets as a major strategy to boost energy production. Oil Minister, Dr. Heineken Lokpobiri, disclosed this during a visit to TotalEnergies’ Headquarters in Paris and their Research Institute in Pau, France. Lokpobiri's spokesperson, Nneamaka Okafor, quoted him to have said “Unlocking dormant fields is not optional - it is vital to our energy security and economic growth.” She said the minister’s visit which was conducted at the invitation of TotalEnergies formed part of a broader engagement with operators and policy makers. It comes as TotalEnergies prepares to unlock several assets, including blocks awarded in the most recent bid round as well as previously-held fields. ...
HRH KING BUBARAYE DAKOLO BATTLES SPDC IN $3b SUIT

HRH KING BUBARAYE DAKOLO BATTLES SPDC IN $3b SUIT

News Feature
A Federal High Court, sitting in Yenagoa Judicial Division, Yenagoa, yesterday, granted an application brought by HRH Bubaye Dakolo, Agada 1V, Ibenanowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, Bayelsa in a three billion dollars suit against international oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), seeking leave to serve the defendants by substituted means. Justice Ayo Emmanuel adjourned the matter for hearing to 22nd July. Joined in the suit marked FHC/ YEN/ CS/81/2025 are seven defendants, including 1st defendant Shell Petroleum Development Company, 2nd Shell NV, 3rd Shell Plc, 4th Attorney General of the Federation,5th Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Agency, 6th Minister of Petroleum Resources and 7th Renaissance African Energy Ltd. Among the plaintiff’s claims in a writ of summons: a dec...
Inspirational Leadership and Port Reforms Under the Renewed Hope Agenda…By Asu Beks.

Inspirational Leadership and Port Reforms Under the Renewed Hope Agenda…By Asu Beks.

News Feature, Port News
Inspirational leadership is a dynamic and transformative approach to leading people that goes beyond simply managing tasks or issuing directives. It's about motivating, energizing, and empowering individuals and teams to achieve their full potential and work towards a shared, compelling vision. At its heart, inspirational leadership is the ability to influence and uplift others to perform beyond expectations and contribute their best. It's about creating an environment where people are not just compliant, but genuinely enthusiastic, committed, and driven by a sense of purpose. This is the guiding principle as the port reforms driven by Adegboyega Oyetola , Nigeria's Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, begin to take root. Oyetola was "written off"by stakeholders when he was picked by Pr...
Professor Tubolayefa Takes the baton as Vice Chancellor of Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko.

Professor Tubolayefa Takes the baton as Vice Chancellor of Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko.

Education, Maritime, News Feature
A new Vice-Chancellor has been appointment for the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State. She is Professor Oluwafemi Flora Tobolayefa. Professor Tobolayefa succeeds Professor Emmanuel Adigio whose tenure expired this month. Her appointment was announced by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr. Abdullahi Bardi, during a briefing on Wednesday, June 18.Professor Oluwafemi's appointment came after a thorough selection process that began in March 2025 with a nationwide call for applications. Out of 12 applications received, six candidates were shortlisted and interviewed on June 17, 2025. The rigorous screening, according to an official of the University. The interview process was conducted by a six-member selection committee formed during the Governing C...
Excitement As Gov Diri Undertakes thank you visit

Excitement As Gov Diri Undertakes thank you visit

News Feature
There was palpable joy on Monday in Nembe and Brass local government areas of Bayelsa State as Governor Douye Diri undertook a first boat ride from the Ikiberi Creek in Nembe to Twon, headquarters of the Brass council. The excitement was due to the reduction in travel time following ongoing construction of the 21km phase one of the Nembe-Brass road by the Senator Diri administration. The journey to Twon, which lasted about 30 minutes, previously took about one hour by boat from Nembe and two hours from Yenagoa, the state capital. The visibly excited Bayelsa governor said the commitment of his administration to link all local government headquarters in the state by road from the capital was on course. Diri, who undertook the journey as he commenced a Thank-You Tour of the eight ...
Oyetola Courts Island Nations for Nigeria’s IMO Council Election Bid

Oyetola Courts Island Nations for Nigeria’s IMO Council Election Bid

Maritime, News Feature
In a significant diplomatic drive on the sidelines of the recently concluded 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, engaged in high-level meetings with leaders from several island nations to solicit support for Nigeria’s bid for election into Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council later this year. The Honourable Minister met separately with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, The Honourable James Marape; the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Joyelle Clarke; and the Minister of Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment of Tuvalu, Dr. Maina Vakafua Talia. These ...
I have no plans to dump PDP…Gov Diri 

I have no plans to dump PDP…Gov Diri 

News Feature
The Governor of Bayelsa State , Sen Douye Diri, has debunked the rumours making rounds of his plans to leave the PDP. Senator Diri spoke over the weekend where he advised the public to see such speculations as baseless and untrue . The Bayelsa helmsman made it clear to the press that " if there be any decision to join another party comes up in future, it will be done with the consent of Bayelsans who elected him". Meanwhile, the Governor has scheduled an inter-L.G.A thank you tour begining with Brass on Monday 16, June 2025, aimed to appreciate Bayelsans for electing him and his Deputy for second term precisely on November 11, 2023 Gubernatorial Elections . The thank you tour is billed to end with a mega rally on 24th June 2025, in the capital city of Yenagoa .
Imperative of a Presidential Assent to the Port and Shipping Economic Regulation Bill : An Open Letter to President Bola Tinubu. BY ASU BEKS.

Imperative of a Presidential Assent to the Port and Shipping Economic Regulation Bill : An Open Letter to President Bola Tinubu. BY ASU BEKS.

Misc, News Feature
Congratulations, Mr President, and happy Democracy Day. I listened to your June 12 address to the National Assembly, which was very impressive and bold. I must thank you most sincerely for remembering the heroes and heroines of the June 12 struggle, particularly Kudirat Abiola, who died on the line of duty. Mr President, with due respect, my greatest disappointment, however, was that you failed to use this great opportunity to redeem your democratic credentials by recalling Sim Fubara , Governor of Rivers State , whom you sent on compulsory leave. This ,without doubt, cast a huge question mark on your democratic credentials. Now, Mr President, let's now look at the main reason behind this open letter to you . Your Excellency, sir, you shocked the maritime community in 2023 when you ...
MOWCA, LASWA to Co-Hosts Ferry Safety Conference in Lagos .

MOWCA, LASWA to Co-Hosts Ferry Safety Conference in Lagos .

Maritime, News Feature
As part of a global FERRYSAFE project, Interferry, the association representing the ferry industry worldwide, is taking a leading role in addressing ferry safety in Africa with the upcoming Lagos Ferry Safety Conference on June 25-26, 2025, in Lagos. The conference is co-hosted by the Maritime Organisation for West and Central Africa (MOWCA) and the Lagos Waterways Authority (LASWA), underscoring the collaborative spirit needed to tackle this crucial issue. "The unprecedented participation of ferry company leaders from all corners of the globe at this year's conference truly underscores the vital role of 'Connections' in our industry," stated Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan. "In an era of rapid global change, encompassing sustainability, evolving regulatory compliance and the imperative fo...
DISCLAIMER!COMTUA Not Recognised by Maritime Trucking Unions, Reaffirm AMATO, MWUNDISCLAIMER!COMTUA Not Recognised by Maritime Trucking Unions, Reaffirm AMATO, MWUN

DISCLAIMER!COMTUA Not Recognised by Maritime Trucking Unions, Reaffirm AMATO, MWUNDISCLAIMER!COMTUA Not Recognised by Maritime Trucking Unions, Reaffirm AMATO, MWUN

News Feature
The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have firmly reiterated that the Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations (COMTUA) is no longer recognised and has no standing in Nigeria’s maritime sector. Speaking on the development, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, Chairman of AMATO, and Kennedy Ikemefuna, Head of Media at MWUN, restated the position first made public in August 2023 that COMTUA has been disbanded by its founding unions and associations. Ogungbemi said anyone parading himself as COMTUA is doing so at his own peril. "It has been disbanded,” Ogungbemi said. Echoing this stance, Ikemefuna of MWUN added, “Whoever he is talking to, that is their business because they are no longer with Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria....