Maritime Agencies

Carribean Nations Applaud Dangote Refinery, Charge African Nations To Stop Exporting Raw Materials.

Published

2 years ago

October 15, 2024

Admin

L-R: Aliko Dangote, President/CE, Dangote Industries Ltd and Hon Dickson Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada and Chairman, CARICOM, during the Prime Minister's visit to Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Petrochemicals and Fertilizer Plant, Lekki, Lagos, October 10, 2024.

By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

Africa and developing countries have been charged to reverse the cycle of exporting raw materials and importing finished products from developed countries by embracing and investing in industries such as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals domiciled in the continent. This and similar establishments that process raw materials into finished products must be embraced and encouraged to blossom so as to save Africa from being a dumping ground and perpetuating a long-standing economic dependence on the developed nations.

Dickson Mitchell, the Prime Minister of Grenada and chairman, Caribbean Community (CARICOM or CC) – a political and economic union of 15 member states and five associated members throughout the Americas, The Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean, disclosed this, Thursday, at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals complex in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.

Mitchell who was championing the efforts of Carribean countries desirous of partnering with Dangote Group in cement and fertilizer production, referred to Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals as a significant investment in industrialisation and manufacturing needed by developing countries for their technological and industrial growth.

It is through this type of investment, he noted, that Africa and the developing countries can reposition themselves industrially, process natural resources available in the continent, market finished products locally and beyond to the advantage of their individual economies while creating employment and broadening the continent’s foreign exchange earnings.

Mitchell said the refinery is a tribute to the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote and his vision not just for Nigeria but Africa as a whole.

“This investment is a tribute to Dangote and his remarkable vision. It is the first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa, symbolising what the developing world needs: significant investment in industrialisation and manufacturing. This is an incredible achievement and a testament to Mr. Dangote’s vision, not just for his company, but for Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Dangote, he stated, exemplifies what an African leader should be.

“We need not just political leaders, but business leaders who are willing to invest in Africa, particularly in manufacturing and industrialisation. We must ensure that we don’t continue to export our raw materials to the developed world where they can be turned into sophisticated products and sent back to us. We need to reverse that cycle; it is the only way to grow the wealth of Africa and the developing world.”

” Additionally, we need to support this with training and invest in job opportunities,” he said.
Applauding the sophistication and automation at the refinery, the Prime Minister expressed optimism for Nigeria’s future, especially given the number of young Nigerians trained and working at both the refinery and fertiliser plants. The $20 billion refinery, the largest private investment in Africa, stands out for its team of young professionals, predominantly aged between 26 and 28, most of whom hold advanced degrees and were educated in Nigeria”.

“It has been a wonderful experience to witness the shared skills, depth of sophistication, and automation here. Seeing so many bright young Nigerians, particularly in the laboratories, is truly inspiring. I believe this bodes well for the future development of Nigeria,” he added.
Mitchell stated that the Caribbean Community would be exploring partnership opportunities with the Dangote Group to enhance its economy.
“One of the reasons I am here is to pursue synergies and partnerships between the diaspora and Africa, particularly in areas such as the refinery, cement, and fertiliser. We believe there are fantastic opportunities to develop partnerships between the Caribbean and Africa,” he added.

On his part, Dangote described the visit as symbolic, noting that many Caribbean countries are beginning to discover crude oil and are exploring opportunities to build their own refineries. This would help them address the challenge of exporting crude while importing refined petroleum products at high costs.

“The visit shows that many countries are proud of what we have been able to achieve because a lot of countries have been unable to deliver their refineries. It shows their pride in seeing a Black person like them at the Caribbean, although I am from Nigeria, succeed. For them, this is a dream, especially as many Caribbean countries are beginning to discover oil but still depend largely on exporting crude while importing petroleum products, which is costlier than in America. Their dream is to set up a refinery—perhaps not of this size—but one that would cater to their people,” he said.

Africa’s wealthiest man emphasized that the company is looking for partnerships in the Caribbean not only in petroleum products but also in cement and fertilizer production. He mentioned ongoing discussions about importing crude from these countries while supplying them with refined products.

“There are numerous partnerships in place. He is not only the Prime Minister of Grenada but also the Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). We are exploring collaboration in areas such as cement and petroleum, including the possibility of buying crude from them while selling some of our petroleum products to them. We already export to the U.S., Mexico, and other regions, so there is significant collaboration we are looking to develop between us and them.”

The 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) Dangote Oil Refinery—the largest single-train refinery in the world—is designed to process a wide variety of crude oils, including those from Africa, the Middle East, and US Light Tight Oil. It conforms to Euro V specifications and is built to meet stringent standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), European emission norms, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), and the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA).
The refinery has the capacity to satisfy 100% of Nigeria’s demand for petrol, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet fuel, with additional surplus available for export.

Maritime Agencies

CUSTOMS’ ZONE ‘A’ SPORTS EVENT: CGC Adeniyi Highlights Need for Discipline, Teamwork in Customs Operations.

Published

14 hours ago

September 7, 2026

Admin

‎
‎
‎
‎
‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎With a colourful display of sporting artistry, discipline and commitment, the Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service, Saturday, concluded the finals of her 2026 Inter-Command Games competition and award ceremonies.
‎
‎Zone ‘A’ of the Service comprises 15 autonomous Commands . These are Apapa; Federal Operations Unit (FOU, Ikeja; Kirikiri Lighter Terminal; Lagos Free Trade Zone; Lilypond Export; Murtala Mohammed Airport Command and the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command. Others are Lagos Industrial Command; Ogun 1, Idiroko Command; Ogun 2, Abeokuta; PTML Command; Seme; Tincan; Western Marine Command and the Customs Police.
‎
‎In his opening remarks, Comptroller – General of the Service, Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi paid glowing tributes to the Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Mohammed Babandede, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Comptroller Chidi Nwokorie and his team for the colourful and impressive arrangement for the competition.
‎
‎Commenting on the state of sports infrastructure of the Service generally, the CGC called for noticeable improvements across all formations to develop the sporting talents of officers as this plays a key role in ensuring fitness and chances of enhanced prospects of productivity by officers who use such facilities.
‎
‎He described as unacceptable the state of sporting facilities at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, venue of the event, observing that it does not speak good of a Service that has made significant contributions to the growth of sports in Nigeria.
‎
‎Stating that consolidation , collaboration and innovation remain the key fulcrum of his tenure, CGC Adeniyi commended sister security agencies that participated in the event, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, describing their presence as a further effort to deepen the existing collaboration and partnership in the discharge of national security responsibilities.
‎
‎Adeniyi noted that Customs had produced athletes and teams that had excelled in various sporting competitions, recalling that at a time, the Service was the defending champion in male and female volleyball and had also performed strongly in basketball, football, athletics and beach volleyball. He said the service was already building an ultra-modern sporting facility in one of its barracks in Kano and promised that a befitting sports facility would be included in the proposed new location of the FOU and the Customs Training College Iperu, Ogun State.
‎
‎Beyond sports, the CG said the competition offered important lessons that Customs officers should apply to their professional duties, particularly discipline, teamwork and strategy. He stressed that just as success in sports required discipline and effective teamwork, Customs operations and revenue generation also required clear strategies and coordinated efforts.
‎
‎He congratulated the winners and encouraged those who lost to prepare for future competitions, urging officers to maintain the spirit of sportsmanship and teamwork in the discharge of their responsibilities.
‎
‎At the finals of the football competition, the Customs Police Command carried the day by defeating the MMIA side by a 1-0.
‎
‎The event featured march past and parade by all Commands under Zone ‘A’ as well as beautiful display by Customs expert riders.
‎

Maritime Agencies

Parts Central Ltd Set To Turn Waterway Waste into Wealth, says Onifade.

Published

3 days ago

September 4, 2026

Admin

Mr Henry Olaoluwa Onifade

‎
‎
‎
‎
‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎The growing volume of plastic waste, water hyacinth and other marine litter clogging Nigeria’s inland waterways can be turned into economic wealth through recycling, biofuels and other value-added processes.
‎
‎Mr Henry Olaoluwa Onifade, Managing Director, Parts Central Limited stated this in Lagos during activities marking his birthday. He also provided updates on his company’s recently launched nationwide waterways clean-up initiative in partnership with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
‎
‎“We don’t have waste anymore; waste is now wealth,” he declared. The collaboration with NIWA, Onifade stated, is an initiative designed not merely to remove waste from Nigeria’s waterways but to develop sustainable systems for converting recovered materials into useful products.
‎
‎He explained that biodegradable materials collected during the clean-up would not simply be discarded. They could be processed for various applications, including biofuels and other products.
‎
‎According to him, the company is also examining technologies for sorting and processing plastic waste for recycling, stressing that the objective is to create an economically viable circular economy around Nigeria’s waterways.
‎
‎Onifade said the growing interest from government agencies, ministries, associations and other stakeholders in cleaner waterways was an indication that the initiative was addressing a critical national challenge.
‎
‎He noted that the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) was also engaging stakeholders on reducing plastic pollution in waterways.
‎
‎“We are happy that we can even think of a possible pollution-free waterways and roll it out. Since we rolled it out, we’ve heard of different people, associations, organisations and states that are now talking about it, which is very good for us,” he said.
‎
‎“Our goal is for us to have pollution-free waterways. By God’s grace, we will integrate everybody who has a very good and genuine mindset that pollution-free waterways is possible in Nigeria.”
‎
‎Onifade disclosed that Parts Central was developing a technology-driven database covering ports, jetties, landing sites, riverbanks, dockyards and other locations connected to Nigeria’s inland waterways.
‎
‎He said the database would enable the company and relevant government stakeholders to determine the volume of waste generated across different locations and deploy resources more effectively.
‎
‎Every jetty and landing port would be assessed to determine whether appropriate waste-management facilities were available, while boats and other watercraft would also be incorporated into the data-gathering process.
‎
‎“It’s not for us to have the data, because if you don’t have data of the people you want to cater for, you don’t know how to cater for them,” he declared.
‎
‎Onifade explained that Parts Central had spent considerable time testing different technologies and devices capable of tackling waterway pollution, adding that the exercise would eventually incorporate manufacturers and other stakeholders within the plastics and waste-management value chain.
‎
‎Parts Central, he disclosed, was preparing to extend the clean-up campaign beyond Lagos, with plans to flag off the waterways clean-up exercise in Port Harcourt and Imo State as part of its broader expansion across the country.
‎
‎Onifade said the company was currently putting structures in place to ensure that the initiative was properly coordinated and supported by data before expanding to additional locations to create a nationwide system where waterways would not only be cleaner but would also become sources of employment, enterprise and wealth creation.
‎
‎“Our goal is for us to have pollution-free waterways,” he reiterated, adding that the company would continue to work with government agencies, communities, private-sector operators and other stakeholders towards achieving the objective.
‎
‎Onifade also defended his transition from partisan politics to business, saying the experience gained in politics had strengthened his understanding of public needs, motivating him to pursue practical solutions through enterprise.
‎
‎“I took my own to the other side. I took it from politics to business,” he said.
‎
‎He urged Nigerians to embrace the concept of converting environmental challenges into economic opportunities.
‎
‎ “No more waste on the waterways; we will now have wealth on the waterways.”
‎

Maritime Agencies

Oyetola Transfers Inland Dry Ports to NPA, Sets Up Committee for NSC–NPERA Transition.

Published

4 days ago

September 3, 2026

Admin

H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.

‎
‎
‎
‎
‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎In a move aimed at creating a clear separation between port economic regulation, development and operations, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has directed the transfer of the inland dry port (IDP) functions of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
‎
‎The Minister has also directed the immediate constitution of a ministerial committee to oversee the transition of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council into the newly established Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the NPERA Act, 2026.
‎
‎According to a statement issued in Abuja Thursday by Dr Bolaji Akinola, the Minister’s Special Adviser, the directives are part of measures to establish a clear institutional framework for the new port economic regulatory regime to eliminate overlapping responsibilities and ensure that agencies under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy operate within clearly defined mandates.
‎
‎The NPERA Act, signed by President Tinubu in August, formally establishes a substantive economic regulator for Nigeria’s port sector, bringing to an end a two-decade wait for a dedicated statutory port economic regulator.
‎
‎With the enactment of the law, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, which had operated as the country’s interim port economic regulator since 2014, transmutes into NPERA.
‎
‎Under the new framework, NPERA is expected to focus primarily on its core economic regulatory responsibilities, including the regulation of tariffs and charges, promotion of competition, licensing, service standards, commercial dispute resolution and protection of port users.
‎
‎Oyetola said the transition from NSC to NPERA provides an opportunity to establish a regulatory institution that is clearly separated from operational, developmental and promotional responsibilities.
‎
‎“We must get the transition right. The establishment of NPERA is a landmark reform, and the process of moving from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency must be carefully managed. The ministerial committee will provide the necessary oversight to ensure that the transition is seamless and that every function is domiciled in the appropriate institution,” he said.
‎
‎The Minister stressed that the credibility and effectiveness of an economic regulator depend, in part, on its ability to function as an impartial referee without being encumbered by responsibilities that could create actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
‎
‎According to him, the Federal Government’s objective is to ensure that NPERA is allowed to concentrate fully on its statutory regulatory mandate, while functions that are operational, developmental or promotional in nature are transferred to agencies with the appropriate mandates and institutional capacity.
‎
‎“The emergence of NPERA marks a new chapter in the governance of Nigeria’s port sector. It is therefore important that the new economic regulator is freed from functions that are not compatible with economic regulation. A regulator cannot function as an operator and, at the same time, be expected to be perceived as an unbiased referee,” Oyetola said.
‎
‎He added that a clear separation of responsibilities would strengthen confidence in the regulatory framework, enhance transparency and create a more predictable operating environment for port users, investors, terminal operators, shipping companies and other stakeholders.
‎
‎The Minister assured stakeholders that the transfer should not be interpreted as a reduction in the Federal Government’s commitment to the development of inland dry ports across the country. Rather, he said, the objective is to strengthen the IDP programme by placing its promotion within an institution better positioned to integrate the facilities into the nation’s wider port infrastructure and operational network.
‎
‎“We are committed to strengthening the development of the Inland Dry Ports by placing their promotion within the agency with the appropriate operational and infrastructure mandate. The ultimate objective is to create a more efficient and integrated port system that serves the entire country,” Oyetola added.
‎
‎