News Feature – Page 2 – Shipping World News Magazine

May32025 by Asu BeksNo Comments

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

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 ...

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....

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 ha...

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...