Maritime Agencies
MARPOL @ 50: Ex Gulf of Guinea Scribe Questions Nigeria’s Claim To Be A Maritime Nation.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
As long as Nigeria and many other African nations do not have ships to enable them participate in global shipping and maritime transportation in the true sense of it, they cannot lay claim to being addressed as maritime nations.
Former Executive Secretary, Gulf of Guinea (GoG) Commission, Ambassador Florentina Adenike Ukonga stated this in Lagos, Tuesday, while speaking at the 2023 Lagos International Maritime Week (LIMWEEK 2023) hosted by Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd.
She particularly regretted that Nigeria cannot be called a maritime country when foreign vessels in this time and age still dominate her territorial waters while the few indigenously-owned are being denied what it takes to breathe and remain in business. The theme of the conference was MARPOL at 50: Pollution from Ships, Africa’s Commitment to Clean Oceans, Seas, Inland Waters and the Maritime Environment.
Falcon Watch Online recalls that 2023 marks the 50th year since the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Convention was enacted. The aim was to prevent pollution of the marine environment by ships whether it arises from how the ship is operated or from accidents involving ships and other ocean-going crafts.
Even though Nigeria and other African nations have domesticated the MARPOL as major component of their municipal laws, it is debatable if adequate enforcement policies exist to give real meaning and effect to the global instrument to counter pollution on the waters. As long as it remains so, Ukonga contended, Nigeria and other African nations that ratified the MARPOL Convention cannot be called maritime countries in the real sense.
“Maritime transportation in Nigeria and in the West and Central Africa is grossly underdeveloped. Majority of the ships providing maritime transportation services in West and Central African region are from Europe, Asia and the Far East.”
Mrs Ukonga said it should be a huge worry to maritime industry watchers that maritime transportation with so much potential for economic emancipation and development in Africa is virtually being run by non-Africans. Goods cannot be shipped along the coast of West and Central Africa without first of all passing through Europe or Asia, depending on which of these foreign nations own the vessel used for the trans-shipment.
“If maritime transportation is well developed, even if it is within the region,there should be ships plying these routes, stopping in almost all the ports in the region with shorter periods of transportation not exceeding two to five sailing days enroute.
The former envoy, however, acknowledged that being a signatory to the Convention is a first step in the right direction as this ensures that African environment is no longer perceived as a dumping ground for maritime toxic waste, garbage and other hazardous excretions from factories abroad. She encouraged African entrepreneurs to invest in maritime transportation either to transport goods or people especially in inter-state maritime haulage.
“African countries should be involved in regional maritime transportation sector even if we do not yet want to go to Europe, US, Asia or Far East”.
In his contribution, Ambassador Michel Deelen,the Consul-General of Netherlands in Nigeria, referred to the huge potentials embedded in the blue economy and stressed the need to shield these from the destructive effects of pollution from ships and other ocean-going crafts. Nigeria, he suggested, must be serious to put in place structures to discourage ocean pollution not just from ships but other causative factors such as households, factories and random dropping by individuals who see water bodies as dumping ground. Existing laws and sanctions, he recommended, need to be fiercely imposed on ships polluting the Nigerian maritime space as well as manufacturing companies who indiscriminately dump waste in the ocean.
“There is the subject of marine environment pollution. We see all these when we go to the beautiful beaches in Lagos. Recently, we had the World Beach Clean-up Day. But as you can clean up the beach, the next day, everything washes ashore again.”
“So, we need to find structural solutions to this; structural solutions for manufacturing companies, plastic wastes and for the way big international cargo vessels are proposed because the fuel they use in these vessels are not the best quality. Environmentally, a lot of progress still needs to be made in this regard,” the Dutch envoy stressed.
In his goodwill message, His Royal Majesty, the Oniru of Iru Land, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun 11, represented by Chief Olumide Oniru, recommended what he called environmentally-friendly and responsible policies to manage the maritime environment which, according to him, his domain has been part of from time immemorial. He recalled that the ocean and Lagos lagoon completely surround his kingdom and that marine and port businesses still impact on the lives of his people.
The monarch assured that despite the hazards of environmental pollution, Iru people will continue to cooperate with the authorities in whatever steps taken to ensure the waters remain clean.
Earlier, Barr Oritsematosan Edodo-Emore, Chair, Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd, the conveners of the event, said Africa’s economic growth and wellbeing is directly related to the ocean economy. She stated that to prevent the pollution of the marine environment by ships, security and other cardinal factors must be addressed.
While hailing the recent creation of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry in Nigeria, she looked forward to fruitful engagement with stakeholders such as her organization as government strives to combat the problem of water pollution.
Maritime Agencies
OIL FACILITIES PROTECTION: Tompolo’s Tantita Acquires High-Tech Drones From US Firm.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Tantita Security Services Ltd (TSSL), the company in charge of security surveillance over oil and gas installations in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, is in collaboration with Textron Systems Corporation, a United States–based defence and aerospace company, to supply her three advanced Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).
TSSNL owned by Chief Government Ekpemupolo (popularly known as Tompolo) disclosed the business deal in her website publication of December 29, 2025. The drones will be delivered in a fully ITAR-Free configuration.
The Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 is designed to operate without runways, utilising hybrid quadrotor technology that enables vertical takeoff and landing, as well as fixed-wing flight.
The Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 VTOL UAS, Textron Systems says, is a mature, industry-proven autonomous platform known for its high reliability and operational flexibility. Its dual-mode capability allows it to operate seamlessly in complex and high-risk environments, making it well-suited for security operations within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Giving further insight into the contract, Senior Vice President, Air, Land and Sea Systems at Textron Systems, David Phillips, said the deployment would significantly enhance Tantita’s operational capability.
”The Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 VTOL UAS is a proven solution that will enable Tantita Security Services to expand its capabilities to protect the oil and gas infrastructure essential to Nigerian security and prosperity,” he stated.
The Aerosonde platform has accumulated over 700,000 flight hours across some of the world’s most challenging operating environments, underscoring its reliability and performance.
Tantita Security Services is expected to deploy the systems to strengthen surveillance and protection of critical oil and gas assets across Nigeria.
The contract also includes options for operator training and the supply of additional aircraft to support future capability expansion. Textron Systems noted that the agreement builds on a previous Foreign Military Sale (FMS) contract to Nigeria, further highlighting its ongoing commitment to supporting Nigerian security operations.
Textron Systems is a global leader in uncrewed air, land and sea systems, with the Aerosonde family of UAS currently supporting international customers and operations aboard more than 10 U.S. Navy ships. The company is a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), a diversified multinational with interests spanning aviation, defence, industrial manufacturing and finance.
With multiple payload configurations and comprehensive training and support services, the Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 VTOL UAS offers a versatile and efficient solution for security operations in demanding environments, reinforcing Tantita Security Services’ role in safeguarding Nigeria’s critical energy infrastructure.
Maritime Agencies
NEW YEAR CELEBRATION: MARAN Appreciates Stakeholders, Requests Greater Support and Collaboration in 2026.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate a brand new year, the pioneer maritime journalists’ group, the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), has implored the entire business community, especially maritime industry stakeholders, to join the association afresh in advancing the cause of the industry to ensure more impact and relevance in the national economy in the new year and beyond.
In a New Year message, MARAN Chairman, Mr. Tunde Ayodele described 2026 as a “year of greater impact,” stressing the need for improved service delivery and more robust maritime reportage to support national development.
According to him, the collective efforts of stakeholders in the outgoing year contributed positively to the growth of the maritime sector, urging all parties to sustain the spirit of unity and collaboration in the new year.
“United, we can make Nigeria proud by contributing our quota to national development, each from our own little corner,” the MARAN chairman said.
Ayodele reaffirmed MARAN’s readiness to collaborate with organisations and institutions across the maritime value chain, noting that such partnerships are crucial to making Nigeria’s maritime space one that is admired and celebrated.
He expressed appreciation for the cooperation and support extended to the association throughout 2025 and called for renewed commitment in the year ahead.
“Thank you for your cooperation and support in 2025. Let us do it again in 2026,” he added.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
In the ongoing efforts to thwart economic sabotage in the Niger Delta, Tantita Security Services Ltd, the firm engaged in pipeline surveillance operations in the oil -rich region, has nabbed four suspected oil thieves, intercepting their vessel named MT Thor. Suspects are to undergo trial for economic sabotage .
Speaking at the handover of the suspects at Koko Port, Tantita’s Executive Director of Operations, Capt Warredi Enisouh, said the suspects were apprehended with an unspecified quantity of suspected illegally-sourced petroleum products aboard the vessel.
The interception occurred on 15 December 2025, around the Koko–Excravos axis of Delta State, says a situation report made available by the Special Prosecution Team (SPT) of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Product Theft.
The report stated that Tantita alerted the Head of Investigation of the SPT after intercepting MT Thor, allegedly laden with crude oil obtained through illicit means.
It was further alleged that the vessel was being escorted by personnel of the Police Marine Unit, Delta State, who reportedly claimed they were acting on directives from the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja.
Preliminary investigations by law enforcement agencies revealed that the vessel, now classified as an exhibit in an ongoing criminal investigation, is linked to a jetty operated by Ebenco Global Services Limited. Investigation officers disclosed that documents and correspondence connected to the jetty were obtained and are currently under review.
“The owner of the jetty, Mr. Ebenezer, was contacted by investigators and reportedly provided additional documents, including court orders, which are also being analysed as part of the investigation.
“On December 16, a joint investigation team led by the Head of Investigation of the SPT conducted a Joint Inspection Visit in Koko. The team first met at Tantita’s corporate headquarters in Warri for a briefing, which was also attended by the jetty owner.
“During the inspection, investigators attempted to obtain samples from MT Thor but were unable to do so immediately as the vessel had not yet arrived at the jetty, having been towed from an earlier location by security operatives.
“While awaiting the vessel’s arrival, the team inspected other containers suspected to be carrying crude oil within the premises of Ebenco Global Links Limited, where samples were taken from a storage barge.
“MT Thor eventually berthed at about 8:30 p.m. on 16 December, prompting the joint team to adjourn sampling and other procedures until the following day. As of 17 December 2025, investigators were reported to be en route to Koko to continue sample collection and complete investigation formalities,” the report read.
Receiving the suspects, the Head of the Special Prosecution Team of the Inter-Agency Task Force, Omar Sini, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to dismantle crude oil theft networks in the Niger Delta, assuring that all findings would be thoroughly examined and prosecuted in line with the law.
OIL FACILITIES PROTECTION: Tompolo’s Tantita Acquires High-Tech Drones From US Firm.
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Customs3 weeks agoTincan Customs Achieves N51.8Bn Surplus Above 2025 Revenue Target
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Maritime Agencies1 week agoOIL FACILITIES PROTECTION: Tompolo’s Tantita Acquires High-Tech Drones From US Firm.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoNIGER DELTA SECURITY : Tantita Arrests 4 Oil Thieves, Nabs Vessel .
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Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoNEW YEAR CELEBRATION: MARAN Appreciates Stakeholders, Requests Greater Support and Collaboration in 2026.