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Sea Pirates Cause Lull In Marine Transport – Chairman

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11 years ago

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There has been a lull in
Marine transportation business due to the activities and incessant attacks by sea pirates along the sea routes and creeks of Bonny, Kula in Rivers State and Brass, Nembe, Ayatoru in neighbouring Bayelsa State.
The Chairman, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Nembe waterfront unit, Comrade David Teke dropped the hint in a chat with The Tide correspondent in his office in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Teke said passengers and even the drivers of the speedboats plying these riverine communities are always scared of being attacked, as anytime these hoodlums strike, they made away with the speed boat, properties of the passengers after disembarking them at the mangrove, while some whom they perceived as known faces were shot dead or maimed.
He said the situation had been worrisome as a result of no security gun boats along these waterways.
According to him, it would have been worst if the earlier scheduled tomorrow’s election would have taken place as most of the speedboat operators were ready to decline conveying election personnel or materials to the riverine communities for fear of being attacked by the sea pirates or political thugs.
“Although, we are going to vote for the candidate of our choice on that day, but we cannot guarantee providing speedboats for electoral exercise, except adequate security arrangement was made by the authorities and our safety assured”, Teke opined.
The Nembe unit marine transport boss disclosed that in January this year,  there was an attack at kilometer 60, but the smart driver was able to meander his boat into another creek where he now called for rescue team from the base here at Nembe waterfront that went and brought them to Port Harcourt.
He disclosed that as they were coming with the displaced passengers and the boat, the sea pirates attacked them again but fortunately, no life or property was lost as they could not succeed.
The Comrade however, also hinted that one of their speedboats that was snatched away by sea pirates last year was recovered at Abonnema, and the culprits nabbed but later released by the Joint Taskforce without proper investigations.
According to him, the speedboat was later brought to Nembe waterfront and the case reported to the Police in Nembe, Bayelsa State and later transferred to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS in Rivers State for proper action.
“My plea with the government is that they should provide adequate security operatives of the Marine Police and the Navy and equip them with sophisticated weapons to face the fire power of these bad boys,” he posited.

 

Collins Barasimeye

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Maritime

Weak Shipping Line Regulation Undermines Customs Reforms —-Says SEREC

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2 weeks ago

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January 28, 2026

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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
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Maritime

Tinubu Approve Take Off Of Olokola Deep Seaport In Ogun State

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2 weeks ago

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January 28, 2026

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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
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Maritime

Gov Eno Vows To Actualise Ibom Deep Seaport Project 

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2 weeks ago

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January 28, 2026

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 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
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