Maritime
FG Declares Inland Container Depots As Port Of Origin, Destination
BY Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Transportation has commenced moves to designate all Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) as ports of origin and destination in the country.
The Federal Government on Tuesday also launched an operational manual for inland dry ports.
The manual was launched by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in Lagos.
The inland dry ports, which are located in the hinterland, were set up to deliver shipping services to shippers in non-coastal areas.
The dry ports, are located in Isiala-Ngwa (Abia State), Erunmu (Oyo State), Heipang, Jos (Plateau State), Dala (Kano State), Funtua (Katsina State), Jauri (Borno State) and Kaduna (Kaduna State).
Speaking during the launch of the manual, the Minister of Transportation, Mua’zu Sambo, who was represented by Ewache Victor, noted that apart from the fact that the dry ports will engender trade flows and advance export of agricultural products, it would also serve as a viable source of revenue for host states.
“It is important to note that apart from its critical importance in facilitating international trade as well as transit cargo to landlocked countries, the inland dry port projects are intended to bring shipping activities closer to shippers in the hinterland and increase cargo throughput, act as a catalyst for improved trade flows,.
“It will boost inland trading, promote export of agricultural products, thus leading to multi-product-oriented economy, create employment opportunities that would ultimately stem rural-urban migration, and to act as a source of internally generated revenue to the host states as well as revenue source to the Federal Government,” the minister said.
Also speaking at the launch , the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Emmanuel Jime said:“The Federal Ministry of Transportation has begun moves to designate all Inland Dry Ports in Nigeria as ports of destination and ports of origin to enable them to function exactly the same way a seaport will function.
Jime pledged the agency’s commitment to strict adherence to the execution of the manual to uphold the principles of professionalism in handling containers in the ports, while assuring that the facilities would be digitalised.
“It may be pertinent to state that this manual would be used as a measure of performance by the regulator (in this case, the Nigerian Shippers Council) and will be subjected to future review to be in tandem with obtainable best practices, upon agreement of the two parties – the operator and the regulator.
On his part , Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, who was represented at the event by NPA’s Assistant General Manager, Operations, Ayodele Durowaiye, said, “The effective operations of the IDPs will provide options for shippers and consignees outside Lagos State as it will increase the possibility of export cargoes.
“The authority will support other government agencies under the Ministry of Transportation to aid the movement of import and export cargoes and boxes in the country.”
Maritime Agencies
Dangote Lauds NPA’s One-Stop Shop Committee, Donates Coaster Bus To Ease Operations
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has received commendation for demonstrating tact and economic sense in the way and manner it implemented the Federal Government’s policy on domestic sale of crude oil and refined petroleum products in Naira.
The President/ Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote made the commendation while donating a brand-new Coaster bus to the One-Stop Shop (OSS) Committee to further ease her operations.
In a letter he personally signed, Alhaji Aliko Dangote assured that his organisation would continue to explore ways to support the NPA-led committee to sustain its successes in the implementation of the presidential directive on the sale of crude and refined products.
“In recognition of the enormous responsibility placed on the shoulders of the One Stop Shop (OSS) by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and our commitment to ensuring the committee delivers on its mandate”, the letter stated, “I am pleased to donate to the committee one (1) brand new Coaster bus to facilitate the daily discharge of their operations.”
“We believe this bus will be used productively by the committee as we continue to look for ways to support and appreciate the efforts of this noble committee.
Mr Zach Adediji, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Services
It is recalled that during a recent visit to NPA, the Chairman, Technical Sub-Committee on the implementation of the Federal Government’s policy on domestic sale of crude oil and refined products in Naira, Zach Adedeji,
commended the One-Stop-Shop (OSS) Team, led by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for ensuring smooth operations of the directive. Adedeji is the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
He lauded the team led by NPA for playing a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the presidential directive on the domestic sale of crude oil and refined products in Naira.
Adedeji said: “We recognize that this pioneering effort is a significant achievement, and no doubt reflects your commitment and patriotism”.
“Thus, we encourage you to maintain the hard work and dedication that has made this initiative a success.
“We also extend our gratitude to all participating agencies for their invaluable cooperation and support,” Adedeji stated.
Maritime Agencies
Release Approved N200bn Capital Projects Fund To MAN, Oron, House of Representatives Charges NIMASA .
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
In her determination that the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron is adequately empowered to function to achieve her statutory mandate, the House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to release the N200 billion approved for key projects at the apex maritime training institution.
Hon Khadija Abba- Ibrahim, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration made the appeal when the management of NIMASA appeared before the Committee for the 2025 budget defence. To drive home her point, the Committee reminded NIMASA that it was aware that the approved project fund is contained in the agency’s 2025 revenue target of N774.66 billion.
Dr Kevin Okonna, Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.
In his presentation, Chudi Offodile, the agency’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration who stood in for the Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola explained that when federal remittances funding, maritime fund contributions and other deductions are made, N264.96 billion would be available for operations.
He listed freight levies, offshore waste management, sea protection and ship registration as primary revenue sources, alongside new gains expected from automation, the rollout of a modular floating dock, amongst other economic and financial prospects.
Speaking on the budget performance for 2024, the executive director disclosed that actual collections for last year amounted to N370 billion as against the projected N467.4 billion which stands at 79% performance rate.
“Recurrent expenditures reached 87% of budgeted allocations, while capital spending stood at 51% implementation,” he said.
While drawing NIMASA’s attention to what the committee described as significant fiscal shift in the remittance of 50% of its IGR to the federal treasury, Hon Abba -Ibrahim described the development as “a significant departure from the previous policy that allowed the agency to retain all IGR”.
The committee expressed concern on the need to double the revenue target in view of the N97 billion shortfall recorded in 2024. It also expressed worries on the observed rise in personnel costs, from N42 billion in 2024 to N73 billion in 2025.
The committee wondered how NIMASA plans to implement ₦89 billion in capital projects when 50% of its revenue would be deducted at source.
In his response, the NIMASA Executive Director, Finance and Administration explained that budgets are mere projections which depend on economic variables. He attributed the ambitious 2025 targets to anticipated oil production increases, enhanced revenue automation, and what he referred to as operational scale-up.
“We are confident that with better systems and strategic partnerships, we can meet these targets,” he assured.
Maritime Agencies
NPA Berths Nigerian-Owned Container Vessel,”MV OCEAN DRAGON,” To Boost Incountry and Regional Trade,
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), 2nd July, 2025, berthed “MV Ocean Dragon”, the first wholly Nigerian-owned container vessel.
The craft with International Maritime Organization (IMO) Number 9508770 which belongs to Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited has a capacity of 349 Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units (TEUs) and demonstrates a concerted investment drive by the NPA aimed at reaping the gains of cost and time- saving benefits of short-sea shipping by plying in-country maritime trade routes across Nigeria and the West African sub-region. It offers an efficient alternative to road transport as the Authority’s efforts at deepening multi- modalism in transportation is being realized.
The vessel is scheduled to operate across West Africa and beyond, servicing ports in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Egypt, South Africa and others, with expressions of interest for businesses already being established.
As stated by Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director/ CEO of the NPA: “this development is a testament to our relentless commitment towards deepening efficiencies required for maximizing our marine and blue economy potentials in line with the prompting of the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola whose tenacity of purpose culminated in the recent FEC approval of the national policy on Marine and Blue Economy”.
Speaking about the development too, the Vice President of Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited, Bernadine Eloka, described the acquisition of the vessel as a bold solution to the high-risk, road-dominated movement of cargoes within Nigeria. It signifies a strategic move to deepen regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Clarion Group, she stated, aims to offer more efficient intra-African shipping services while opening up new business opportunities across ports in Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and beyond.
“We acquired MV Ocean Dragon to offer a seamless alternative to container haulage by road. Rather than struggling to move containers from Lekki to Onitsha, Port Harcourt, or Calabar by trucks, Ocean Dragon can move up to 349 containers by sea and deliver within two days from port to port,” Eloka said.
According to her, enforcement of the cabotage regime would encourage local investment, create jobs, and reduce Nigeria’s dependency on foreign-owned shipping lines.
Also speaking, Managing Director of Clarion Suncity Terminal Logistics Limited, Mustafa Mohammed, said the company would take aggressive steps to compete with global giants such as Maersk Line and MSC, by leveraging its status as Nigeria’s first indigenous shipping liner, investing in assets that directly support Nigerian exporters and importers, particularly in the landlocked regions.
He said the company had already secured bookings for 1,300 export containers and is helping farmers and manufacturers to avoid losses caused by delays and lack of containers.
This development is coming on the heels of the announcement by the NPA MD of injection of 60 million USD in fresh investments towards the establishment of eco-friendly ports developments catalyzed by the Authority’s renewed orientation towards Nigerian content development.
Dangote Lauds NPA’s One-Stop Shop Committee, Donates Coaster Bus To Ease Operations
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NPA Berths Nigerian-Owned Container Vessel,”MV OCEAN DRAGON,” To Boost Incountry and Regional Trade,
NIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY BERTHS FIRST WHOLLY NIGERIAN-OWNED CONTAINER VESSEL.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoCG Adeniyi Commends Ogun II Command for Massive Revenue Increase.
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Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoPORTBIZNESS Celebrates Excellence in Customer Service Delivery, Holds Special Awards Night
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Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoKebbi Customs Command Introduces Health Screening, Mandatory Sports To Ensure Work-life Balance
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Maritime Agencies3 days agoNPA Berths Nigerian-Owned Container Vessel,”MV OCEAN DRAGON,” To Boost Incountry and Regional Trade,
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Maritime Agencies4 days agoNIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY BERTHS FIRST WHOLLY NIGERIAN-OWNED CONTAINER VESSEL.
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Maritime Agencies2 hours agoDangote Lauds NPA’s One-Stop Shop Committee, Donates Coaster Bus To Ease Operations
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Maritime Agencies4 hours agoRelease Approved N200bn Capital Projects Fund To MAN, Oron, House of Representatives Charges NIMASA .