Maritime Agencies
Zoe Maritime Breakfast Meeting: NCDMB, NIWA, LASWA Discuss Maritime Logistics, Sustainability of Ocean Economy.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
In furtherance of a mandate to champion local human resources input into operations in Nigeria’s oil and gas sectors, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has instituted the Nigerian Content Forum
However, the agency’s intervention in the maritime space has been challenging as she struggles with in-country value addition and pushback in efforts to make progress.
NCDMB Executive Secretary/CEO, Mr Felix Omatsola Ogbe stated this in Lagos, Thursday, during a panel discussion at the 2025 edition of the Maritime Business Roundtable Breakfast Meeting organized by Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd with the theme ‘Maritime Logistics and Sustainability of the Ocean Economy’. Other dignitaries on the discussion included Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, General Manager, Lagos Waterways Authority (LASWA), Engr Elsie Egwuatu, Head of Marine, Lagos Area Office of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Ruth Ikem Chukwukezirim, CEO, Global Energy & Logistics.
Mr Ajimijaye receiving a souvenir on behalf of NCDMB Executive Secretary/CEO.
Speaking through Silas Omomehin Ajimijaye, General Manager, Research, Statistics and Development, the NCDMB boss referred to the $350 million intervention fund up for grabs by local shipping companies. Not less than 10 Nigerian companies, he explained, have accessed the facility.
“As a matter of fact, before I came here, I was speaking with one of those companies that have benefitted from our intervention. A good example is Starzs Group. They said they are very happy with what NCDMB has done to help them as a as a company. I know the MD, Iro Ogbeifun, a lady who is doing so fantastically well. That is one of those cases we talk about women empowerment. The company is doing well. Not only them, there are several others we are working with to deepen in-country value addition in the maritime sector.”
The fund which keeps growing is disbursed as a single digit loan businesses use and pay back. “This fund is being managed by the Bank of Industry (BOI). Every now and then, they provide a report to show how it is going.”
On collaboration with other agencies, Mr Ajimijaye said part of NCDMB’s mandate is to collaborate with NIMASA to deepen local content through the Nigerian Content plan which should be enshrined into every contract arrangement.
“You have to state what Nigerian Content plan you have now and what you plan to do. Even with manning vessels, you have to show what you have currently and how you want Nigerians to understudy foreigners and possibly integrate them into the system.”
“There is what we call the baseline census for the marine services sector. What this means is that for the companies which are into marine services in the oil and gas sector, we want to do a census, a survey. What is the capacity, the capabilities? How many vessels do they have? Who are the Nigerians there? Who are the foreigners there? What are they doing and what are their challenges? When we analyse the data, we do what we call a gap analysis and have a clear data-driven scenario and recommend to government ways to bridge gaps.”
“We also recognize our partners – NIMASA, NIWA, various other institutions and industry players to collaborate to solve the problems.”
For instance, he explained, what NCDMB calls the Nigerian Content intervention fund is based on a study carried out to realize that people have financial challenges.”
The fund is given to a development bank to help NCDMB administer instead of leaving the money in the Central Bank.
On reducing joblessness among trained seafarers, the NCDMB boss explained that his agency’s intervention is a continuous process.
“For some of them, we do the training and try to source seatime places for them. It is a very big challenge to engage them on vessels for seatime experience. They have the training, certification and exposure. It’s been very fantastic but the problem is the size of the industry. Right now, you can’t take everybody. Entering the programme has always been very competitive. For those who have participated, you can rarely find anyone who has gone through that internship training roaming the streets. It’s only those who have not had the opportunity to have the exposure. The cadet internship training programme is a continuous process. Apart from cadets, we have training for marine surveyors. We give them scholarship. Thereafter, they’re expected to launch out into the world.”
NCDMB recommends that after training, the cadets are not expected to wait for the agency to engage them because it does not have the jobs.
“We are not a maritime company. We’re just to build and launch you to find work anywhere in the world.”
Engr Elsie Egwuatu, Head of Marine, NIWA, Lagos Office.
In a presentation, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the statutory regulator of the inland waterways, outlined her critical role in promoting maritime logistics and the sustainability of the ocean economy by making operations on inland waterways safe and seamless. Represented by Engr Elsie Egwuatu, Head of Marine, NIWA, Lagos Office, the
agency dwelt on critical areas of concern currently including maritime accidents and safety, delays, disruptions and navigational challenges which are being tackled headlong with huge assistance from the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, HE Adegboyega Oyetola.
NIWA, she stated, has also ensured the development of indigenous technical and managerial skills to meet the challenges of modern inland waterways transportation.
In her welcome address earlier, the Chair, Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd, Barr (Mrs) Oritsematosan Edodo-Emore said that as a coastal nation, it is important for Nigeria to harness ocean resources and develop her economy in a manner that sustains her teeming population while eradicating poverty in the land. Maritime logistics, she observed, is an acute driver of the ocean economy.
“In this digital age, it is important to evaluate how logistics is affecting the development of the ocean economy. What are our obligations in maritime logistics? What are the opportunities and how can these be harnessed to uplift the Nigerian populace and, by extension, develop the African continent?”
Other participants in the panel discussion included the representative of Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, General Manager, Lagos Waterways Authority (LASWA), the Nigerian Navy and Mrs Ruth Ikem Chukwukezirim, CEO, Global Energy and Logistics.
Maritime Agencies
NPA Berths Nigerian-Owned Container Vessel,”MV OCEAN DRAGON,” To Boost Incountry and Regional Trade,
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), 2nd July, 2025, berthed “MV Ocean Dragon”, the first wholly Nigerian-owned container vessel.
The craft with International Maritime Organization (IMO) Number 9508770 which belongs to Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited has a capacity of 349 Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units (TEUs) and demonstrates a concerted investment drive by the NPA aimed at reaping the gains of cost and time- saving benefits of short-sea shipping by plying in-country maritime trade routes across Nigeria and the West African sub-region. It offers an efficient alternative to road transport as the Authority’s efforts at deepening multi- modalism in transportation is being realized.
The vessel is scheduled to operate across West Africa and beyond, servicing ports in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Egypt, South Africa and others, with expressions of interest for businesses already being established.
As stated by Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director/ CEO of the NPA: “this development is a testament to our relentless commitment towards deepening efficiencies required for maximizing our marine and blue economy potentials in line with the prompting of the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola whose tenacity of purpose culminated in the recent FEC approval of the national policy on Marine and Blue Economy”.
Speaking about the development too, the Vice President of Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited, Bernadine Eloka, described the acquisition of the vessel as a bold solution to the high-risk, road-dominated movement of cargoes within Nigeria. It signifies a strategic move to deepen regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Clarion Group, she stated, aims to offer more efficient intra-African shipping services while opening up new business opportunities across ports in Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and beyond.
“We acquired MV Ocean Dragon to offer a seamless alternative to container haulage by road. Rather than struggling to move containers from Lekki to Onitsha, Port Harcourt, or Calabar by trucks, Ocean Dragon can move up to 349 containers by sea and deliver within two days from port to port,” Eloka said.
According to her, enforcement of the cabotage regime would encourage local investment, create jobs, and reduce Nigeria’s dependency on foreign-owned shipping lines.
Also speaking, Managing Director of Clarion Suncity Terminal Logistics Limited, Mustafa Mohammed, said the company would take aggressive steps to compete with global giants such as Maersk Line and MSC, by leveraging its status as Nigeria’s first indigenous shipping liner, investing in assets that directly support Nigerian exporters and importers, particularly in the landlocked regions.
He said the company had already secured bookings for 1,300 export containers and is helping farmers and manufacturers to avoid losses caused by delays and lack of containers.
This development is coming on the heels of the announcement by the NPA MD of injection of 60 million USD in fresh investments towards the establishment of eco-friendly ports developments catalyzed by the Authority’s renewed orientation towards Nigerian content development.
By Izuchukwu Ozemema
In a development that signposts readiness to maximize the gains derivable from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on 2nd July at 05:05 hours deployed its state-of-the-art marine crafts to berth the first wholly Nigerian-owned container vessel.
The container vessel with International Maritime Organization (IMO) number 9508770 christened MV Ocean Dragon is owned by Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited has a capacity of 349 Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units (TEUs) gives a boost to concerted investment drive geared towards reaping the cost and time saving benefits of short-sea shipping by plying in-country maritime trade routes across Nigeria and the West African sub-region and offers an efficient alternative to road transport as the Authority’s efforts at deepening multi modalism crystallize.
The vessel is scheduled to operate across West Africa and beyond, servicing ports in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Egypt, South Africa and others, with expressions of interest for business already being established.
Responding to the milestone, Managing Director/ CEO of the NPA Abubakar Dantsoho said “this development is a testament to our relentless commitment towards deepening efficiencies required for maximizing our marine and blue economy potentials in line with the prompting of the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola whose tenacity of purpose culminated in the recent FEC approval of the national policy on Marine and Blue Economy”.
On her part, Vice President of Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited, Bernadine Eloka, described the acquisition as a bold solution to the high-risk, road-dominated movement of cargoes within Nigeria and a strategic move to deepen regional trade under the AfCFTA.
She said that the Clarion Group aims to offer more efficient intra-African shipping services while opening up new business opportunities across ports in Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and beyond.
“We acquired MV Ocean Dragon to offer a seamless alternative to container haulage by road. Rather than struggling to move containers from Lekki to Onitsha, Port Harcourt, or Calabar by trucks, Ocean Dragon can move up to 349 containers by sea and deliver within two days from port to port,” Eloka said.
According to her, enforcement of the cabotage regime would encourage local investment, create jobs, and reduce Nigeria’s dependency on foreign-owned shipping lines.
Also, Managing Director of Clarion Suncity Terminal Logistics Limited, Mustafa Mohammed, said the company would take aggressive steps to compete with global giants, such as Maersk Line and MSC, by leveraging its status as Nigeria’s first indigenous shipping liner, investing in assets that directly support Nigerian exporters and importers, particularly in the landlocked regions.
He said the company had already secured bookings for 1,300 export containers, and is helping farmers and manufacturers to avoid losses caused by delays and lack of containers.
This development is coming on the heels of the announcement by the MD NPA Abubakar Dantsoho of fresh injection of 60 million USD in fresh investments towards the establishment of eco-friendly ports developments catalyzed by the Authority’s renewed orientation towards Nigerian content development.
Maritime Agencies
HALF-YEAR REVENUE DISPOSITION: Apapa Customs Hits N1.38Trillion, Confiscates Prohibited Goods Worth Billions.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Following diligent commitment of officers to duty, improved stakeholders’ compliance to legitimate trade and the strategic leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in the first half of 2025, collected ₦1.378 trillion, a remarkable 35% increase in the revenue figure achieved in the corresponding period of 2024.
“We insisted on maximum revenue collection and plugged leakages through effective demand notices,” the Apapa Command Customs Area Controller (CAC) Comptroller Babatunde Olomu announced in Lagos, Thursday, while addressing the press.
The Command, the CAC stated, also recorded several milestones including the first-ever use of the Single Goods Declaration (SGD) through the new B’Odogwu digital platform designed to streamline cargo clearance, reduce congestion and deepen trade facilitation.
In a bid to further modernize operations, he added, the Command is presently collaborating with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and industry stakeholders to revive rail cargo movement from Apapa Port to other parts of the country with the aim to decongest roads and cut logistics costs.
Between January and June, 2025, the Command intercepted 27 containers of contrabands whose combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) stands at ₦9.27 billion. These include unregistered pharmaceuticals, expired food products and codeine syrup.
Others are used clothing, stolen vehicles and wildlife parts imported in violation ofradr the CITES treaty.
”As a standard, we will never compromise the health, well-being, safety of Nigerians on the altar of trade facilitation. Every consignment going through our port undergo diligent check through scanning and physical examination when required.”
”It is pertinent to note that trafficking of wild animals contravenes the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which Nigeria is a signatory to. Equally on the detention list is a container of matches imported without the required End-User Certificate as provided for on our extant laws.”
In his submission, Buba Makawa, Commander, Narcotics, Apapa Command of the NDLEA decried the situation whereby importers of fake pharmaceuticals and other illicit drugs use fake companies and addresses to avoid being detected.
”Most of the drugs being imported are brought in the name of fake companies. We had some cases we are prosecuting at the Federal High Court. We had to use their NIN to trace the perpetrators. If we use the Bill of Laden, it won’t lead anywhere.”
Within the period, three bonded terminals were sealed for various infractions, with one already facing prosecution, the CAC told the maritime press.
“We have demonstrated our capacity, and we shall continue to do more,” Olomu declared.
The Area Controller described intelligence- sharing as “a critical force in defeating criminal networks” and commended other sister agencies who volunteer massive collaboration to enable the Command discharge her duties.
NPA Berths Nigerian-Owned Container Vessel,”MV OCEAN DRAGON,” To Boost Incountry and Regional Trade,
NIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY BERTHS FIRST WHOLLY NIGERIAN-OWNED CONTAINER VESSEL.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoContainer Movement To Seaports: NPA Meets With APM Terminals, Shipping Lines, for Coordination.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoCG Adeniyi Commends Ogun II Command for Massive Revenue Increase.
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Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoPORTBIZNESS Celebrates Excellence in Customer Service Delivery, Holds Special Awards Night
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Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoKebbi Customs Command Introduces Health Screening, Mandatory Sports To Ensure Work-life Balance
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Maritime Agencies2 days agoHALF-YEAR REVENUE DISPOSITION: Apapa Customs Hits N1.38Trillion, Confiscates Prohibited Goods Worth Billions.
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Maritime Agencies18 hours ago
NPA Berths Nigerian-Owned Container Vessel,”MV OCEAN DRAGON,” To Boost Incountry and Regional Trade,
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Maritime Agencies1 day agoNIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY BERTHS FIRST WHOLLY NIGERIAN-OWNED CONTAINER VESSEL.