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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎Come August 28, 2025, the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) will host the 3rd edition of her annual Maritime Lecture (MAMAL) at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
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‎This year’s lecture will spotlight the ongoing international fraud perpetrated by foreign shipping lines under the guise of “War Risk Premiums” on vessels calling at Nigerian ports, aiming to draw the Federal Government’s urgent attention to the issue.
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‎Speaking on the theme of MAMAL 2025 which is “Addressing the Burden of War Risk Insurance on Nigerian Maritime Trade,”MARAN President, Mr. Godfrey Bivbere, strongly condemned the war risk insurance, describing it as an international fraud burdening the economy of Nigeria and other developing countries in the Gulf of Guinea.
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‎The extra war risk insurance (WRI) levied on Nigeria-bound vessels varies significantly. For instance, a very large crude carrier (VLCC) can incur a WRI surcharge of $445,000 per voyage, while a new container vessel may face a charge of $525,000 per voyage. Beyond this, some shipping companies such as Maersk, have introduced additional fees like a transit disruption surcharge, while others impose a war risk surcharge of $40-$50 per 20-foot container.
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‎MARAN contends that these exorbitant charges are further strangulating Nigeria’s already-strained economy.
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‎Also, despite Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola recently confirming that Nigeria has not recorded a single pirate incident in the past three years, the imposition of war risk premiums continues unabated.
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‎Oyetola credits this peace in the Gulf of Guinea to the multi-billion naira Deep Blue Project, a robust maritime security initiative spearheaded by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
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‎Despite these commendable efforts by the Federal Government, MARAN is concerned that foreign shipping lines continue to unjustly extract millions of dollars from Nigerian shipowners in the name of War Risk Insurance Premium, even though there are no demonstrable risks in the region.
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‎In March 2025, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director General of NIMASA, met with a delegation from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Kristin Skov-Spilling, where he passionately appealed to the international community to acknowledge Nigeria’s significant progress in securing its waters. He emphasized the critical need for a corresponding reduction in war risk insurance costs.
‎Dr. Mobereola stated, “The Nigerian government has demonstrated a strong commitment to maritime security, leading to nearly zero incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea over the past four years. Despite this, vessels coming to Nigeria continue to pay high war risk premiums, which is unjustifiable given the improved security landscape.”
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‎Speaking further on the upcoming MAMAL Annual Maritime Lecture 2025, MARAN President Godfrey Bivbere asserted that international shipping companies operating in Nigeria have shown “lackadaisical and complacent attitude towards the economic and social wellbeing of Nigeria as a nation.”
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‎He explained that MAMAL 2025 aims to thoroughly examine the perceived threats, realities, and profound implications of persistent Extra War Risk Insurance (EWRI) on Nigeria’s maritime trade and the wider Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
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‎Providing more details about the highly anticipated conference, which has consistently served as a crucial rallying point for all maritime stakeholders due to MARAN’s respected voice, Bivbere added:
‎”The Summit will also explore issues leading to the classification of the nation’s waters as high-risk zones, roles of classification societies like the Lloyds of London, the roles of core stakeholders like NIMASA, Nigerian Navy and other maritime and security operators.”
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‎According to Bivbere, “The MAMAL 2025 is expected to draw over 500 key stakeholders, including maritime security experts, shipowners, terminal operators, international shipping lines, diplomats, insurers, regulators, and legal experts.”
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎Under the guidance of the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs, the Apapa  Command is liaising with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and other stakeholders  on developing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the movement of goods by rail from Apapa Port to other states.
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‎The Customs  Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, PhD, disclosed this while presenting his 2025 revenue half year report.
‎”| am pleased to express that the talks have shown prospects for success with pledges of support and anticipation for robust participation by all concerned”, he stated.
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‎According to him, the effort to revive cargo movement by rail aims to decongest the port, reduce pressure on the Apapa roads, and provide a viable and cost-effective option for cargo movement by importers, exporters, freight forwarders, haulage operators and licensed
‎customs agents.
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‎He revealed that in the first six months of 2025, the Command achieved a monumental revenue collection of N1,378,059,019,245.20, representing a 35% increase above the record of N1,023,663,842,255.63  collected in the same period in 2024. He attributed this feat to efforts of diligent officers and compliant traders.
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‎”On my watch and under the direction of the CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, psc (+), we have always insisted on maximum collection of government revenue by preventing leakage.”
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‎In the area of trade facilitation, the CAC said the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), also known as B’Odogwu, has gone live in the Apapa Command with laudable milestones.
‎Emphasizing the diligence of the command, he announced that in addition to the issuance of the Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) being issued using the homegrown technology, the  Command achieved issuance of the first Single Goods Declaration on May 9, 2025 using the B’Odogwu platform, a significant shift towards faster, more reliable cargo handling.
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‎”We have created a robust platform that facilitates trade and ensures the swift clearance of cargo.
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‎”We are addressing challenges such as poor network connectivity, delays, and congestion associated with the former system.
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‎The CAC  showcased nine (9) containers comprising  unregistered pharmaceuticals, used clothing, expired margarine, wild animals’ skin and codeine syrup which form part of the twenty-seven (27) containers seized between January-June 2025 with a duty paid valve of (DPV) of N9,267,443,966.00.
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‎”These seizures are a fallout of our efforts at preventing Nigerians from unwholesome foods and drugs, stopping illicit trade, and protecting
‎our local industries.
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‎”As a standard, we will never compromise the health, well-being, and safety of Nigerians on the altar of trade facilitation. Every consignment passing through our port undergoes a diligent check through scanning and physical examination when required.
‎Unregistered pharmaceuticals are most prominent on the list of twenty-eight (28) seizures made by the command during the period under review. The seizures comprise controlled drugs, used clothes,
‎codeine syrup, wild animals’ skin, and other sundry items.
‎”It is pertinent to note that the trafficking of wild animals contravene the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), to which Nigeria is a signatory. Equally, on the detention list is a container of matches imported without the required End User Certificate (EUC) as provided for in our extant laws.
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‎In a smart move to neutralise smugglers, CAC Olomu added, the Command sealed three bonded terminals.
‎One of the terminals has already been charged to court, while investigations are ongoing regarding the remaining two.
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‎He affirmed the commitment of his Command to sanitize the port environment and maintain strict adherence to customs regulations by all stakeholders.
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‎“As a result of our robust anti-smuggling efforts, three bonded terminals have been sealed. One is already undergoing prosecution in court, and we are currently investigating the others,” Olomu declared.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎ Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, HE Adegboyega Oyetola, says his Ministry will stop at nothing in her efforts to address incessant loss of lives on the nation’s inland waterways.
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‎The Minister made the pledge, Tuesday, during the handing -over of 3500 life jackets to the Ogun State government for distribution to inland waterway operators in the area as part of a nationwide effort to promote safety awareness and savet lives during navigation.
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‎The Minister who was represented by Dr Mercy Ilori, the Director of Maritime Services in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, said the campaign which is ongoing is part of a deliberate national strategy to institutionalize the culture of safety and the willingness of waterway users to voluntarily submit to safety rules and regulations on the inland waterways.
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‎ “This is one of the most comprehensive Federal government responses in recent times to the persistent loss of lives on Nigeria’s waterways.
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‎“Consequently, there have been successful handovers of safety life jackets at Niger, Bayelsa, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Taraba, and Lagos States.
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‎He said the train was now in Ogun State to sustain the momentum and  reveal the government’s unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and livelihoods of the people of the  State.
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‎“You will all agree with me that the frequency and tragic consequences of boat mishaps across the country are deeply concerning.
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‎It is in recognition of this menace, he stated, that the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to prioritize life-saving interventions to bring about tangible change.
‎He stressed that the government’s commitment to end the needless loss of lives on waterways is anchored on strict enforcement of the Inland Waterways Transportation Regulations 2023; continuous public education and sensitization campaigns and provision of critical safety equipment, notably life jackets, to waterway users.
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‎“It is worthy to note that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), a key agency under the Ministry, plays a pivotal role in ensuring the success of this strategy.
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‎“NIWA continues to lead in regulation, monitoring compliance, and supporting education and enforcement efforts on our inland waters,” he remarked.
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‎Accepting the donation, Governor Dapo Abiodun assured the Minister that the life jackets would be equitably distributed to registered operators across the state.
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‎ Represented by the State Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, the Governor stated that safety on the nation’s waterways wasn’t a privilege but a right of everyone in Ogun State.
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‎He also assured that the State is ever willing to support and sustain the momentum of enhanced inland waterways safety.
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‎“Safety on the waterways is not a privilege, it is a right.
‎” Every life jacket handed over today represents a life potentially saved, a family preserved, and a future secured.
‎” This initiative aligns with the human capital development pillar of our administration’s ISEYA agenda ensuring that people remain at the heart of our progress.
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‎“Ogun State values the synergy we have fostered with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and applauds their dedication to the development of marine infrastructure, safety standards, and the blue economy as a whole.
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‎He beckoned on waterway users including boat operators, fishermen, and residents of riverine communities to cultivate the habit of using life jackets.
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‎” But more importantly, the knowledge and awareness you will gain from this sensitization effort will serve as your daily companion, protecting you and helping you protect others.
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‎“Ogun State hereby assures the Federal Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy and NIWA that these life jackets will be equitably distributed to verified and recognised operators across the state’s waterways, from Iwopin to Ebute-Ero, from Agbara to Tongeji, Imakun Omi to Ode-Omi, and other active riverine corridors.
‎” A strict monitoring and maintenance protocol will be enforced to ensure sustainability and accountability.”
‎The State Governor, however, warned that State actors would not allow preventable tragedies define the nation’s waterways
‎“As we continue to embrace innovation and development in transportation, we must also embrace accountability and responsibility.
‎“Let us not allow preventable tragedies to define way of life, let us instead champion the principles of safety, respect for life, and collective vigilance.”
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‎In his.submission,the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji recalled several tragic incidents that claimed lives in hundreds and warned that the issue of safety on the inland waterways cannot be overstressed.
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‎“The issue of safety can never be over-emphasized. In June 12, 2023, a wooden boat carrying wedding guests returning from a marriage ceremony from Niger State capsized in Jeva Channel Lake, in River Niger in Kwara State, owing to overloading and a submerged tree.
‎“The boat was reported to be carrying over 200 guests despite having the capacity of carrying just less than 100 passengers.
‎“More than 200 lives were lost, among which a father and four of his children were involved. So you can imagine the kind of tragedy that befell the family.
‎“Again, in October 1, 2024, a wooden boat carrying mostly women and children traveling for religious festive occasions capsized in Niger State.
‎“The boat was reported to be carrying over 300 passengers even though it has the capacity of carrying less than 100 passengers. More than 100 lives were lost.”
‎NIWA Managing Director, who was represented by Engr. Elsie Egwuatu, Head of Marine at the Lagos Area Office, observed that in the respective cases the boats were heavily overloaded, sailed at night without the proper navigational aids and conveyed passengers without life-jackets.
‎“So if you think safety is expensive, try disaster. Over 90 percent of accidents that happen on our waterways are caused by human error.
‎“In most cases, it is caused by captain’s negligence. The newly gazetted Marine and Transport Regulations Codes, which spells out offences and punishments, ranging from fine to imprisonment, mandates the compulsory use of life jackets for all waterways users sailing on our waterways,” she added.
‎Also speaking, the National President of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Alhaji Tarzan Balogun called for intensified regulatory efforts to prioritize safety and infrastructural development on Nigerian waterways.
‎Alhaji Balogun commended the government for its efforts in promoting safety across the country’s inland waterways, even as he assured that the life jackets would be used judiciously.
‎“There must be a firm policy — no life jacket, no entry. I’ve witnessed several cases where passengers refuse to wear them. That should not be allowed. Safety must come first,” he said.
‎Balogun also praised the federal government, particularly President Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, for their commitment to maritime safety and for recognizing the importance of life-saving gear in water transport.
‎“If you’re drunk or perceived to be a threat to others onboard, operators must have the authority to refuse you entry.
‎” There is also the problem of bringing animals onboard, especially dogs who can scare passengers onboard and make boats capsize,” he stated.
‎Balogun also called on the Ogun State Government to emulate Lagos by setting up a dedicated waterways authority and constructing jetties in collaboration with local boat operators.
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