Maritime Agencies
Reps Inland Waterways Committee Lauds NIWA MD’s Transformative Initiatives, Work Ethics.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The House of Representatives Committee on National Inland Waterways has commended noticeable strides by the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Hon Bola Olabamiji in turning around inland waterways operations across Nigeria within so short a time.
The acknowledgement was made during the Committee’s oversight visit to the agency’s operational headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi State.
During the visit, Hon Ojema Ojotu who was head of a seven-man committee members, highlighted the critical role of inland waterways in Nigeria’s transportation system. He emphasized the potential of inland waterways to enhance connectivity, reduce road congestion, and stimulate economic growth. However, he lamented the challenges of recurring boat mishaps, flooding, and inadequate infrastructure.
The House Committee commended the MD’s leadership for implementing various impactful initiatives. These include NIWA’s decentralized safety campaign strategy, which involved extensive safety awareness programs across its operational bases and engaging stakeholders, such as state commissioners of transportation, to address insecurity and safety on waterways.
The Authority’s proactive measures, including immediate visits to accident victims and communities, have built confidence among stakeholders and users of inland waterways.
Ojotu underscored the importance of modernizing infrastructure such as inland ports and navigable channels, as well as dredging waterways to ensure uninterrupted operations.
The Committee Chairman called for human capacity development and the acquisition of operational equipment such as patrol boats to improve safety enforcement and emergency response.
Acknowledging the funding challenges faced by NIWA, Ojotu advocated for innovative financing models, including public-private partnerships and concessional arrangements, to bridge gaps in infrastructure and capacity development.
He assured that the Committee would continue to push for policies and budgetary allocations aligned with national priorities to promote sustainable development in the inland waterways sector.
The lawmakers pledged to work closely with NIWA to address these challenges, aiming to transform the inland waterways system into a safer, more efficient, and economically viable mode of transportation.
In his welcome remarks earlier, NIWA MD, Bola Oyebamiji, detailed the agency’s activities over the past year, emphasizing focus on safety, infrastructure development, stakeholder engagement, and operational efficiency. He highlighted key milestones, including the launch of the National Transportation Code and the commissioning of operational assets, such as 15 boats, an administrative building and a staff clinic.
Another notable achievement under Mr. Oyebamiji’s leadership is the inauguration of River Marshals to ensure compliance with safety regulations. NIWA has also prioritized the training and retraining of its personnel to enhance operational efficiency, further boosting stakeholder confidence through regular engagement with state actors and stakeholders.
The MD also outlined the proposed agency’s 2024 budget which focuses on infrastructure development, including dredging operations, to improve navigability and boost economic activities.
However, the MD noted the challenges facing the Authority, prominent among which is lack of funding for critical dredging projects in the 2024 capital budget. He appealed to the Committee for increased financial support to enhance NIWA’s operations, particularly in achieving its infrastructure and safety goals.
“We require your urgent support in providing increased funding for our operations. Despite our strategic initiatives, the absence of capital dredging funds in the 2024 budget hampers our ability to maximize the economic potential of inland waterways,” the MD stated.
He also called for legislative backing to strengthen NIWA’s enforcement drive against unsafe practices and bad publicity surrounding inland waterway accidents, regardless of their causes.
The Committee lauded NIWA’s judicious use of internally generated revenue (IGR) for its administrative and operational needs, citing it as a testament to Mr. Oyebamiji’s efficient management of the agency.
The Committee expressed optimism about the Authority’s future under the MD’s leadership, assuring him of their commitment to facilitate necessary legislative and financial support.
The Committee visit ended with a renewed agreement between the legislature and NIWA to drive progress and foster economic growth through the sustainable development and regulation of Nigeria’s inland waterways
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Captain Warredi Enisuoh, Executive Director, Operations and Technical at the Tantita Security Services Ltd, will deliver the keynote speech at the 10th Annual Maritime Students and Youth Conference (AMSAY) billed for June 10, 2026. Venue is the Conference Hall of the Mission To Seafarers, 29 Marine Road, Apapa GRA, Lagos.
As stated in a release, Enisuoh will speak on the lead paper entitled, “The Youth and the Future of Nigerian Maritime Sector: Understanding How Nations Develop Their Maritime Industry.”
Organised by Platforms Communications annually, the arrowhead, Sylvanus Obasi, says the AMSAY Conference has over the past decade evolved into a critical platform for youth advocacy, mentorship and stakeholders’-students engagement to discuss and proffer solutions to contemporary issues affecting the future of Nigeria’s maritime sector, having consistently driven conversations around industry reforms, capacity growth, innovation and sustainable development.
With over two decades of global experience spanning maritime operations, aviation, and national security, Captain Enisuoh is widely regarded as a leading authority in maritime safety, shipping development, and infrastructure protection in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
He holds a Master Mariner Class 1 Unlimited Foreign Going License, an Aircraft Pilot’s License, and a Diploma in Aviation. His academic journey includes training at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron; Arab Maritime Transport Academy, Egypt; Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania; Tasmanian Aviation College; and the Swiss Air Training Centre in Zurich.
Over the years, he has held strategic roles across continents, including eight years with Pacific International Lines in Singapore and six years with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). He also served as a lecturer, instructor, course developer, and examiner at the Australian Maritime College.
In Nigeria, he contributed significantly to sectoral development during his tenure at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), where he served as Director of Maritime Safety and Director of Shipping Development.
Capt Warredi”s Keynote Speech will also feature a high-level panel discussion moderated by Captain Dr. Fola Ojutalayo, Marine Surveyor and Senior Lecturer at the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology.
Panelists are drawn from diverse segments of the maritime industry, including regulators, shipowners, local content experts, technical professionals, legal practitioners, operators, and the academia as representatives from NIMASA, Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited, and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, are expected to discuss the lead paper .
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Ports Authority Police (Western) Command has called for deeper collaboration with maritime journalists as part of efforts to strengthen security within Nigeria’s port environment and support the growth of the nation’s maritime economy.
Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police (Western) Command, CP Oluwatoyin Iyabode Agbaminoja, made the call on Tuesday while receiving the newly elected executives of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) during a courtesy visit to the Command Headquarters in Apapa, Lagos.
The visit, led by MARAN President, Mr. Oluyinka Onigbinde, provided an opportunity for both parties to reaffirm their commitment to promoting safety, security, and operational efficiency across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Speaking during the engagement, Onigbinde commended the Command for its efforts in safeguarding the nation’s ports and other critical maritime assets, noting that security remains a key pillar for sustainable trade and economic development.
He pledged MARAN’s continued support through responsible journalism, accurate reporting, and constructive engagement with stakeholders in the maritime sector.
According to him, the media has a crucial role to play in creating public awareness, promoting transparency, and highlighting issues that impact the efficiency and competitiveness of Nigerian ports.
In her remarks, CP Agbaminoja congratulated the newly elected MARAN leadership and acknowledged the association’s longstanding contribution to the dissemination of credible information on developments within the maritime industry.
She emphasized that stronger cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the media would enhance public trust, improve security consciousness, and contribute to national economic growth.
The Commissioner noted that effective communication and timely information sharing are essential in addressing security challenges within the port ecosystem, stressing that the media remains a strategic partner in achieving those objectives.
She further assured the association of the Command’s readiness to maintain open channels of communication and foster productive partnerships aimed at advancing port security, maritime safety, and trade facilitation.
Nigeria’s ports serve as critical gateways for international trade and revenue generation, making security within the maritime sector a matter of national economic importance. Stakeholders have consistently advocated greater collaboration among security agencies, regulators, operators, and the media to strengthen surveillance, curb criminal activities, and improve operational efficiency.
The meeting concluded with both the Ports Authority Police Command and MARAN reaffirming their commitment to sustained engagement and cooperation in support of a safer and more efficient maritime industry.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Nigeria’s pioneer maritime journalists’ body, the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) will inaugurate her brand new Executive Council on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.
The high-profile event which is planned to bring together key stakeholders from the maritime, shipping, logistics, security, and media sectors will also feature discussions on strengthening ethical standards in maritime journalism.
The theme of the inauguration is “Upholding Ethical Journalism for Maritime Development.”
The Chairman of the occasion is Emmanuel Maiguwa Gankino, President, Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN), while the keynote address will be delivered by Mr. Bolaji Abimbola, a leading public relations and event management expert.
Special Guests of Honour expected at the event include the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola; the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima; and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR. Also expected are chief executives of maritime agencies, captains of industry, leaders of maritime associations, terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, and other critical stakeholders across the maritime value chain.
Speaking ahead of the inauguration, MARAN President, Comrade. Oluyinka Onigbinde, described the event as a defining moment in the association’s journey towards deepening professionalism, credibility, and responsible maritime reportage.
The new executive council, he stated, will focus on repositioning MARAN as a stronger voice within the maritime sector through capacity building, constructive engagement, and adherence to ethical journalism standards.
He noted that the theme of the event underscores the indispensable role of the media in promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainable development within Nigeria’s maritime industry.
“The maritime industry is central to Nigeria’s economic growth, and ethical journalism remains a vital instrument for ensuring that developments within the sector are accurately reported and constructively engaged,” he added.
Onigbinde further called on government agencies, industry operators, and media practitioners to continue supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening maritime journalism and advancing the nation’s blue economy aspirations.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoTantita Donates 15 Gun Boats to Nigerian Army, Navy.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoREPORTER’S DIARY: How Lagos State Task Force Made Me ‘Igbobi Landlord’ For Filming Operatives Extorting Suspected ‘Okada’ Operators In Apapa*
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Maritime Agencies1 week agoCHANGE OF BATON at PTML Customs, Miko Replaces Joe Anani.
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Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoComptroller Anani Succeeds ACG Onyeka as Tincan Customs CAC, Pledges to Build on Lofty Achievements.
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Maritime Agencies1 week agoNIMASA Urges Ethical Journalism, Stronger Media Partnership to Drive Blue Economy Growth. …As MARAN condoles agency over staff’s Death.
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Maritime Agencies1 week agoPorts Police Seek Stronger Media Collaboration to Boost Maritime Security.
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Maritime Agencies1 week agoNew MARAN Leadership Set for Inauguration, June 23.
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Maritime Agencies5 days agoCapt Warredi Enisuoh Set To Deliver Keynote Speech At 10th AMSAY Conference.