Asu Beks – Page 9 – Shipping World News Magazine

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...

May132025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

NSC Saves N31 Billion as Ministry Pushes for Sectoral Transformation

News Feature, Port News

Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC) has highlighted its impressive performance and called for critical policy and funding reforms at the ongoing 2025 Sectoral Retreat of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. The NSC's Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Pius Akutah, MON, disclosed that the Council saved the Federal Government over N31 billion between January and June 2024 through automation of demurrage, freight rate, and charter party verification. Dr. Akutah also showcased the Council's achievements, including the commissioning of the Funtua Inland Dry Port, top-ranking performance in the 2024 ICPC Ethics and Integrity Scorecard, the launch of online registration portals for port users and service providers and the development of the Trade and Transport Data Bank now nearing compl...

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...