Maritime
Ogbe Urges Nigerian Coys To Seek Deep Water Opportunities
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Ogbe, has urged leading Nigerian oil and gas service providers to channel their expertise into the deep water segment of the industry, where significant opportunities are opening up.
Ogbe made the call during an Inspection Tour of West African Ventures Nigeria Limited’s fabrication yard, machine shop, and jetties at the Federal Ocean Terminal in Onne, Rivers State.
The NCDMB boss said the firm and other established indigenous companies must look beyond traditional onshore and shallow-water operations and position themselves for the deep water space, where global oil majors are steadily moving their activities.
In a statement signed by the General Manager, Corporate Communications, NCDMB, Obinna Ezeobi, Ogbe commended not just WAV’s facilities but its long-standing contributions to the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
He described the company as a model of local capacity and proof that indigenous players are ready for more complex assignments in offshore projects.
“You have worked hard; you are a very good company,” Ogbe said, recalling his days as construction manager at Chevron Nigeria Limited when he awarded WAV its first offshore pipe-laying contract, a project he confirmed was executed satisfactorily.
According to him, the infrastructure he saw at WAV’s Onne base underscores its ability to handle world-class projects.
“You have worked hard and you are a very good company. What I have seen today is an eye-opener. You have a 50mm rolling mill; you have ocean-going vessels; you have a good fabrication yard; load-out equipment like the JASCON 8; and a crane with a 160-ton capacity. With these, WAV should participate more actively in offshore and deepwater operations, because all the big players are moving there,” he stated.
Ogbe emphasised that all contracts in the oil and gas industry are awarded through competitive bidding.
He reaffirmed the NCDMB’s commitment to transparency and professionalism, stressing that Nigerian firms have the technical depth and operational experience to compete effectively with international contractors in the deepwater domain.
The NCDMB boss assured WAV that the board would continue to promote indigenous companies with proven expertise, especially as Nigeria looks to increase local participation in high-value deepwater operations adding that firms like WAV, which have built capacity over decades, are strategically positioned to play bigger roles as the industry evolves.
Responding, WAV’s Managing Director, Michael Amaeshike, highlighted the company’s more than four decades of operations as a strong showcase of Nigerian capacity in oil and gas services. He noted that WAV had not only delivered critical projects but had also shaped the careers of countless professionals across engineering, maritime, procurement, and construction.
“West African Ventures has consistently portrayed local content the way it should be,” Amaeshike stated, pointing out that the company recently completed a major infrastructure project for a marginal field operator, further underlining its ability to deliver on complex industry demands.
WAV’s Fabrication Manager, Chimeziri Onwukwe, provided a technical overview of the firm’s operations, which span fabrication of platforms, jackets, modules, tanks, and other essential oil and gas structures. He added that WAV’s integrated operations are supported by advanced pipe profiling and plate-cutting machines, alongside an offshore base that provides logistics and marine load-out services.
Onwukwe, however, lamented that despite the company’s huge investments and consistent track record, patronage from operators in the industry has been relatively low.
He called on the NCDMB to help create greater awareness of WAV’s capabilities so that the firm can attract more projects.
By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu
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The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has reaffirmed strong positions towards maintaining non partisan stance ahead of the 2027 general elections .
The President General of MWUN, Comrade Francis Bunu disclosed this while welcoming executives from the Transporters for Tinubu 2027 Political Support Group at its headquarters on 119 Osho Drive, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos,
The union boss underscored MWUN role as a neutral player in national development.
According to a statement signed by Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, Head of Media for MWUN, the union’s President-General, hosted the visitors who outlined their initiative.
Comrade Bunu expressed gratitude for the recognition, affirming the union’s support for any efforts promoting progress, unity, and development in Nigeria.
He emphasized, however, that MWUN remains strictly non-partisan, committed solely to good governance and strategic initiatives that elevate the nation regardless of political affiliation.
This engagement highlights MWUN’s frontline position in labor and transport while reinforcing its impartial dedication to the country’s advancement.
The group aims to foster collaboration among government, transport operators, private entities, and grassroots stakeholders to boost national mobility, economic growth, and sectoral reforms.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
The Chief Executive Officer of Maritime Media Limited and Convener of the Maritime Industry Merit Awards (MIMA), Elder Asu Beks, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to concession the abandoned floating dockyard owned by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), describing the asset as a “national embarrassment” after more than a decade of neglect.
Speaking during a live interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, Asu Beks said the floating dock, valued at about N50 billion, was originally planned to be deployed at Okerenkoko in Delta State to support training activities at the Nigerian Maritime University.
According to him, the asset has remained largely unused since its acquisition in 2016, moving between different facilities including the Naval Dockyard Limited, Continental Shipyard Limited and most recently Snake Island in Lagos without being fully operational.
Beks said the prolonged inactivity of the dockyard represents a huge financial loss to the country, especially as government continues to incur costs in maintaining the facility.
“Why should Nigeria allow an asset worth about N50 billion to waste away for over 10 years?” he asked.
He urged the Federal Government to urgently concession the facility to a credible Nigerian private company capable of restoring it to full operational capacity.
Beks specifically suggested Tantita Security Services Limited as a possible operator, citing the company’s track record in oil pipeline and maritime security operations in the Niger Delta.
“With the operational network and technical capacity of companies like Tantita, this abandoned asset can be transformed into a profitable national facility,” he said.
The maritime stakeholder also criticised past leadership in the sector for failing to address the situation, particularly during the tenure of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who served for eight years.
According to Beks, the continued neglect of the floating dockyard raises serious questions about asset management in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
He also questioned why successive leadership of NIMASA including former Director-Generals Dakuku Peterside and Bashir Jamoh did not resolve the issue during their time in office.
Beks urged the current Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, to take decisive action and change the narrative by ensuring the asset becomes productive.
He argued that reviving the dockyard would provide significant economic value to the country, particularly by strengthening ship repair capacity and supporting maritime training.
Beks further noted that issues such as the operationalisation of the floating dockyard and economic regulation in the shipping sector remain far more critical to the industry than symbolic achievements.
He stressed that Nigeria must prioritise the effective utilisation of strategic maritime assets to drive economic growth and reduce dependence on foreigners
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Clearing agents operating at the nation’s ports have criticized the Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA) over it’s silence regarding unprocessed operational licenses.
The agents warned that the situation could disrupt cargo clearance activities across the ports if urgent action is not taken.
Speaking during a media briefing, the National Public Relations Officer of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr. Emmanuel Onyeme called out spokesperson of the NPA, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, over alleged failure to respond to calls and messages from stakeholders.
Onyeme said dozens of freight agents who submitted applications for the NPA’s Clearing & Forwarding License operational clearance for PortPASS- an authority to do business with shipping companies have not received any response for more than two weeks
According to Onyeme, the approval from the NPA is a crucial requirement that allows freight agents to gain access to the ports and transact business with shipping companies and terminal operators after securing their licences from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
“Without the Clearing & Forwarding License issued by the NPA, freight agents can not access the ports or engage shipping companies and terminal operators for cargo releases . It is a critical operational requirement,” Onyeme said.
He disclosed that the approval process, which was previously handled at NPA offices within the seaports, has recently been centralised at the authority’s headquarters, forcing agents to submit their documents directly to the office of the Managing Director.
However, Onyeme noted that many of the applications have remained unattended to it.
“As we speak, several freight agents have submitted their documents to the Managing Director’s office, and these applications have been lying there for more than two weeks without any form of response,” he said.
He warned that the silence from the authority is already creating anxiety within the freight forwarding community, especially as many shipping companies and terminal operators have indicated that from April 1, 2026, previously issued NPA Licence approvals will no longer be recognised.
Onyeme further expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the NPA’s spokesman, alleging that repeated attempts by stakeholders to reach him have been unsuccessful.
“The situation is worrisome because there is absolutely no feedback. Calls and text messages sent to the NPA spokesperson have not been responded to, leaving Custom Brokers and freight forwarders agents in the dark over the fate of their applications,” he said.
According to him, the delay could prevent many licensed customs agents from accessing the ports or engaging shipping companies, thereby affecting cargo clearance and port-related businesses.
He therefore called on the management of the NPA to urgently intervene and ensure that the pending approvals are processed without further delay.
“Even if the Managing Director is out of the country or unavailable, there should be a system that allows someone else to handle such important operational matters promptly,” Onyeme added.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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