News Feature – Shipping World News Magazine

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 Mer...

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...

Apr112025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Adewale Adeyanju: 8 years of Uncommon Leadership at MWUN*

Maritime, Misc, News Feature

Founded about 29 years ago, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, (MWUN) remains one of most formidable labour unions given its prime position coming perhaps next to oil and gas sector workers. As an import dependent economy, each time the Maritime Workers sneeze, there is usually a near earthquake as import and export activities are brought to a standstill. Given its key bargaining powers, the Nigerian Labour Congress holds Maritime Workers Union as a strategic partner at times of serious trade dispute between Labour and the Federal Government. And it is in recognition of this crucial role that it has been the tradition for almost every President General of the Maritime Workers Union to be "allocated" the position of Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC). In it...

Apr32025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

PRO WIKE RALY REMAINS BANNED IN BAYELSA, GOV. DIRI INSISTS

News Feature, Politics

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said his administration would always abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in respecting the fundamental rights of individuals but will ensure that the prevailing peace and security of the state was not compromised. Senator Diri stated this on Wednesday at the 158th state executive council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa. The governor explained that the administration would not stop any group from holding rallies in the state but emphasised that it would be unwise and counter-productive at a time lasting peace was being sought to address the political crisis in Rivers State. He noted that Rivers and Bayelsa were sister states and that whatever happened in Rivers had a ripple effect in Bayelsa, and e...

Mar312025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Gov Diri Appoints Gospel Artiste Asu Ekiye, Ijaw Language Ambassador

News Feature

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has named gospel musician, Asu Ekiye, Ijaw Language Ambassador. Speaking on Sunday in Yenagoa during Ekiye's musical concert and album launch tagged "Ebikamo Experience," Governor Diri said the appointment was in recognition of his effort to preserve Ijaw language through his music and that this was in line with his administration's vision to ensure the language does not go extinct. Describing the musician's passion for preserving the language as commendable, he said his administration has trained Ijaw teachers and would do more to promote the language. The governor also stated that Bayelsa was peaceful because the Ijaw people were peaceful in nature and solicited their continuous support for his administration to initiate more develo...

Mar282025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Boat mishaps on our Waterways: Waiting for the Report of 7 wise men. BY ASU BEKS.

News Feature

Worried by the incessant boat mishaps on Nigerian Waterways, the Minister of Marine and Blue, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, earlier in the year inaugurated a 7 man Committee to curb the menace. The Committee headed by Mr Bola Oyebamiji , the helmsman of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA , was given 21 days to turn in its findings. Other members of the team include the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA. Dr Dayo Mobereola, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Prof Sule Abiodun, the Executive Director of the National Institute for fresh water fisheries , Dr A. M. Sule, the Provost of the Institute of Fresh Water Fisheries, Dr Babatunde Olaosekan as well as the Technical Adviser to the M...

Mar272025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

YOU CAN’T HOLD A PRO WIKE RALLY IN BAYELSA…Gov Diri warns

News Feature

Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Douye Diri, has raised the alarm about a plot to breach the peace of the state,using a pro Wike " Mega Rally " as a ploy. Governor Diri, who warned that the state government would not condone any act that would disrupt the peace of the state, advised security commanders, youths, elders and traditional rulers to be on the alert. The Bayelsa governor spoke on the issue on Thursday at separate meetings with the Bayelsa Elders Council and at the 37th session of the state security council. He warned that a planned mega rally and inauguration of a group loyal to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, was capable of igniting avoidable crisis in the state. Diri noted that a suspended member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), George Turn...

Mar212025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Dr Pius AKUTAH: The Making of The Maritime Man of the Year, 2024. By Asu Beks.

News Feature

Some 55 years ago, in a remote village in Benue State, a Pius was born to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Akutah. Like the dream of every parent, they had hoped that young Pius would grow up to be very successful and prominent in Benue land and beyond. Pius was the first of 18 children and spent his early life in Kaduna State where his father served in the Nigerian Army. His early education was in Kaduna before being enrolled back home at the popular Comprehensive High School, Gboko. This seperation from the watchful eyes of his dad almost marred his educational career ,as his love for soccer blossomed. Notwithstanding, his first career choice was to be an accountant , but this was not to be. As a destiny child, Pius Akutah, after several false starts and, against all odds, saw himself at the...

Mar172025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

At UN Summit, Diri Makes Case For Niger Delta Coastal Communities *Proposes Remediation, Global Sanction For Polluters

News Feature, Press Release

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has again taken his campaign against environmental degradation and the impact of climate change on communities in the Niger Delta to the international arena. The Bayelsa governor on Monday advocated for the imposition of sanctions on polluters of the environment as well as a fund to compensate communities negatively affected by climate change in the region. Governor Diri, who stated this while delivering a keynote address on the first day of a four-day maiden DeltasUnite Summit of the United Nations Convention on Conserving of River Deltas (UNCCRD) at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand, said there was need for joint action by the international community to protect the world’s Deltas due to climate-induced environmenta...