Business

Why African Nations Must Explore Deep-seabed Minerals

Published

16 years ago

December 28, 2009

Statistics have revealed that African Coastal states have actually not taken any remarkable steps (s) towards realising the benefits derivable from the abundant potential of marine mineral resources which include noduiles sulptrides, phosphorites and cobalt rich ferromanganese crust within the area of national jurisdiction, even in area between states bordering the south Atlantic ocean.

This to some extend have become a source of concern to maritime experts, and of course notable authorities that are interested in African countries waking up to exploit as well as benefit in the abundance of mineral resources in the deep sea marine environment.

As part of this efforts to encourage African nations to explore the deep seabed mineral resources, the Secretary General of the international Seabed Authority (ISA) His Excellency, Nii Allotey Odunton has been scheduled to address the next Heads of State Meeting of the African union on the marine mineral resources and the need for the region to be actively engaged in the exploration and exploitation of the deep seabed mineral resources in the area.

The move was as a result of recommendation put forward by participants at an international sensitisation seminar on the works of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Abuja.

ISA Secretary General read the decisions and the 12 point recommendation reached at the seminar, and also announced that Africa member states of ISA should facilitate the immediate development of Intra-African and International cooperation to promote as well as develop marine exploration and exploitation.

Several players in the transport and indeed the maritime sub-sector have expressed the need for African countries to actually wake up to the challenge of exploiting the deep seabed mineral potentials, even though it has lagged behind in the past.

The Nigerians transport minister, Alhaji Ibrahim Isa Bio has opined that the inability of African countries and indeed government to explore the vast resources has contributed to underdevelopment of the region over the years, and has urged scientist to join other countries in exploring the seabed recourses, and also assured of governments readiness to support ISA towards ensuring that deep sea exploration mining licenses in the area are issued as soon as possible.

The minister stated “it is a known fact that in spite of all the challenges facing Africa, it is richly endowed on land and sea. That these natural resources have remained largely untapped is a great source of concern and part of the reasons for Africa’s underdevelopment.”

Also, the Nigeria’s permanent representative at the ISA, Ambassador Peter Oyedele has noted that the advances made in technological development in recent times, that mining of the nodules deposit in deep seabed will soon became a commercial reality and that African continent can not afford to be left out in this regards.

It is on record that the United Nations (UN) General assembly in 1970, adopted a resolution declaring the resources of the seabed and ocean floor beyond the limits of national jurisdiction to be “common heritage of mankind” for which no state or person could rightfully claim.

The time has now ripen for Nigerian Scientists, and indeed other scientist in African region to showcase their skills and ingenuity in exploring and exploiting the rich deep seabed mineral resources for the development of the region.

Going by the UN resolution of 1970, no nation can make claim to ownership of the seabed. It is our common wealth, and African should partake in the deal.

Corlins Walter

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members In Brass Water

Published

1 day ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways

The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and members of his church were in a programme.

?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet to be recovered

as search party are still ongoing.

Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report, our Correspondent gathered that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.

The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit

The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s on the sad accident

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

1 day ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Council of Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.

Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, recently.

Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.

He noted that the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.

According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.

He also informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.

“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.

Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.

The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.

He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.

The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.

He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.

Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.

By: King Onunwor

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

6 days ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.

Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.

“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.

The minister noted the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.

According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.

Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.

He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.

“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.

“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.

Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.

“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.

“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.

She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.

Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).

“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.

“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.