Maritime Agencies

STCW : MAN, Oron, Trains Maritime University Students, Showcases Dividends of Reforms

Published

3 years ago

February 28, 2023

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A cross_section of dignitaries at the 2022 cadets Graduation ceremonyat MAN,ORON

By Izuchukwu Ozoemena

As students of Maritime University of Nigeria (MUN), Okerenkoko, Delta State, February 20, successfully completed their Standard of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) compliant training programme at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, (MAN),Oron, it was another opportunity for the nautical training college to showcase a success story and huge dividends recent reforms and transformation are attracting.

Last year, MUN and the MAN, Oron, struck a technical pact whereby the Academy is to conduct mandatory short courses for her students following evidences that the nautical college has now attained an acceptable capacity level of providing global standards wide- ranging training programmes to cadets and students of maritime training institutions.

The attainment of this capacity level of providing wide-range training to stakeholders has been bringing accolades to an institution that had little or no opportunity to do same years back. Prominent maritime practitioner and ship owner told Falcon Watch Online in Lagos that it is a good development. It now places Nigeria in the league of notable maritime nations that parade international recognition.

The ship owner who prefers anonymity expressed optimism that if MAN continues in this manner, before long, Nigerian authorities would see the need to send trainees under the Nigerian Seafarers’ Development Programme (NSDP) to Oron, if anything, to conserve scarce foreign exchange being spent to train them abroad.

A recent visit to the school during the 2022 Cadets’ Graduation Ceremony revealed that going by the number of critical training facilities in place, MAN, Oron, has attained the status of a specialized cadets’ training institution that can compare favorably with her counterparts anywhere on the globe. Is it in terms of training curricula, physical learning ambience or environmentally-friendly atmosphere never experienced many years back?

In fact, MAN, Oron has been acclaimed by many international maritime training practitioners as one of Africa’s fastest growing training institution and the most fitted in terms of modern training facilities for cadets and trainees in West and Central Africa.

Industry observers can confirm that the Rector of the Academy, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (Rtd) has never failed to utilize any opportunity available to acknowledge the massive encouragement and support of the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) towards transforming the college into a world-class maritime education and training institution.

Commodore Effedua restated this appreciation recently while presenting certificates to the first batch of trainees in the Engine Room Simulator (Operational Level) Course who successfully completed their training at the Academy.

He explained that the journey to bring the Academy at par with her counterparts in the global maritime arena began in 2018 with the commencement of the procurement and installation of top-notch training facilities in the institution. He noted with delight that the Ministry has been solidly behind his administration’s quest to ensure full realization of the transformation agenda as specified in the recommendations of the 2017 Interim Management Committee to restructure and reposition MAN in line with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) standards.

The Rector said that with the continued support, the Academy would sustain the current status attained as one of the very best Maritime Education and Training Institutions in the world. It would even raise the bar higher, he added.

During his interaction with the first batch of trainees in the Radar Navigation, Radar-Plotting and Use of ARPA (RNRPA), Commodore Effedua was happy that with the approval of NIMASA, the school has commenced Simulator-based Courses using the most modern Simulators in the world. He reminded the participants that the Academy now offers twelve simulator-based courses for the training and professional development of seafarers.

In view of very considerate fees being charged to train at Oron, the Rector explained, significant foreign exchange now stands to be saved since the simulator-based courses offered abroad can now be accessed at the Academy.

“Today is yet another memorable day for us at the Academy because we have graduated the first set of students from our newly- developed simulator- based courses. I am highly appreciative of the roles played by the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the management of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency towards the realization of this Academy’s aspirations.

“This feat, though not an easy one, would not have been achieved without their unflinching support”, he added.

Following the acquisition of high quality Simulators, MAN now offers courses in Ship Simulator & Bridge Teamwork (SSBT); Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and General Operators Certificate (GOC) Course. Others are Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), Radar Navigation, Radar Plotting and Use of ARPA (RNRPA).

Others include Liquid Cargo & Ballast Handling Simulator (LCBHS); Bridge Watch-Keeping Preparatory Course (BWPC); Engine Room Simulator (Operational Level) Course (ERSOL); Engine Room Simulator (Management Level) Course (ERSML); High Voltage Course (HV); Auxiliary Engine Familiarization Course (AEFC); Boiler Familiarization Course (BFC) and Engine Room Watchkeeping Preparatory Course (ERWPC) and STCW.

In terms of quality, MAN’s simulators are deliberately customized to meet the current training needs of cadets in Nigeria’s maritime industry. The Multi-functional Classroom Simulator has eight Simulators embedded in one with the capacity to hold different Courses at different times for Engine and Deck students. It can accommodate up to 30 trainees at a time.

With the Full Mission Engine and Full Mission Deck Simulators, real life Engine Room and Deck situations can be simulated to give trainees real at-sea-life experience. While the Full Mission Deck Simulator can simulate any type of vessel including Warship, Tanker vessels- LNG, LPG Oil Tankers, the Full Mission Engine can simulate the movement of various engine parts and everything that goes on in a real engine room situation including engine room watch keeping, monitoring of lubrication oil and movement of engine parts.

Also available at the MAN is the Ocular Vision Simulator which, if worn on the head, launches the trainee into a virtual engine room where he can operate valves and switch machineries within the engine of a ship on- and- off.

Established in 1977 as Nigerian Nautical College, MAN was originally conceived to train shipboard officers, ratings and shore-based management personnel.

With the promulgation of Decree No 16 in 1988, the school was upgraded with a statutory mandate to train different categories of personnel required for the effective and efficient operation of specialized maritime industry requirements.

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Maritime Agencies

Shippers’ Council Boss, Akutah, Advocates Stronger Alternative Disputes Resolution, Bags Special Honours from NBA ‎ ‎

Published

5 days ago

November 28, 2025

Admin

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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr Pius Ukeyima Akutah has given a guarantee to maritime industry players, particularly shippers, that with a new approach to maritime development being championed by the Council preparatory to the passage of a new ports regulation Act to constitutionally bestow on her the status of the ports economic regulator, a law very important in dealing with all elements of their concerns has been packaged.
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‎Dr Akutah spoke, Thursday, at the sidelines of the 10th Annual Law Week 2025, a colourful event organized by the Nigerian Bar Association, Badagry Branch, at the Gbajabiamila Conference, Centre Lagos State University, Ojo, where he was specially invested as ‘Honorary Life Member of the Heritage Bar’.

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‎”I guarantee Nigerians and, particularly, the maritime sector players, that that law, when it comes into force, is going to protect their investment; is going to set up the standards that everyone will follow, to provide predictability of investment in the sector. So, investors will no longer be afraid of putting their money in that sector because they will be sure that their money will need investment results and returns. So it’s a law that we are waiting for, and I know that the law is meant for the good of the maritime sector in Nigeria.”
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‎He explained that the 1978 decree, now CAPN 133 of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act, is totally a spent law.
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‎ “It’s of no use whatsoever in the maritime sector”, he stated.
‎” We have a new approach to maritime development, and we should have a law that is very important to deal with all the elements that will come up for a regulator like the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.”
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‎”That piece of legislation is very crucial for us to proceed. And I want to thank the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate President for giving attention to that bill when it came before them, and the Minister of Justice for also looking into it. So the two challenges we faced after the bill was passed, those have been cleaned up already, and the bill is back into the National Assembly for a process that will lead to a final assent by Mr. President .
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‎Reacting to suggestions on the need for alternative disputes resolution in maritime matters, Akutah, a lawyer and technocrat of high repute, advocated that the mechanism be made very effective and efficient in tackling maritime disputes.
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‎”Over the years, this has been advocated but not so much has been done yet. But a lot is going on. Even in the court reforms, we have the Admiralty jurisdiction of the Federal High Court which fast-tracks these processes. But yet again, because of certain unforeseen factors in the administration of justice, sometimes those delays are imminent and you can’t help it. But then the issue of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms is very crucial.
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‎He recalled handling the case of a vessel, ‘Heroic Idiom’ as a prosecutor at the Federal Ministry of Justice, securing an out-of-court dispute resolution before being seconded to the Nigerian Shippers Council as Executive Secretary. The vessel, he explained, was accosted in Equatorial Guinea and brought back to Nigeria.
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‎”I was a prosecutor in the case at that time before I left the Ministry of Justice. And then, if I must say, there are some other reforms going on in the Nigerian Shippers Council today. One major reform is in the area of law reform.”
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‎He explained that at the Nigerian Shippers Council, there is a unit that is dedicated to handling maritime disputes.
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‎”I will say that last year alone, that unit was able to resolve cases that would have cost over 6 billion in legal fees and damages and delays and all of that in maritime disputes. So we are doing everything possible to ensure that that mechanism is promoted over and against court resolution of matters so that before any case can go to court, let’s try arbitration. Let’s try any other alternative dispute resolution mechanism that are available to us in the sector..”
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‎”Even in the Ministry of Justice where I was a prosecutor, certain cases were resolved without necessarily going to court. The courts are there. They are actually the last resort.
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‎”When all resolution mechanisms fail, then you can approach the courts because they are statutory institutions to resolve disputes. But that doesn’t mean that individuals cannot resolve disputes by themselves, especially commercial disputes where money is involved, investments are involved in it.
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‎So if you tie down your investments for 10 years, pursuing a legal battle in court, by the time you come back that investment has been dissipated to almost nothing. So we encourage alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to be applied first in handling maritime disputes. Majority of them are commercial disputes, not criminal cases, so to say.
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‎Even in criminal cases, there is room for parties to settle, especially, like I said, where there is a commercial element in it and money is involved. If the parties have agreed to sort out their differences, why do you proceed to court? So this is very important.
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Maritime Agencies

MMA Customs Command Hits 100.1% of Annual Revenue Target 11 Months Before Year-End.

Published

5 days ago

November 28, 2025

Admin

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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The Murtala Mohammed Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Wednesday, said that in eleven months, the Command has already achieved 100.1%, surpassing her annual revenue target for 2025. Customs Area Controller, Comptroller M.T. Awe disclosed this in Ikeja, Lagos, while highlighting the Command’s activities as well as accomplishments in its core responsibilities of revenue generation, trade facilitation and suppression of smuggling as the year ends.
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‎Between January and November 2025, the Command generated a total of N179, 910, 971.00 from customs duties and related charges.
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The seized contrabands on display.

‎” The revenue generated shows a significant improvement over N164, 819, 895, 457:00 that was generated in the corresponding period in 2024. This reflects an outstanding 9.16% increase, amounting to N15, 91, 75, 645: 81 kobo growth.”
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‎”The Command’s exceptional performance within this period,” the CAC explained, “is attributed to the dedication of our personnel, strong collaboration with partner agencies, and continuous engagement with stakeholders.”
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‎”This impressive performance reflects our unwavering commitment to efficiency, transparency and accountability. Our success is driven by enhanced trader compliance, timely monitoring of import transactions, swift detection of irregularities, and deliberate actions taken to eliminate all revenue leakages.”

‎He extended his heartfelt appreciation to all compliant traders and clearing agents for being cooperative and dedicated.

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‎On anti-smuggling operations, during this period, the Command successfully intercepted and seized the following prohibited items:3pkgs of Colorado CAT Leaf4pkgs of Nigeria Immigration Service uniform materials, 1pkg Two-way Radio Walkie Talkie and 1pkg of TIPPMANN Semi-Automatic 50/68 Calibre Magfed Paintball marker gun. Others were 75pkgs of Pangolin Scales , 1pkg of Elephant Tusk, 2pkgs of Canadian Cannabis Sativa, 6pkgs of 225mg Tramadol Hydrochloride and 17pkgs of unregistered 300mg Pregabalin tablets Others were 5pkgs of unregistered 2mg Sardulud and 50mg Norflex tablets, 6pkgs of 225mg Tramadol Hydrochloride and 523pcs of signed Deutsch Bank and AIB Bank Cheques. The total Duty Paid Value of these seizures is N7, 201, 895, 232:00.
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‎The Command was able to achieve this feat through robust intelligence gathering, strengthened surveillance efforts as well as effective collaboration with relevant partners.
‎”The Command remains firmly committed to its zero-tolerance stance on smuggling and will continue to enforce all applicable trade laws with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism”.
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‎Comptroller Awe espoused the virtues of strong stakeholder relationships and its role in the Command’s achievements.
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‎”Throughout the period under review, we sustained an open communication and mutual cooperation with all stakeholders and sister agencies. These engagements enabled us to resolve challenges amicably, harmonize procedures, and deepen institutional trust.Together, we created a more conducive environment for legitimate trade while maintaining strict and consistent enforcement against all forms of violations.”
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‎He expressed profound gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and the entire management team for their visionary leadership and unwavering support.
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‎”Their guidance has been instrumental to every accomplishment we have recorded. I equally extend my heartfelt appreciation to the officers and men of the Command. Your dedication, resilience and professionalism have been the backbone of our success”.
‎He urged them the personnel to continue upholding the Service’ core values of integrity, discipline, and excellence in service delivery.
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‎”To our stakeholders, I remain deeply grateful for your patience, understanding and cooperation. You have been true partners in progress, and your contributions have strengthened our collective efforts”.
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‎Murtala Muhammed Area Command, he emphasized, remains firmly committed to improving revenue generation, intensifying the fight against smuggling and deepening stakeholder collaboration.
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Maritime Agencies

MARAN Dissolves Exco, Appoints An Interim Leadership.

Published

1 week ago

November 25, 2025

Admin

Tunde Ayodele Chairman, MARAN caretaker committee

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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎Nigeria’s pioneer maritime reporters body, the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), Thursday, set aside the Godfrey Bivbere-led Executive, replacing it with a 3-man Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the body in the interim.
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‎The Caretaker Committee unanimously put in place is part of a major reorganization to reposition MARAN to enable her meet her cardinal aspirations .
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‎Led by Mr Tunde Ayodele as Chairman, Mr John Obot and Mrs Ruth Sunday Umunna now serve as Secretary and Treasurer respectively.
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‎Unveiling the new dispensation in a release, MARAN wishes all stakeholders, particularly in the maritime sector, ministries, government departments and agencies to, henceforth, direct and channel all dealings with the new leadership.
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‎”The Association wishes to state categorically that the action is for the good of the Association, the industry and the nation in general and should therefore not be misconstrued.”
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‎”We wish to use this medium to invite our highly esteemed stakeholders to our Association’s forthcoming launch of the book, “50 Drivers of the Nigerian Marine and Blue Economy”, coming up on the 4th of December, at Providence Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.”
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‎”The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, MARAN, is a foremost body of highly cerebral, credible, erudite and professional Journalists, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. It has been covering the activities of the maritime industry for nearly four decades.”
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‎”The Association had made its indelible mark in the maritime sector through unbiased, insightful, and impactful reportage of the sector over the years.
‎It is the first and the longest Maritime Association in the Industry and has evolved with more than forty members from the Prints, Electronic and Online platforms.”
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