Business
Nimasa Strategises Against Marine Environment Pollution
The Director-General, Nige
rian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA), Mr Ziakede Akpobolokemi, has said that the agency was opposed to all forms of pollution to the marine environment.
He made the declaration at his office in Lagos, when members of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) paid him a courtesy visit.
Mr Akpobolokemi said the agency’s dedication to protecting the marine environment made it to push for the maritime protection laws to be gazetted.
“A few days ago, we were at the National Assembly over pollution-related issues because we are very opposed to any form of pollution.
“We do not want to tolerate pollution. Our life is the ecosystem and the ecosystem is our life.
“We have a mandate to protect the marine environment. That was why we did everything we could to get our marine protection laws and deregulation gazetted.
“The laws are targetted against pollution that emanates from ships, shipping activities and other pollution to the marine environment.”
He said that the agency was winning the war against piracy, in collaboration with the security agencies.
“Definitely, we are winning the war against piracy, but in collaboration with the security agencies, especially the Navy.
“We have been able to chase pirates out of our territory and it is no longer safe for them.
“They are going out, so it is left for us to go ahead and collaborate with our sister-countries,” he said.
The NIMASA chief said the agency had sent out marine notices to all indigenous vessel owners, warning them not be involved in any way in the act of piracy.
“We have sent marine notices informing all indigenous vessel owners that if any vessel is involved in piracy, such vessel will be impounded.
“The person or group of persons or the company is going to face the full weight of the law. It has sent a strong signal and piracy has reduced,” he stressed.
On the Cabotage Act, the DG said that there was need for an amendment to enable Nigerians meet the requirement.
“We need the laws to be amended. We have approached the National Assembly and I believe they will do something about it.
“Because the law says the vessels must be owned by Nigerians; you say it should be built in Nigeria, but where are the shipyards?”
Our correspondent reports that in 2003, the Cabotage Act of 2003 was introduced in the maritime sector and was aimed at preserving Nigerian coastal shipping areas for local maritime companies.
He said that even as a shipyard was being established, there was need for liberalisation of the industry to enable people come in and build shipyards and dockyards.
The NIMASA chief executive said the need to have Nigerians man such ships that would be built in Nigeria, informed the training of Seafarers under the capacity-building programme.
He added that the agency had continued to ensure that Nigerians got onboard vessels to work, where they had the capacity to do so.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its anti-smuggling operations in Nigeria’s northeastern corridor, intercepting Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and vehicles with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N63 million.
This success was recorded through Operation Whirlwind, a targeted enforcement drive against the smuggling of PMS outside Nigeria.
Disclosing the seizure in a statement at the Customs House in Yola, the Adamawa State Capital, last Friday, the National Coordinator of the operation, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG), Hussein Ejibunu, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the outcome as a clear result of intelligence-led and coordinated enforcement within Zone ‘D’.
He disclosed that 1,959 jerry cans, amounting to nearly 49,000 litres of PMS, were intercepted along with five vehicles used in their conveyance.
The seizures were made along well-known smuggling routes, including Dasin-Fufore, Belel-Farang, Mubi-Sahuda, Maiha, and Girei-Wuro Bokki.
“Smugglers fled upon sighting Customs operatives, abandoning their illicit consignments in their desperate bid to evade arrest”, ACG Ejibunu said.
He added that the operation aligns with the Federal Government’s broader economic protection goals under the guidance of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
He emphasised that dismantling illegal fuel supply chains curbs scarcity, stabilises market prices, and strengthens national security.
“This is our contribution to safeguarding national resources and fostering economic resilience”, he said.
In line with Section 245 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, the flammable petroleum products will be auctioned immediately, and the proceeds will be paid into the Federation Account.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Towards advancing President Bola Tinubu’s vision of achieving a $1trillion economy, the Minister of State for Industry, John Owan, has emphasised the strategic importance of Nigeria’s sugar sector.
A statement obtained by The Tide’s source said Enoh stated this during a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Industry, held as part of efforts to amend the Establishment Act of the National Sugar Development Council.
The Minister, while addressing stakeholders, shared insights from a recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which disclosed President Tinubu’s recognition of the potential in the sugar sector.
He said, “about two weeks ago, the President spoke about sugar at the FEC meeting.
“That in itself reflects the importance of sugar as a strategic industrial and domestic product that no country should take lightly, and Nigeria should be no exception.
“The sugar sector has a significant role to play in the President’s commitment to a $1 trillion economy.
“Our approach must ensure it contributes effectively to job creation and rural economic development.”
Commenting on it, the Executive Secretary of the NSDC, Mr. Kamar Bakrin, said full implementation of the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan could save the nation over $1 billion in foreign exchange annually.
The NSDC scribe noted the plan’s potential to drive employment, attract large-scale investment, and stimulate rural development.
Bakrin explained that the proposed legislative amendments aim to redefine the council’s powers and align its financial structure with the 1999 Constitution.
Stressing the necessity of robust investor confidence to realise the NSMP’s vision, Bakrin said “We require about $4.5 billion in investments to fully achieve the NSMP’s objectives.
“Investor confidence is therefore crucial, and this can only be attained through transparent and rule-based policies.”
He, however, expressed concern over a recent government directive mandating that 50 per cent of the sugar levy be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund, warning that such a move could undermine sectoral progress.
“The sugar levy was not intended as a general revenue-generating mechanism but as a dedicated fund to support the sector’s growth.
“Redirecting it threatens to defeat its original purpose”, Bakrin stated.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, represented by Iba Edward, acknowledged the bill’s intent but cautioned against regulatory overlaps.
She said, “Some proposed provisions encroach on NAFDAC’s core responsibilities under Section 5 of our Act. We urge lawmakers to clearly define roles to avoid duplication”.
A former Minister, Aliyu Idi Hong, who represented BUA Group, highlighted the company’s commitment to sugar development, citing a 50,000-hectare plantation, with 20,000 hectares currently under cultivation.
He stressed the importance of policy stability to sustain investor interest.
Speaking, the Head of Government and Community Relations at Flour Mills of Nigeria, owners of the Golden Sugar Company in Sunti, Niger State, Mr. Onome Okurah, shared ongoing efforts to boost local production.
He noted that GSC cultivates over 6,000 hectares and currently sustains sugar production for four months each year.
“With stronger partnerships, we expect tangible results in the coming years”, he stated.
On his part, Chairman of the House Committee, Enitan Dolapo Badru, assured all stakeholders that the amendment process would be inclusive and aimed at empowering the NSDC to fulfil its mandate effectively.
Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has been awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Jonathan was bestowed the award at the maiden edition of the “Champions of Nigerian Content Awards”,recently, as part of events for the 5th edition of the NCDMB’S Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunities Fair (NOGOF), which took place at the content tower, headquarters of the Board in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Receiving the award, the ex-President commended the management and staff of the Board for the milestones achieved by the Board in the implementation of the Nigerian Content in the Oil and Gas industry.
He noted that prior to the enactment of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Development Act (NOGIC-D Act), there were no better laws regulating operations in the hydrocarbon industry in the nation, save for a few that post- existed the discovery of oil in commercial quantity in the Niger Delta region.
The ex-Nigerian leader also lauded former Senator Lee Maeba of Rivers State, who he said sponsored the NOGIC-D Act as a private member bill, noting that the Nigerian National Assembly then was made up of people of integrity and honesty.
“Before the NOGIC-D Act was enacted by the Nigerian National Assembly when I was President, there wasn’t any good law guiding the operations in the oil and gas industry in this nation.
“As Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State under the late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha’s administration, I led a state business delegation to China to understudy certain things in that nation, especially the oil industry.
“So, when we came back, Alamieyeseigha asked me to interface with President Obasanjo, the then President. I met him in the State House and discussed our findings with him, but there wasn’t any enabling law to save the situation.
“As God may have it, in 2010 when I became Acting President, the bill, which established the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, was sponsored as a private member bill by Senator Lee Maeba and upon its passage, I hurriedly, but meticulously assented to it to create the NCDMB.
“I’m happy with the milestone achievements of the NCDMB under various Executive Secretaries. The Board is doing tremendously well. I’m happy to hear that the Board has implemented the Local Content policy to about 56 percent”, he said.
The Tide reports that some firms and other individual stakeholders in the oil and gas industry also received awards in various categories.
They include, Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company, which received the award of the “Nigerian Content Downstream Operator of the year”, Dorman Long Engineering Limited, was awarded the “Nigerian Content Indigenous Service Company of the year”, while TechnipFMC clinched the “Nigerian Content International Service Company of the year” award.
Others are: This Day Newspapers, which received the award of the “Nigerian Content Media Organisation of the year”; Bank of Industry (BOI), which got the award of the “Nigerian Content Financial Service Provider of the year”; the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) took the “Nigerian Content Midstream Operator of the year” award; Aradel Holdings Plc clinched the “Nigerian Content Independent Upstream Operator of the year” award; while Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), now Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd., was given the “Nigerian Content International Upstream Operator of the year” award.
In other categories, Mr. Tony Attah of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd, won the “Nigerian Content Icon of the year” award; Professor Emenike of the University of Nigeria (UNN) clinched the “Nigerian Content Innovator of the year” award; while Mrs. Iroghama Ogbeifun of Starzs Gas Ltd. won the “Nigerian Content Women in Leadership” award for promoting Women Empowerment in the oil and gas industry.
Earlier in their separate remarks, the duo of the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatshola-Ogbe, and the Chairman of the NCDMB award advisory committee, one time Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Ernest Nwapa, underscored the need for the award.
The NCDMB’S Scribe, Ogbe, who reiterated his desire to improve on the gains of the Board, promised a continued implementation of the NOGIC-D Act within its guidelines, saying the new Presidential executive orders has also strengthened the Board under his stewardship.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa