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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The story of STARZS Group’s phenomenal growth and impact in the past four decades, in many respects, mirrors Nigeria’s growth and advancement in all spheres. The story reflects boldness in vision, resilience in capacity, innovation in execution and steadfastness in the pursuit of excellence.
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‎Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola made the submission in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during an impressive ceremony by the company to celebrate her 40th anniversary. He was represented by the Director -General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola.
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‎”As we celebrate this achievement, we are reminded that no action and no nation can attain sustainable maritime prosperity without a vibrant and competitive indigenous values sector. Government creates the enabling environment, but it is the enterprise, innovation, and doggedness of companies such as STARZS that transform policy into economic opportunity, create jobs, build local capacity, and deepen national prosperity.”
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‎”This conviction underpins the vision of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,  GCFR, in establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy as a strategic platform for unlocking the immense potentials of Nigerian maritime domain. Our mandate is clear to position the marine and maritime blue economy as a major driver of economic diversification, industrial growth, food security, trade competitiveness, and national development. We will remain committed to expanding opportunities for indigenous compensation across the maritime planetary, whether in shipping, marine logistics, shipping management, offshore support services, shipbuilding, or marine engineering.”
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‎The Minister emphasized the Ministry’s objective which is to ensure that Nigerian companies are not just participants but leaders in the growth of the maritime economy.
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‎” We will continue to work with relevant institutions to strengthen local capacity, encourage responsible investment and create an environment in which indigenous businesses thrive. Human capital development remains central to this vision.”
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‎”The future of the maritime industry will ultimately depend on the quality, competence, and innovation of our people. We are therefore placing renewed emphasis on maritime education, seafarer development, technical skill acquisition, and greater collaboration with governments, academia, and industry to prepare the generation of new maritime professionals for Nigeria. Equally important is our commitment to maritime safety and security.”
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‎The progress Nigeria has made in securing its maritime domain through the Deep Blue project, Oyetola explained, has enhanced investor confidence and reinforced her standing within the Gulf of Guinea.
‎Nigeria shall continue to consolidate on these gains through stronger inter-agency collaboration, improved surveillance capabilities and sustained investment in maritime security infrastructure,  recognizing the fundamental importance of safe waters.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) says four decades of sustained contribution to Nigeria’s maritime and offshore logistics sector reflects resilience, vision, innovation and commitment to national development.
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‎Engr Felix Omatshola, NCDMB Executive Secretary/CEO made the submission in Port Harcourt, Friday, during a high-powered symposium put together by the STARZS Investments Company Limited to celebrate her 40th anniversary. He described the theme of the symposium – anchoring resilience, 40 years of private indigenous initiative, shaping Nigeria’s maritime future as both timely and significant as it speaks directly to the role of indigenous enterprise in building a competitive and sustainable maritime industry. The milestone recorded by STARZS Group, he explained , is worthy of celebration.
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‎Speaking through Mr Silas Ajimijaye, the agency’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Engr Omatshola congratulated Starzs which has, over the past 40 years,  distinguished itself as one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous service providers, contributing to the growth of local capacity in marine logistics, shipyard services, offshore support operations and workforce development.
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‎”The company’s journey demonstrates what is possible when Nigerian entrepreneurs are provided with opportunities, enabling policies and the determination to invest in local talent and infrastructure that meets international standards.”
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‎”At the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, we strongly believe that sustainable national development is achieved when indigenous companies are empowered to participate meaningfully across the entire value chain of the oil and gas and maritime sectors. These beliefs remain at the heart of NCDMB and of course the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010
which seeks to maximize in-country value retention, promote industrialization, create employment opportunities and build sustainable Nigerian capacity.”

‎NCDMB, he explained, is encouraged by the progress recorded by indigenous maritime companies such as STARZS whose investments have contributed significantly to strengthening local participation and reducing dependence on foreign service providers.
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‎”The collaboration between NCDMB and indigenous companies has continued to yield positive outcomes in line with our mandate to deepen Nigerian content and foster economic diversification.”
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‎”In recent years, we have also witnessed STARZS expand its investment into strategic growth areas within the energy sector, including initiatives that support Nigeria’s gas development aspirations and the federal government’s decade of gas programme. Such investments are important because they align with our collective vision of building strong indigenous institutions capable of driving industrial growth, energy security, and long-term economic prosperity for our dear country.”
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‎”As we look towards the future, there is a need for stronger collaboration among industry operators, maritime service providers, financial institutions, policymakers, and regulators to address existing challenges and unlock new opportunities within the blue economy.
‎We must continue to invest in human capacity development, technology acquisition, infrastructure expansion, local manufacturing, research innovation, and operational excellence. To ensure that Nigerian companies remain globally competitive, the future of Nigerian maritime industry will depend not only on policy support but also on the willingness of Nigerian indigenous businesses to embrace innovation, maintain high standards of corporate governance, and pursue strategic partnerships that create long-term value,” Engr Omatshola concluded.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The Operation Whirlwind interventionist outfit of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has vowed to aggressively confront and combat the menace of illegal diversion and cross-border smuggling of petroleum products.
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‎National Coordinator of the outfit, Deputy Controller of Customs Abubakar Lucky Aliyu made the pledge in Ikeja, Monday, as he supervised the public auction of 20, 500 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) contained in 820 jerrycans of 25 litres each
‎intercepted from smugglers through intelligence-led operations along major smuggling corridors in Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko and Seme. Five vehicles used to convey the products were also seized, bringing the combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the petroleum products and vehicles to about ₦38 million.
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‎Aliu described Operation Whirlwind as a strategic initiative established by the Comptroller General of Customs, Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to curb the illegal exportation of petroleum products, safeguard Nigeria’s energy security, protect government revenue and ensure that fuel meant for domestic consumption remains available in-country.
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‎DC Aliyu warned that petroleum products smuggling continues to undermine the nation’s economy by disrupting local fuel supply, encouraging artificial scarcity, depriving government of revenue and financing criminal activities.
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‎The Service, he assured Nigerians, would continue to deploy intelligence, surveillance and enforcement strategies to dismantle smuggling syndicates operating along the nation’s borders.
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‎He commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), partner security agencies and officers of Operation Whirlwind for their sustained collaboration in tackling petroleum smuggling.
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Mrs Grace Dauda

‎Also speaking at the event, the representative of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mrs. Grace Dauda, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to  partner with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Customs Service under Operation Whirlwind.
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‎While NMDPRA remains committed to creating an enabling environment for legitimate business, she explained, operators in the downstream petroleum sector must strictly comply with regulatory requirements governing the movement of petroleum products.
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‎Marketers are free to transport products to any part of the country for lawful commercial purposes, provided every consignment is properly manifested from the point of loading to its final destination.
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‎She stressed that proper documentation enables regulators to monitor the movement of petroleum products nationwide, prevent diversion into illegal channels and ensure adequate supply for households, agriculture, fisheries and small and medium-scale industries.

‎Dauda urged Nigerians to support the fight against fuel smuggling by reporting suspicious movements of petroleum products to NMDPRA offices located across the 36 states or to other relevant security agencies.
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‎She further advised operators to comply fully with the existing regulatory framework to avoid losses resulting from the interception of illegally diverted products.
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‎The NMDPRA representative commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, the Authority Chief Executive of the NMDPRA and the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind for strengthening inter-agency collaboration in protecting Nigeria’s petroleum resources and promoting legitimate business activities.
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‎Both agencies reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying intelligence gathering, surveillance and enforcement operations to eliminate petroleum smuggling, protect the nation’s energy security and safeguard Nigeria’s economy.
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