Asu Beks – Page 9 – Shipping World News Magazine

May112025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Oborevwori, Diri Honoured With Doctorate Degrees At Nigeria Maritime University Convocation: Charles Okogene

Maritime, Misc

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and his Bayelsa counterpart, Senator Douye Diri, were on Saturday awarded honorary Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) degrees in Social and Economic Development by the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko, during the institution’s 2nd Combined Convocation Ceremony. Also honored at the ceremony were Senator James Manager, who received a Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) in National Development, and Engr. Ebipador Ogionwo, who was awarded a Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) in Industrial Development. Represented at the ceremony by the State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Nyerowho Tonukari, Governor Oborevwori expressed profound appreciation to the university for the recognition, describing it as a tribute to the ...

May92025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Bayelsa Moves to Establish Fish Farms Across LGAs, Convenes Stakeholders Meeting

Maritime

In line with Governor Douye Diri's directive to establish model fish farms in all eight local government areas of the state. The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy convened a stakeholder meeting to strategize implementation, engaging council chairmen, agricultural officers and artisanal fishing associations. Honourable Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Mrs. Faith Izibenua Zibs-Godwin emphasized the state’s commitment to economic diversification and job creation through aquaculture. According to her, the initiative aligns with the Prosperity Government’s Assured Agenda and will be implemented in partnership with local councils and fisheries associations. Council leaders, led by Chief David Alagoa, Chairman, Nembe Local Government, pledged their support, calling the initia...

May92025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

New Marine and Blue Economy Policy: The Imperatives of an Implementation Committee . By Asu Beks.

Maritime, News Feature

A cheery news emerged from last Monday's Federal Executive Council meeting,FEC, Presided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It was to the effect that the Federal Government has approved a 10-year Policy framework for Nigeria's Marine and Blue Economy. The news attracted jubilation from stakeholders who for almost two years since the creation of the ministry have been groping in the dark about the policy direction and framework of the new ministry. For a country which had relied upon a sole commodity as its mainstay, this news couldn't have come at a better time. The world bank sees the blue economy as a vital opportunity for sustainable economic growth, improved livelihoods, job creation, while preserving the health of Marine ecosystems. The Blue Economy aligns with the world bank's goals ...

May32025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Much Ado About the N12trn Customs 2025 Target. By Asu Beks.

News Feature, Port News

Nigerians were jolted early in the year by a N12trn Target slammed at the Nigeria Customs Service by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance. Smarting from an impressive N5.07tr target in 2024 which it surpassed by over 20 per cent, the Service was given N6.5tr as its target for 2025. But during the budget defence session in January, the Joint Committee on Appropriation, in its wisdom raised the figure by almost 100 per cent. The Committee claimed that available data from the budget office indicated a huge potential that a N12trn annual target in 2025 was achievable. This position drew criticism from experts and the organised private sector. Experts have expressed concern that the N12trn target could impact negatively on the trade environment. The contention is that increased r...

May32025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Ooni of Ife Visits Goodluck Jonathan in Yenagoa, Hails Him as “Divine Gift to Humanity”

News Feature

His Imperial Majesty, Ọọni of Ifẹ, Ọba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and his wife, Olori Ẹbunọla, paid a historic visit to former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The monarch presented sacred Ifẹ bronze artifacts to Dr. Jonathan, praising him as “a divine gift to humanity,” while the Olori lauded Dame Patience Jonathan’s legacy of compassion. The royal couple later visited Mama Eunice Jonathan’s residence in Otuoke, where they offered symbolic gifts in honor of Dr. Jonathan’s humble beginnings. The visit was witnessed by dignitaries including HRM King A.J. Turner, HRH David Osene Ogbolo, HRH Lucky Chukwuigwe, Hon. Robert Enougha Ayala, and others. The Ọọni revealed he had long anticipated meeting Dr. Jonathan, describing it as a moment of spiritual fulfillment....

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 labou...

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 half b...

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 Merit A...

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...