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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎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.
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‎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).
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‎“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.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎He noted that the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) was also engaging stakeholders on reducing plastic pollution in waterways.
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‎“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.
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‎“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.”
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎“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.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎“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.
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‎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.
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‎“I took my own to the other side. I took it from politics to business,” he said.
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‎He urged Nigerians to embrace the concept of converting environmental challenges into economic opportunities.
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‎ “No more waste on the waterways; we will now have wealth on the waterways.”
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎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).
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎“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.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎“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.
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‎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.
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‎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.
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‎“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.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd is inviting maritime stakeholders, government agencies, regulators, professionals, investors and other interested participants to the 11th International Maritime Business-to-Business Conference and Exhibition, as part of the Lagos International Maritime Week (LIMWEEK), 2026.
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‎The event whose theme is “From Policy to Practice – Powering Maritime Excellence,” holds September 8 to 10 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island and will feature top stakeholders from Nigeria and across the international maritime community.
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‎The theme  aligns with the International Maritime Organization’s World Maritime Day 2026 with a focus on Africa. The event is designed to provide a platform for meaningful dialogue, knowledge exchange, business engagement and practical collaboration among stakeholders across the maritime value chain.
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‎As the organisers say, the event is  expected to move conversations from policy formulation towards practical implementation, collaboration and measurable outcomes for the growth and development of Africa’s maritime sector.
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‎Participants are availed opportunity to connect with key decision makers, explore business opportunities, exchange knowledge, build strategic relationships and contribute to conversations shaping the future of Africa’s maritime sector.
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‎LIMWEEK 2026 will is expected to provide opportunities for participants to engage in business-to-business interactions, networking, knowledge exchange and collaboration.The exhibition segment will also provide businesses and organisations with an opportunity to showcase their products, services, technologies and solutions to a diverse audience of maritime professionals, government representatives, investors and industry stakeholders.The programme will further feature mentoring and engagement opportunities for young people in the maritime industry, creating a platform for the next generation of maritime mm professionals to connect with experienced industry leaders.
‎A key component of the LIMWEEK 2026 programme is a maritime excursion scheduled for 10th September 2026 at NNS KADA.
‎This will provide participants additional opportunity for practical exposure and further engagement with Nigeria’s maritime and naval environment to complement the discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions of the conference.
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‎Speaking on the significance of the event, the  Chair of Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd, Barr Oritsematosan Edodo- Emore said with the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence and other innovations, Africa’s maritime industry and the blue economy must move to its next level.
‎”The conference will provide opportunities for stakeholders to exchange ideas, identify challenges, explore investment opportunities and develop practical approaches to strengthening Nigeria’s and Africa’s maritime industry”.
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‎The conference will feature high-level participation from government, regulatory agencies, naval authorities, industry, academia and international maritime stakeholders.
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‎Keynote speaker is H.E
‎Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of the Marine and Blue Economy while Ms. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan- Commission Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) will deliver a lecture.
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‎Other speakers are H.E. lng. Jose Mba Abeso, The Executive Secretary Gulf of Guinea Commission; Ms. Olimotu Danso Malang, Director General, Gambia Maritime Authority; Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director General, Maritime Administration and Safety Agency; Alhaji Umar Yusuf Girei, Acting Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority and Dr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency.
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‎Others are Dr. Warren De Waegah, Senior Lecturer, University of Cape Town, South Africa and Alhaji Aminu Umar, President, Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency.
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‎Other special guests are Mr. Kingsley Igwe, CEO, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria; Ms. Iroghama Ogbeifun, Managing Director, Starz Investments Company Limited; Theodora Nwaeze, President, Women in Maritime Africa (WIMA) Nigeria; Dr. Odunayo Ani, President, Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria and  Mag. (FH) Barbara Lehninger, Commercial Counsellor, Austrian Embassy; Mr. Axel Robin, Sectoral Attaché, French Treasury – Lagos Office; Lieutenant Commander Bryan Marek, U.S. Naval Attaché to Nigeria, Embassy of the United States of America and Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, Chairman, Zoe Maritime Advisory Board.
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‎The conference will feature expert discussions and industry roundtables focusing on critical areas of maritime development. These will include Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea, Maritime Transportation and Port Development, Maritime Law and Arbitration, Marine Environment,  Maritime Training,   Education and Women in Maritime.
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‎The sessions will provide participants with opportunities to examine emerging challenges, share industry experiences and explore practical strategies for improving maritime governance, security, trade, investment and human capacity development.
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‎The various sessions will be moderated by experienced professionals drawn from the maritime, legal, economic and international relations sectors, including Ambassador Florentina Adenike Ukonga, former Executive Secretary, Gulf of Guinea    Commission, Vice Admiral Labinjo, Marina Law Chambers- Ogonnaya Emele, Legal Practitioner- Kashima Tsumba-Ozogun, Blue Economy Thematic Lead, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG)- Lola Ikwuagwu, George Ikoli & Co.
‎Others are Honourable Olaitan Williams, Founder, Ocean Ambassadors Foundation and Gloria Kanabe.
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