News Feature – Page 17 – Shipping World News Magazine

Jan282025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Diri Emerges South-South Governors Forum Chairman *Region Backs FG’s Tax Reform, Demands Increased Oil Derivation

News Feature

Governors of the South-South geo-political have unanimously picked Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, as chairman of the South-South Governors Forum. Senator Diri was elected on Tuesday during the forum’s meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, the state capital. Cross River Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, emerged as vice chairman of the forum. Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, moved the motion nominating Diri while his Rivers State counterpart, Siminalayi Fubara, seconded it. Responding, Diri said his emergence as chairman was a call to higher service and promised to serve the forum and the region diligently. He said it was not an office for him alone but a collective task for all governors of the South-South to move the region forward. Diri s...

Jan272025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Oyetola to Asu Beks: We will Get to the Promise Land Under my Watch

Maritime, Misc, News Feature

Right of Reply: A Case for Quality Leadership in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy: An Open Letter to Adegboyega Oyetola Dear Elder Asu Beks, Happy New Year. Your open letter to His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola is well received and appreciated. It is heartwarming to know that you, as a renowned stakeholder in the sector, also acknowledge the accomplishments of His Excellency, not only the immediate past Governor of Osun State, but also in his current role as pioneer Minister of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. It is pertinent to address the issues you raised in your letter, which was published online and in the SUN Newspapers. As many stakeholders have affirmed, since he was appointed to steer the Ministry, Oyetola has continued to demonstrate dedication and commitmen...

Jan262025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Frank Onyeka: A Breath of Fresh Air at Tin Can Customs. By Asu Beks.

News Feature

Frankly speaking, Frank Onyeka, the new Customs helmsman at Tin Can insists his mission at his new duty post is not any different from the vision and mission of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. Since his appointment as Comptroller General of Customs, Adeniyi has not compromised on professionalism and excellence. His watch word has been hard work ,and more hard work ,without compromising trade facilitation and standards. Onyeka faces a daunting task surpassing the record he met on ground, but according to him, this was not going to be contest between him and the immediate past Customs Area Controller, Dera Nnadi, who has just been promoted to the rank of an Assistant Comptroller General, but that of building on the legacies left behind by his predecessor. Said he:...

Jan242025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Marine and Blue Economy’s ‘Paltry’ 2025 Budget By Asu Beks

News Feature

"Mr President, please have mercy". This refrain was made popular by a Bishop who on January 20 officiated at the inauguration National Prayer Service of President Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States. She could barely control her emotions as she pleaded with the then incoming President to have a human face and allow the fear of God to guide him in the way and manner he will govern America in his second coming, obviously drawing inference from his campaign threats, especially about his planned crackdown on illegal immigrants. This is the same prayer maritime stakeholders are taking to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to "have mercy" on an industry that rightly deserves a State of Emergency, after it was announced that only a paltry N12 billion was approved for the Ministry o...

Jan242025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Gov. Diri’s former Aide Urges NIMASA to Fast-Track Maritime Skills Acquisition Centre in Bayelsa State

Maritime, News Feature

Former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Bayelsa State Governor on Tourism, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo is urging the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola to speed up the development of the proposed Maritime Skills Acquisition Centre in Bayelsa State, adding that: "This facility has the potential to significantly boost blue tourism in the BRACED region." According to Dr. Kiyaramo, the centre will not only contribute to the growth of blue tourism but also promote sustainable tourism practices and create job opportunities while fostering community engagement and participation. "This aligns with NIMASA's commitment to introducing educational and skills acquisition programmes for coastal communities, as se...

Jan212025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

I Will Not Let You Down..Dantsoho, NPA MD Assures Tinubu. *** Receives Nomination as Most Promising Maritime CEO.

News Feature

Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, has promised not to relent in his efforts to reposition Nigerian Seaports for greater efficiency in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has promised not to let Mr President down at ensuring that Nigerian Seaports become the first port of call for goods destined for the West and Central African sub region. Dr Dantsoho gave the pledge in his office , Monday when he received a letter from the Publisher of Shipping World Magazine, Elder Asu Beks, on behalf of the the Editorial Board of Maritime Media Ltd, organizers of the annual Maritime industry MERIT AWARDS, MIMA, nominating him as the Most Promising Maritime CEO in 2024. The NPA helmsman was full of praises for the Minister of Marine and B...

Jan192025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

ASU BEKS TO OYETOLA: Compel NIMASA to disburse CVFF, deploy floating dock. By Sylvanus Ekpo.

Maritime, News Feature

Fiery rights activist and Convener of the elite Maritime Elders FORUM, Elder Asu Beks, has challenged Marine and Blue Economy Minister , Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, to compel the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to immediately commence the disbursement of Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund. He also wants Oyetola to compel NIMASA to deploy the N50b floating dock which has been laying idle for years. In open letter to the Minister over the weekend, Asu, who is Publisher of Nigeria's flagship Maritime journal, Shipping World, said it is completely unacceptable that the current leadership at NIMASA has not offered any timeline for disbursement of the CVFF, neither has there been an official explanation as to the reasons behind the inability to put the multi billion faci...

Jan182025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

A Case For Quality Leadership in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy: An Open Letter to Adegboyega Oyetola*

News Feature

Your Excellency, sir. I hope this letter meets you well, and in a perfect health. We give God the glory for your life and your measured accomplishments, especially as Governor of the State of Osun and as pioneer Minister of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. This is my second letter since your assumption of duty. My first coincided with your first anniversary as Minister of Marine and Blue Economy. Your Excellency, there is no doubt that you came highly recommended given your pedigree as a former Governor and an accomplished captain of Nigeria's insurance industry. In my first letter to you last year, I enumerated a few of the challenges and opportunities which lay ahead as you navigate through these stormy waters. Your Excellency, sir, you are also lucky to find yourself in an i...

Jan162025 by Asu Beks1 Comment

South Korea Hands Over Mechanised Agric Equipment To Bayelsa *Diri Confers State Citizenship On Envoy

News Feature

The Republic of South Korea has handed over mechanised farming equipment worth over $500,000 to the Bayelsa State government. The items include four tractors, two rice transplanting machines, one rice seeding machine, 10,000 rice seed beds, and four 10-tonne per day rice mills. The equipment were handed over to the state government by the South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Rear Admiral Kim Pankyu (rtd), on Thursday, at the School-to-Land Farm complex in Yenagoa. Speaking at the handover and rice planting demonstration ceremony, Amb. Pankyu said the donation was part of a collaborative partnership between his country and Bayelsa State. He noted that Bayelsa was endowed with a suitable soil and favourable weather for rice cultivation and expressed the optimism that the equipment...

Jan112025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

Countdown to MIMA 2025 …

Maritime, News Feature

Engr Salat Braimah, Segun Oduntan, Frank Meke receive nomination letters. As the countdown to the Maritime Industry MERIT AWARDS 2025 begins, Awardees have been receiving their nomination letters The roll call of those who got their letters this week include Engr Salat Braimah, Lagos Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, who was voted the MARITIME WOMAN OF THE YEAR. Others included Prince Segun Oduntan, Vice President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs AGENTS, who was nominated as MOST OUTSTANDING CUSTOMS BROKER, while Mr Frank Meke, a Newspaper Columnist and Radio host was voted the TOURISM JOURNALIST of the Year.