By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

The House of Representatives has commended the Director-General and the entire management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for the progress being made in implementing reforms aimed at

repositioning Nigeria’s maritime industry for greater global relevance.

Speaking during an oversight function visit to NIMASA, the Acting Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration,

Committee Hon. Uduak Alphonsus Odudoh pledged full support for the directive issued by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for the Agency to ensure that the beleaguered Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) is disbursed in a couple of months.

“I want to commend NIMASA and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for steps taken to disburse the CVFF which has been a challenge for over 20 years. This will translate to job creation for the maritime sector in Nigeria. The DG and his team have succeeded in maintaining no piracy in Nigerian waters and this translates to better image for Nigeria.”

The House of Representatives, he pledged, is also supporting Nigeria’s quest to seek election into category C at the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

“The DG told us that NIMASA is domesticating a record 56 conventions in one fell swoop. This is fantastic. The global maritime community will see us as a serious maritime nation. We are committed to work, collaborate with NIMASA, collaborate with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for the success of this present government and the success of Nigeria,” Hon Uduak declared.

In his remarks, the NIMASA Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for the cordial relationship that exists between the Agency and the House Committee. He lauded the Committee’s role in shaping governance and policy direction for the maritime sector, noting that such oversight and support are crucial to the Agency’s continued success.

He confirmed that the Minister’s directive on the CVFF disbursement is a done deal as far as the House is concerned.

“We are acting in accordance with the directive of the Honourable Minister to ensure indigenous shipowners finally have access to this critical funding. The guidelines have been streamlined based on the Minister’s approval, so beneficiaries can access the funds this year.”

To manage the $700 million intervention fund efficiently, NIMASA has expanded the number of Primary Lending Institutions (PLIs) from five to twelve. These banks will play a key role in risk assessment, ensuring that only credible, financially capable shipping firms benefit from the revolving fund.

The funding model will see banks contribute 35%, NIMASA 50%, and the remaining 15% as equity from the shipowners themselves.

“By involving the banks, we are ensuring financial discipline and sustainability, which are crucial for this fund to continue long-term,” the DG explained.

“We are creating a win-win scenario—access to finance and access to business,” Mobereola said.

By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

The new Customs Area Controller (CAC) in charge of the Ogun 1 Command, Idiroko Border, Comptroller G. Otunla, Thursday, sounded a clear note of caution to economic saboteurs and smugglers who may wish to test the resolve of the Customs that the new administration under his watch will not tolerate any form of economic sabotage.

Comptroller Otunla who stated this at Idiroko while taking over from Comptroller M.S. Shuaibu warned:

“We shall deploy all lawful means to combat smuggling and enforce compliance with exant trade laws and regulations. Our approach will be firm, fair and intelligence-drive”.

He assured traditional rulers, community leaders, host communities and all relevant stakeholders that he would maintain and improve on the open-door policy and robust partnerships established by his predecessor while deepening collaboration in ways that foster mutual understanding, peace and shared progress.

“We shall remain unwavering in our commitment to actualizing the core mandates of the Nigeria Customs Service including revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, facilitation of legitimate trade and protection of national security.”

He appealed to all officers and men of the Command to remain committed, disciplined and professional in discharging their duties since, as a team, the Command’s success largely depends on unity of purpose, adherence to ethical conduct and pursuit of excellence.

“Together, we will sustain the culture of diligence and ensure that the Command remains a model of efficiency and service delivery.”

In his handing-over speech earlier, Comptroller M.S. Shuaibu expressed deep-seated gratitude to his deputies, the management team and the entire officers and men of the Ogun Area 1 Command whose efforts have kept the wheel of operations running smoothly, saying, their teamwork, invaluable support and advice throughout his tenure meant a lot.

“It has been my privilege and honour to have worked closely with all of you for the past three months. Your professionalism, dedication and cooperation have been my strength and I am immensely proud of what we achieved together,” he explained.

Comptroller Shuaibu who now heads the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Lagos, said that under his leadership, the Ogun 1 Area Command not only strictly enforced the mandate of revenue generation, border security and trade facilitation but made strides in building stronger collaboration with sister agencies and stakeholders including the Benin Republic counterparts.

“Together, we have intercepted illicit goods, curbed smuggling, and facilitated legitimate trade. Our collective efforts have positioned the Ogun 1 Command as a key player in Nigeria’s economic and security architecture.”

He expressed profound gratitude to the Comptroller -General of the Nigeria Customs Service for the trust reposed in him and for providing the support which enabled the Command to succeed.

He announced that between January and April, 2025, the Command generated a revenue of N43,412,794.00.

On anti-smuggling, he added, the Command made seizures of 161 different prohibited importations. Others seizures included different sizes of cannabis sativa numbering 3,699, 150 sacks of Indian Hemp, 3 single-barrel long guns and 7,000,000,000 CFA.

Comptroller Shuaibu stated that the Customs alone cannot solve the challenges of border surveillance and lauded the partnership with other stakeholders who play an invaluable role in maintaining peace and stability in the areas of operation.

By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

Management of the Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT) has given a thumbs-up to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for being instrumental to her being able to berth ‘Kota Carum’, her largest vessel in history.

OMT Chief Operating Officer, Jim Stewart, praised the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho for supporting and improving port efficiency and service delivery, a development that has positively impacted on the successes the terminal is recording.

The OTM CEO was speaking Wednesday during a reception in honour of ‘Kota Carum’, the Singaporean-flagged vessel owned by Pacific International Lines (PIL), one of Asia’s leading shipping companies.

‘Kota Carum,’ a mega container vessel measuring 301.43 metres in length arrived the OMT jetty at 10:30 hours and was safely berthed by 10:50 hours, utilizing berths 9 and 10.

The milestone event, industry watchers say, further highlights OMT’s growing prominence as a hub for large-scale maritime trade in the West African region.

Boasting a capacity of 6,606 TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalent units), ‘Kota Carum’ is a major addition to the line of large vessels now calling at Onne Port. During its 55-hour port stay, the vessel discharged 1,250 containers and loaded 1,619 containers—including export-bound cargo and empty containers.

At the event, the OMT Chief lavishly appreciated NPA’s overwhelming support in creating an enabling environment for OMT to thrive.

“We have an excellent working relationship with the Onne Port Manager, Mr. Abdulrahmon Hussain, and the entire team at the Nigerian Ports Authority. The leadership of the Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has been instrumental in our success. Allowing a vessel of this magnitude to berth at our terminal is a vote of confidence in our capabilities”.

Jim Stewart called on the Federal Government to allocate more funding for channel dredging at the Onne Port to accommodate even larger vessels and further boost trade volumes.

“We are fully prepared to receive vessels from any shipping line. But for us to unlock the full potential of Onne Port, additional dredging is essential. We urge the Federal Government to support NPA with the necessary resources to deepen and widen the channels,” Stewart said.

“We are incredibly honoured to receive the largest vessel to ever berth at Onne. Following the arrival of the Kota Cempaka last year, this achievement reflects our continued growth, our strategic investments in terminal infrastructure, and our unwavering commitment to operational excellence,” Stewart stated.

Stewart emphasized that OMT’s ongoing modernization efforts, including the acquisition of additional state-of-the-art cranes, have significantly enhanced cargo-handling capabilities and reduced vessel turnaround time.

He noted the economic advantages of hosting such large vessels at Nigerian ports, explaining that direct calls by larger ships eliminate the need for transshipment via smaller feeder vessels—cutting down logistics costs and reducing freight tariffs for Nigerian importers and exporters.

“This is not just a win for OMT; it’s a win for the Nigerian economy. The ability to berth larger vessels means more direct cargo movement, reduced logistics costs, and increased revenue for the country. Freight forwarders also benefit significantly, as they avoid the extra costs associated with transshipment,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Chief Pilot of Onne Port, Yakubu Ezra, reaffirmed NPA’s technical readiness to handle large vessels.

“At the Nigerian Ports Authority, we are fully equipped—both in training and technology—to safely pilot large vessels into our ports. The successful berthing of Kota Carum is evidence of our capacity and professionalism,” Ezra said.

The successful hosting of ‘Kota Carum’ marks a significant leap forward for OMT and positions Onne Port as a viable gateway capable of accommodating global trade routes. As more shipping lines look towards West Africa, OMT’s infrastructure, efficiency, and strategic location continue to attract increasing volumes of international maritime traffic.