Maritime Agencies
INSECURITY IN GoG: Expose and Deal With International Syndicates Now, MARAN Challenges FG
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Nigeria’s pioneer maritime journalists’ group, the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has charged the Federal Government to take a second look at strategies on ground to address the nagging problem of oil theft and maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) especially at a time achievements recorded in recent years to address the menace appear to be fading away as resurgence is now being witnessed.
MARAN President, Godfrey Bivbere made the call in Lagos, Wednesday, at a one-day MARAN Annual Conference on the theme “Maritime Security: Emerging Threats and Actionable Steps”.
In his welcome address, he pointedly charged Nigeria authorities and other countries in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) to go back to the drawing board and design more lasting strategies that will ensure that a resurgence of the frightening occurrences is not witnessed, going forward.
“We challenge the Nigeria Government and her regional counterparts to come up with a more workable and result- oriented approach to the fight against maritime insecurity in the GoG. We believe that until and unless the international syndicates involved in the menace are confronted, apprehended and regularly exposed, through international collaboration as often happens with local criminals, the situation will not achieve any purposeful deterrence.
MARAN, he stated, is fully supportive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his wisdom to establish the sector-specific Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in response to stakeholders’ view that it is one major step to turn around the fortunes of the nation’s maritime domain for the greater good of the economy.
“We envisage that President Tinubu may consider reworking the deterrence clauses contained in the SPOMO Act, to make its intendment more purposeful and business-like.
“MARAN respectfully, wishes to further urge President Tinubu to provide an improved enabling environment for a common and united combat against maritime insecurity through effective harnessing of all available windows, both public and private sector participation.”
Bivbere said MARAN feels deeply pained that since the first half of 2023, piracy has resumed in the GoG. The enormous security threats is a reality the journalists’ body find unacceptable, making her to contribute in whatever way possible to create a public awareness that will ginger the government to design better ways to address a lingering menace.
MARAN, Bivbere said, acknowledge previous and current efforts by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Navy and their regional counterparts to address issue of piracy and related maritime threats in the GOG. But the body is particularly concerned about the frightening level of crude oil theft in the region beside illegal and unregulated fishing in the GoG by highly-placed international syndicates who enjoy the assistance of local collaborators.
The Federal Government and her counterparts in the region owe everybody the responsibility to rise to the occasion and put a permanent stop to it.
“MARAN is also worried about observed dissonance in the collective national effort to combat maritime economic crimes and crude oil smuggling, and call on the federal government and its relevant agencies to improve on coordination. I want to also especially call on the office of the National Security Adviser to the President, to have a firmer grip and supervision of the existing collaboration between state and non-state actors’ roles, in this regard.
“The International Maritime Bureau, IMB report of July 2023 confirmed that the GoG witnessed a surge in maritime incidents in 2023, with five of such incidents in the first quarter and nine in the second quarter. Out of these, 12 were classified as armed robberies and two as piracy, predominantly targeting anchored vessels within the region. In all the incidents, 14 crew members were kidnapped, out of which 8 were abducted from vessels on anchor. Additionally, in two separate hijacks, 31 crew members were taken hostage, communication and navigation equipment were destroyed, and some cargoes were stolen.”
Speaking at the event, Temi Omatseye, former Director-General of NIMASA observed that many illegal vessels operate on Nigerian waters. He advised that Nigeria should begin to issue ship entry notices to vessels before leaving or arriving at anchor.
“We should know who you are or where you are on Nigerian waters. We must stop playing politics with the shipping industry.”
“We should set up a Restore Zone Transportation Corridor to spot vessels moving in and out of the approved nautical areas. It enables Nigeria to know who is in her maritime territory.”
He emphasized that there is no crude theft in Nigeria. Whatever happens is at the terminals.”
In his intervention, Sesan Onileimo, notable maritime journalist and former President of MARAN attributed majority of issues of crude oil theft and piracy taking place in Nigerian waters to youth unemployment. Onileimo who publishes Shipping Position said that the maritime threats happening in the Niger Delta are rampant and will continue to be rampant as long as the system keeps churning out a large army of able-bodied but unemployed youths who easily become a willing tool in the hands of godfathers who sponsor piracy, crude oil theft and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.
He described crude oil theft and piracy as a localized business because people from other geographic areas who are not versed in aquatic business as their counterparts in the Niger Delta cannot make a success when they venture in them.
“There’s a mass of unemployed youths that the society has foisted on us; an idle hand is a willing tool.”
“And I will like to look at this from two angles. There are two categories of unemployed willing youths: the ones trained by NIMASA under its National Seafarers’ Development Programme who were trained, qualified with or without Certificate of Competency (CoC) but waiting to have something to do. They are there, they want to be active, they are the tools that are being used to forment trouble.
“The second leg are those boys and girls who are trained locally, some of them are trained at MAN, Oron, but there are those that are trained even in Agege here who wear uniforms so much so like that of the Navy. They are equipped and recruited into that business that has turned out to be a source of threat to our maritime environment.
“I am saying this because in the course of my years as a maritime journalist, I have had cause to interact with a few of them. If you go to Liverpool here, I am sure the Maritime Workers’ Union will bear me witness; the boys and girls who graduated from Oron, who have turned out to be canoe boys, were not trained in Oron to be handling canoe and boats but there is no job for them. These are the same boys who had five years of training but afterwards, there is no job. Take that guy to Niger-Delta, he is ready to do anything for as long as the money is available”, Onileimo explained.
Adding his voice, Otumba Sola Adewunmi, President, Nigerian Indigenous Shipowners Association, (NISA) advised Nigeria as a country to work hard to have a safe sea where one could sail to wherever he wanted to do his business and safely come back. Adewunmi who suggested putting in place a Nigerian equivalent of the P&I oof Singapore observed that there was so much competition at sea, the equipments are there but with inefficient, uncommitted and inexperienced people to man them.
For instance, he stated,
the Navy’s situation room known as the Falcon Eye, captures and displays everything that happens at sea. But a selfish agenda, he regrets, often lead to inefficiency in job discharge.
“There’s nothing that happens at sea that they don’t see but you will realize that most of our security agents are engrossed with what will come into their pockets. A situation whereby they do everything to their advantage is one of the reasons we are having issues.
“What did Lome have that we do not have in Nigeria?This is the question we should just ask ourselves. These people saw our weakness and made sure that their anchorage was secure. It attracts international operators and they started making money out of it. What is the work of our security agencies? And even when arrests are made, are they not made on frivolous excuses? All these things still go to say what is going to be the benefit to me.
“Until we put the benefit of the nation and what the nation will earn overall, I think we are in a better position to protect our waters very well but this era of entitlement, ‘it is our entitlement, we must get it’, I think it is part of the issues that we have. And as much as these things are there, we will continue to have a higher cost of bringing vessels to this place.”
He opined that if the security agents could work together and there is a good judicial system, Nigeria can achieve a lot.
In his contribution, Capt Tajudeen Alao, President, National Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) stated that maritime crime being a big business whose tentacles spread across the globe cannot be perceived as a Nigerian thing. He advised the participants at the lecture to sit down as a group, brainstorm and come up with workable proceedings that could be presented to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to implement.
“Whatever we think is the right thing to do, there must be procedures and guidelines and once the Minister can make subsidiary legislation, it could go a long way in tackling most of these challenges. The trend now is, if you arrest a ship now engaging in illegal bunkering, you blow it up, does it make sense? The air pollution into the sky, the oil pollution into the ecosystem, you have destroyed the fish and periwinkles in that area.
“There are many things that we do. Like my colleague said, you arrest a ship, EFCC doesn’t know how to manage ship. The ship is there, they are waiting for the Police to go to court, the ship becomes a wreck, then, NPA and NIMASA will devote $2 million to salvage a ship that does not worth more than $300,000.”
He insisted that a deliberate action and political must exist before crime can be addressed.
“The Navy”, the NAMM boss continued, “cannot afford to fund maritime security just as it cannot afford to keep the ships at sea with the budget within its disposal”.
“It finds it comfortable relying on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) to fund most of its operations”.
Maritime Agencies
MAN, ORON: Minister, Governing Council, Celebrate Management and Cadets At 2025 Graduation Event
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The 2025 set of graduating cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, have received ministerial accolades even as they are being charged to carry on their shoulders the mandate to serve Nigeria and humanity through the noble calling of seafaring.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H. E. Adegboyega Oyetola gave the charge while speaking during the ceremonial Passing-Out-Parade (POP) in Oron, Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking through his representative, Mr Babatunde Bombata, the Minister said: “Today marks a major milestone in your journey as young Nigerians committed to serving your nation and humanity through the noble calling of seafaring. This event represents discipline, perseverance and the beginning of a life dedicated to professionalism, patriotism and excellence. I warmly congratulate the Class of 2025 for this well-deserved achievement. You have successfully completed rigorous academic, technical and physical training, and today, you stand as worthy ambassadors of this great academy and our beloved nation.”
He prayed that as they set sail into new horizons, the knowledge gained at MAN would serve as their compass. The world’s oceans await their skill, integrity and courage.
He commended the Acting Rector, Governing Council, Management and Staff of the Academy for their dedication and transformative leadership.
”In a short period, the Academy has evolved into a world-class institution, distinguished by advancements in infrastructure, curriculum modernization, simulator-based training and adherence to international standards such as the STCW Convention”.
”These accomplishments”, he added , “underscore the power of vision, teamwork and commitment to excellence. On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, I appreciate all who contributed to this progress. The Ministry’s mission aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda which seeks to unlock opportunities in shipping, port development, fisheries, maritime transport, marine tourism and offshore resources management. At the heart of this vision lies human capital development — and the Academy plays a vital role in preparing the skilled professionals needed to secure Nigeria’s rightful place in the global maritime community and sustainable use of this resources”.
Extolling the virtues of resilience and courage the graduating cadets acquired at the Academy, he reminded them that as they begin their career into the world, they must remember that they are ambassadors of both the Academy and Nigeria.
”The maritime profession demands discipline, integrity and a strong sense of duty. Let the values instilled in you guide your path. Uphold ethical standards, demonstrate professionalism and let your conduct bring pride to our national flag”.
Oyetola assured them that the Federal Government remains committed to strengthening the Academy through continued investment in modern training facilities, expansion of international partnerships, promotion of cadetship and sea-time opportunities, and advancement of research and innovation in maritime education.
”These initiatives aim to sustain MAN Oron’s reputation as a hub for world-class maritime training and leadership.”
Engr Kehinde Olayinka Akinola, Governing Council Chairman, MAN
In his presentation at the colourful event, the Academy’s Governing Council Chairman, Engr Kehinde Olayinka Akinola joined the Minister to laud the outgoing cadets and to reflect on what he described as the present achievement and the journey that has brought the graduating cadets and MAN to this point.
To the graduating cadets, he said: “Your hard work and determination have paid off, and you should be incredibly proud of yourselves. As you go forth, remember that the skills and knowledge you have acquired here are not just a means to a career, but a foundation for a lifetime of learning, growth, and service.As you embark on your maritime careers, I urge you to remain committed to the values of safety, sustainability, and social responsibility. ”
”The maritime industry is a vital component of global trade and commerce, and it is your responsibility to ensure that it operates in a manner that is consistent with these values.”
By way of a parting word, he drew the graduating cadets’ attention to an evergreen statement of Nelson Mandela:
”The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
As you go forth, he admonished, remember that setbacks and challenges are an inevitable part of life. But it is how you respond to them that will define your character and determine your success. Let your mantra be ‘you never fail until you stop trying’.
Dr Kevin Okonna, Ag Rector, MAN
Engr Akinola expressed gratitude to the Acting Rector, Dr Kevin Okonna, the faculty and staff of MAN for tireless efforts in shaping the minds and characters of the cadets.
” Your dedication, expertise, and passion for teaching have been instrumental in preparing our graduates for success. Your tenacity in creating opportunities for sea time training for our cadets is well appreciated.”
Group picture with graduating cadets
He lauded the parents and guardians of the graduating cadets for showing unwavering support and encouragement.
”Your role in the lives of our cadets has been invaluable, and we are grateful for your partnership.”
Maritime Agencies
MAN: Only A NASS Review Can Convert It To A Conventional University, Governing Council Warns.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Current efforts to convert the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, to a conventional university has been described as dangerous as it is capable of undermining Nigeria’s maritime development goals while erasing decades of international recognition built over the years by the Academy. Only a National Assembly review can change the institute’s mandate .
Chairman of the MAN Governing Council, Engr. Kehinde Olayinka Akinola raised strong objections on this development during a press conference. He said the Academy which was established in 1977 with technical support from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) was founded as a unique specialised institution for training shipboard officers, ratings, and maritime management personnel. The Academy’s enabling law, now Cap M3 LFN 2010, he explained, empowers the institute to run advanced maritime programmes without limitation on the type or level of certificates awarded, a structure consistent with global maritime training standards.
Dr Kevin Okonna, Acting Rector, MAN, Oron.
Replacing the Academy with the proposed University of Maritime Studies being canvassed, he warned, would distort its specialised mandate, weaken the regimented cadet training system and threaten established international affiliations. For instance, IMO’s long-standing technical support and recognition of the Academy could be jeopardized by an administrative restructuring that strips MAN of its unique identity.
A major concern, he noted, is that MAN would instantly lose access to the statutory 5% revenue allocation from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), as the NIMASA Act recognizes only the Maritime Academy of Nigeria and not a conventional university under whatever name. This, he stressed, would create serious operational challenges for an institution that relies heavily on the funds to maintain its extensive training facilities and specialized staff infrastructure.
Akinola attributed the push for conversion largely to agitations by youths from Oron Local Government, who he said have for years campaigned for the establishment of a university in the area. While acknowledging their right to demand development from government, he criticised the choice to pursue such aspirations by attempting to alter a national maritime institution serving the entire country. He argued that it was unjustifiable to prioritise the interest of a single local government over national strategic maritime needs.
The Council Chairman condemned what he described as increasingly aggressive actions by the Oron Youth Movement (OYOM), including threats directed at the management and cadets of the Academy and smear campaigns aimed at halting the institution’s progress. Suggesting that the activities may be politically driven, he warned that such hostility poses risks to the Academy’s stability and the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope agenda.
Akinola reiterated that the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has positioned the Academy as a critical manpower engine house for the newly-created Marine and Blue Economy Ministry. Since the inauguration of the Academy’s Governing Council in October 2024, he recalled, significant progress has been made. These include the development of a five- year strategic plan aligned with national blue economy goals and the approval of a Conditions of Service document for the Academy for the first time in 48 years. He added that a bill amending the UMSO Act to reaffirm MAN’s status and empower it to award degrees similar to the Nigerian Defence Academy and the Police Academy has already passed its first reading at the National Assembly.
Engr Akinola also highlighted efforts by the Academy to support host communities, including facilitating the restoration of electricity to Oron after eight years and installing solar- powered streetlights as part of its corporate social responsibility.
The Governing Council Chair pointed to similar specialised maritime academies across the world such as the United States Merchant Marine Academy in New York, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport operated by the Arab League, and Kenya’s Bandari Maritime Academy, all of which award degrees while maintaining specialized maritime training structures.
He said the Governing Council remains committed to protecting the Academy’s mandate and fulfilling the vision of the President. The Council, he insisted, “will not be intimidated or cowed by any group attempting to appropriate a national asset for narrow interests,”
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Graduating cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State, owe a responsibility to uphold the tenets and values of discipline, integrity and excellence the nautical school instilled in them throughout their period of rigorous but impactful training.
Ag Rector, Dr Okonna (in black blazers, middle) flanked by IMO Independent Evaluators and Graduating Cadets during the 2025 Cadets Passing-Out-Parade (POP).
Acting Rector of the Academy, Dr Kevin Okonna gave the charge in Oron, Monday, while speaking during the 2025 Passing-Out-Parade. As contained in a release by Domo Umoekpe, the Academy’s Image Manager, the colourful event marked the culmination of years of rigorous academic and regimental training for the graduating cadets.
In his capacity as the 2025 Parade Review Officer of the annual event, Dr. Kevin Okonna enjoined the graduating cadets to be worthy ambassadors of the Academy and the maritime industry in Nigeria and beyond.
Engr Greg Ogbeifun and Iroghama Ogbeifun (middle) with some graduating cadets.
He commended the graduating cadets for being dedicated, resilient and committed to excellence, noting that their perseverance had prepared them for the challenges and opportunities of the maritime world.
The Acting Rector also appreciated members of Management, staff and the Nigerian Navy for the unwavering efforts to instill discipline and maintain high training standards in the Cadets.
Dr Okonna in a handshake with the NIMASA DG, Dr Dayo Mobereola
He reaffirmed the Academy’s commitment to continuously turn out competent seafarers capable of contributing meaningfully to both national and global maritime development.
The 2025 graduating set, the Acting Rector highlighted, is unique, being “the most fortunate cadets”, having had the rare privilege of meeting and interacting with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), H.E. Arsenio Dominguez who visited Nigeria recently. Their Passing-Out-Parade, he added, was further honoured by the presence of IMO Consultants which, according to him, is “a testament to the Academy’s growing international recognition”.
The ceremony featured a captivating display of military precision exhibitions, including quick-and-slow march pasts. Other special attractions included the recitation of outstanding cadets’ profiles showcasing their discipline, academic excellence, hobbies and leadership qualities.
Many industry heavyweights graced the event. These included Dr Dayo Mobereola, Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Chief Adebayo Sarumi, former Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Engr Greg Ogbeifun, Chairman, Starzs Group and pioneer President, Ship Owners’ Association of Nigeria (SOAN). Others were Iro Ogbeifun, CEO, Starzs Investment Ltd, Mr Kingsley Igwe, Registrar/CEO, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Capt Sunday Umoren, Secretary, Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Ports State Control in West and Central Africa (Abuja MOU) and Emmanuel Maiguwa, Chairman, Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron (AMANO).
The event also drew the presence of the top echelon of the Academy’s Management and staff, other invited dignitaries, families, and friends of the graduating cadets.
MAN, ORON: Minister, Governing Council, Celebrate Management and Cadets At 2025 Graduation Event
MAN: Only A NASS Review Can Convert It To A Conventional University, Governing Council Warns.
MAN, ORON, Charges Graduating Cadets To Uphold Academy’s Core Values.
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