Maritime

FG Assures On Intensifying Diaspora Investment

Published

2 months ago

July 28, 2025

Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has assured that his administration would ramp up efforts to create the enabling environment that would attract more investments from Nigerians in Diaspora and harness their immense talents, skills, expertise, innovation and contacts for national development.
He gave this assurance in his remarks as the special guest of honour at the opening of the 2025 National Diaspora Day (NDD) organised by the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) with the theme, “Optimizing Formidable Diaspora Potential For National Development and Growth”, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Friday.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, the President acknowledged the enormous contributions of the NIDCOM in terms of remittances, which hit $20.9 billion by 2024 with the promise of more remittances in the years ahead.
“We will continue to provide an enabling platform for effective policies for the Diaspora with the view to galvanizing your support for this administration and concretizing our democracy, optimizing your potential and setting a good example for other African countries to emulate”, he said.
The President commended the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the management and staff of NiDCOM for their dynamic initiatives, activities and engagements with the Diaspora community, especially in the creation of laudable programmes for Nigerians in Diaspora to invest back home.
“Let me also state that we will look into the Challenges NiDCOM has enumerated with a view to ameliorating the same so that we can maximize the benefits of migration through the engagements with our Diaspora for national development and growth”, the President said.
The highpoint of the occasion was the unveiling of the “Diaspora Home and Abroad Housing Platform”, which will help facilitate easy access to affordable homes.
In her remarks, Hon. Dabiri-Erewa noted that since the establishment of the commission over six years ago, it has vigorously pursued policies and programmes that have given the nation uplift and encouraged Nigerians in the Diaspora to make more investments in the country that are yielding results in different sectors of Nigerian lives.
These programmes include the National Diaspora Day Celebration held annually on 25th and 26th of July and 2025 is the 7th edition. It is an event to celebrate over 20 million Nigerians in the Diaspora and the varied contributions they have made in diverse fields.
NIDCOM initiated the National Diaspora Merit Award to honour those individuals and associations who have contributed to the development of Nigeria and their host country.
It also has the Badagry Door of Return Festival to commemorate the Nigerian descendants from slave trade era and the significance of the ancient Badagry during the period
Other initiatives include: The Diaspora Mortgage scheme, the Diaspora Investment Fund, and the Diaspora Housing Scheme.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Aniekan Bassey, in his remarks emphasized that Nigeria is a veritable home for investment, stressing that it has become necessary for job creation and skill development among the youth.
In her goodwill message, Isabelle Wolfsgruber from the Head Office, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Abuja, said the event is not just a celebration, but a call to action and a recognition that the Nigerian diaspora, among the most dynamic, educated, and resourceful globally, holds boundless untapped potential to contribute meaningfully to national development.
She assured that the ICMPD will partner more with NIDCOM to ensure inclusive migration governance that fully integrates diaspora contributions to national development.
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Maritime

Lagos Ready For International Boat Race–LASWA

Published

9 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The Lagos State Government says it is fully prepared to host the forthcoming international boat race, assuring participants and residents of adequate safety on waterways.

The General Manager, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Emmanuel Oluwadamilola, while speaking to Newsmen, at the Weekend, said the state had over the years invested heavily in safety infrastructure to secure its waterways.

Oluwadamilola explained that Lagos had consistently enhanced facilities, making it the safest state for water transportation in Nigeria, with all necessary safety infrastructure in place.

He said patrol boats had been deployed, while collaboration with the Marine Police and the Nigerian Navy would ensure effective surveillance across the waterways.

He added that Lagos now operated a control room using advanced technology to monitor waterways, describing it as the best time to host such an event.

According to him, the government had also undertaken shoreline cleaning, provided security boats, and designated docking zones for vessels participating in the competition.

“We are delighted this race can now happen in Lagos, proving the state’s readiness and capacity to successfully host such an international event,” he said

Maritime

NCS Sensitises Stakeholders On Automated Overtime Cargo Clearance System

Published

9 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has sensitised stakeholders in Zones B and D ob the newly introduced Automated Overtime Cargo Clearance and Disposal System.

The sensitisation, held at the Customs Training College, Goron Dutse, Kano, at the Weekend, was themed ‘Driving Transparency, Efficiency and Accountability in Cargo Clearance’.

Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the initiative was designed to deliver an efficient, transparent, and technology-driven process for managing overtime cargo clearance and disposal.

Represented by the Controller in charge of Post Clearance Audit Zone B, Mrs Deborah Adeyemi, Adeniyi said the system would address congestion, paperwork, bottlenecks, abandoned cargo and delays in clearance processes that had slowed economic activity.

“This initiative marks a turning point in our operations.

“With the Automated Overtime Cargo Clearance and Disposal System, we are demonstrating that Customs can be both a facilitator of trade and a guarantor of integrity,” the CGC said.

Adeniyi explained that the platform would enable the stakeholders, including consignees, customs brokers, terminal operators, and customs officers, to apply, track and receive approvals online without physical contact.

He said the system was backed by the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which provides the legal framework for electronic processes, overtime cargo timelines and disposal consignments after 120 days, with provisions for condemnation, auction or other disposal methods.

The Custom’s boss listed the benefits to include transparency through time-stamped actions, accountability through strict timelines, efficiency in terminal operations and data integrity with all documents integrated on Customs servers.

He urged stakeholders across the commands in Kano/Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger and Kogi to familiarise themselves with the process, train their teams and constructively engage with Customs officers for effective implementation.

“The Nigeria Customs Service is not merely automating a process, we are transforming a culture.

“Delay, opacity and congestion are being replaced with efficiency, transparency and accountability,” the CGC said.

In his remarks, the Customs Area Controller, Kano/Jigawa Command, Mr Dalhatu Abubakar, assured the stakeholders that the command was committed to eliminating overtime cargo.

“As terminal operators, with proper sensitisation and capacity building, we have no reason to admit cargo as overtime in Kano.

“I urge you to take this opportunity seriously to achieve that,” he said.

Also speaking, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Headquarters, A. A Abdulkadir, explained that the system was not new but a digital transformation of the manual overtime cargo clearance process, which comes with added simplicity and efficiency.

The Chairman, Clearing Agents Association, Kano, Alhaji Hafiz Rilwan, on behalf of the stakeholders, commended the CGC for the initiative and pledged to support its implementation through wider sensitisation.

Maritime

Minister Tasks Academy On Thorough-Bred Professionals

Published

9 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has charged the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) to remain committed towards producing thorough-bred professionals for the maritime industry.

Oyetola gave the charge at the 2025 third quarter Citizens’ and Stakeholders’ Engagement of the Institution, in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, with the theme ‘Implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy for Onboard Training of Nigerian Merchants Navy Cadets and the Critical Needs of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria’.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Research, Planning and Statistics, MAN, Joshua Ayebameru, the minister urged the authorities of the institution not to compromise standards.

Oyetola said “Over the years, the academy has trained qualified personnel for the maritime industry. The academy remains a cornerstone institution in the maritime sector.

“Through its programmes, training, and commitment to excellence, the academy continues to produce the manpower required to keep the sector vibrant and competitive”.

Oyetola further stated that the engagement was to enable stakeholders brainstorm on how to advance Nigeria’s marine and blue economy through collaborations, training and innovation.

He insisted that seafarers, cadets, and other maritime professionals from the institution must be well-equipped to compete globally and to drive the growth and sustenance of the sector.

The minister called for stakeholders collaboration towards developing the maritime sector, saying, “the future of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy depends on all of us”

In his remarks, the Chairman of MAN’s Governing Council, Kehinde Akinola, said that the council had developed a comprehensive five-year strategic development plan for the academy.

Akinola said that the plan, when approved, would accelerate institutional reforms, enhance training standards, deepen industry linkages, and reposition the academy for greater efficiency.

He said that the governing council was partnering shipowners and operators to secure practical training for the cadets.

“It is an obligation because we must prepare our cadets to meet international standards,” he said.

Earlier, Dr Kevin Okonna, the Acting Rector of the academy, Dr Kevin Okonna, noted that the academy, within the past 10 months, had been repositioned to enhance teaching and learning.

Okonna said that the institution had been collaborating with maritime professional associations and the academy’s alumni to facilitate the employment of more maritime professionals.

“We have employed about seven marine professional lecturers to enhance cadets teaching and learning.

“We have also obtained the commitment of shipowners and their associations to provide onboard training opportunities for our cadets,” he said.