Maritime

Lawmaker Charges Okrika Speed Boat Drivers On Safety

Published

14 years ago

January 6, 2012

A member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, representing Okrika Constituency, Hon. Belema Okpokiri has enjoined speed boat drivers in Okrika to be safety conscious at all time.

Hon Okpokiri, who made the call during a meeting with a newly formed Okrika marine stakeholders forum in Port Harcourt said this became necessary following the ugly incident that occurred on Christmas Eve which led to the untimely death of a 6–year old boy at the Abuloma Jetty Waterfront.

He said such could be avoided if the driver had been a bit conscious, despite the indiscriminate packing of barges and thug boats, adding that they should always regard safety as their watchword.

According to him, the meeting was conneyed in order to address the issue of indiscriminate parking of barges and thug boats along the Marine Base, Abuloma, Okrika water ways, saying that as stakeholders in Marine Business they should find a lasting solution to ensure that the waterways are not blocked and there is free flow of boats in the area.

The lawmaker decried the attitude of some youths at Abuloma Waterfront and warned them to desist as all necessary machineries are being put in place to make the water ways safer and convenient, calling on the Ministry of Transport, Rivers State, National Inland Waterways and other relevant authorities to ensure the safety of passengers and remove the wrecks as well as smooth speed boat operations along the area.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Okrika Local Government Area, Barr. Tamuno Williams who described the meeting as timely said all hands must be on deck to ensure the safety of all passengers, and sympathised with the family of the young boy that lost his life in a boat mishap at the Abuloma Jetty, stressing that the people of Okrika would not condone such act of lawlessness by the operators of the Jetty.

Barr. Williams however disclosed that the Council had concluded arrangement to site flood lights at the waterfronts of some communities in the area for safety at night and also enjoined the operators of the Abuloma Jetty to do same, while noting that his end of year free transport scheme of December 31, 2011 to January 1, 2012 from Marine Base to Okrika would be extended to other communities in the area this year, and also thanked the lawmaker for his effort.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman, Peoples Democratic party (PDP), Okrika Chapter, Hon. Gilbert Fiberesima, the Chairman, Okrika Speed Boat Owners Association, Chief Opeya Sunday, among others. House, Abuloma, Moses Pina, Sir Dan Harrison, Chairman Marine Equipment Owners/Leasing Association of Nigeria, Abuloma, Elder F.S. Elijah of Fiala Marine Jetty Abuloma, J.E. Job of Adam Marine Services Abuloma among others.

Collins Barasimeye

Maritime

Weak Shipping Line Regulation Undermines Customs Reforms —-Says SEREC

Published

1 week ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) says poor regulation of shipping lines could undermine the credibility of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reforms.

Head of Research SEREC, Dr Eugene Nweke made this Known to Newsmen in Abuja

Nweke said that customs efficiency was linked to the performance of the Nigeria’s maritime and trade ecosystem.

Hr described the NCS as central to the success of the National Single Window (NSW) risk-based clearance and trade facilitation reforms.

“However, Customs efficiency gains are systematically eroded when upstream shipping practices introduce artificial delays, speculative charges, remote cargo release approvals and opaque cost structures”.

“In effect, weak regulation of shipping line conduct externalises inefficiencies into the Customs clearance process, inflates transaction costs, distorts compliance behavior and undermines the credibility of customs-led trade reforms,”

Nweke said that SEREC had submitted a white paper to the government advocating that shipping line governance, port economic regulation, and customs trade administration should be treated as inseparable policy domains.

SEREC said Nigeria’s Port challenges were not only infrastructure-driven but governance-related, warning that weak regulation, missing oversight reports and unchecked discretion in systems like the NSW could undermine reform efforts.

SEREC recommended reforms for Nigeria’s shipping sector, including public release of committee findings, statutory refund timelines with penalties, banning speculative demurrage billing, mandatory local cargo release and alignment of shipping practices with the NSW among others.

Nweke said that the aim of the white paper was to draw attention to sharp practices and regulatory weaknesses that had evolved beyond operational inconveniences into macroeconomic and governance risks.

“For NCS trade reforms to deliver their full impact in 2026 and beyond, shipping practices must align with the same principles guiding Customs modernisation: transparency, predictability, automation, accountability and local control.

Nweke said that by 2026, stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime industry hope to transition from opaque and arbitrary port operations to a transparent, rules-based system managed through digital technology.

He stressed that the shift should align with ongoing reforms and international best practices, facilitated by the government through providing enabling environment and enforcing regulations

“These include predictable costs, enforceable service standards, transparent billing, time-bound cargo release, and institutional accountability particularly as Nigeria advances the National Single Window (NSW), port economic regulation, and revenue optimisation objectives.

“The expectation is not the creation of new laws, but disciplined enforcement of existing instruments, public disclosure of regulatory outcomes, and insulation of regulators from political and commercial capture,” Nweke said.

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Maritime

Tinubu Approve Take Off Of Olokola Deep Seaport In Ogun State

Published

1 week ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate take-off of the Olokola Deep Seaport project in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area

The approval brings to an end years of delay surrounding the multi billion dollar Port.

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun made this Known to Journalists during an interactive session

Governor Abiodun said the Seaport would help decongest Lagos ports, while oil drilling at Tongeji Island would boost economic activities and inclusion in coastal communities.

“The Olokola deep seaport project, which has been on the drawing board for several years, has been revived following a series of meetings with the President”.

“I want to sincerely thank Mr President because this is solely his initiative. In the last two weeks alone, we have held several meetings on Olokola, and he has clearly expressed his desire to see the port become a reality,” he said.

The Governor said the seaport would be known as the Blue Marine Economic Zone, would leverage the coastal road as an alternative logistics corridor and further ease pressure on the Lagos ports.

He commended the Nigerian Navy for establishing a Forward Operations Base at Tongeji Island, saying the move would enhance security and prevent infiltration from neighbouring Benin Republic.

The Governor said that the state government was working to provide basic amenities for residents of the island to improve living conditions and support emerging economic activities.

Abiodun thanked the Navy for its contribution to security in the state, attributing the relative peace in Ogun to collaboration among security agencies.

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Maritime

Gov Eno Vows To Actualise Ibom Deep Seaport Project

Published

1 week ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno says his administration is commitment to deliver the Ibom Deep Seaport project as a critical infrastructure to boost the state’s economy and transform the region.

The Governor said this during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and the Interaf Group Consortium at the Government House, Uyo.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Enobong Uwah, Eno emphasized on the project’s significance.

“The project is a necessity for the people of the state as my administration is fully committed to putting the necessary requirements in place to get it on course,” Eno said.

The Governor urged the consortium to work closely with the Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, AKICORP, and the government’s representatives to ensure its timely execution.

He commended the organisation for its interest in ensuring the actualisation of the project

The Governor thanked the former Petroleum Minister, Mr Don Etiebet, for being a part of the team, and for working toward the actualisation of the facility.

Earlier,Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Interaf Group Consortium, Mr Ezinwa Ibekwe commended the government for the confidence reposed in the company.

Ibekwe assured the government of the consortium’s readiness to deliver on its mandate, promising a collaborative approach to ensure the project’s success.

By: CHINEDU WOSU