Maritime
Maritime Academy To Train 4,775 Seafarers, Dockworkers
The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, says it will train 4,775 Seafarers and Dockworkers for the nation’s maritime sector by 2024.
The Tide’s source reports that the Seafarers engaged in various simulator-based short courses, such as Ship Manoeuvring Simulator & Bridge Teamwork (SMSBT), Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), General Operators Certificate (GOC) Course, Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), Radar Navigation, Radar Plotting and Use of ARPA (RADAR/ARPA), and Liquid Cargo & Ballast Handling Simulator (LCBHS).
Others are the Engine Room Watchkeeping Preparatory Course(ERWPC), the Bridge Watch-Keeping Preparatory Course (BWPC), the Engine Room Simulator, the High Voltage Course (HV), the Auxiliary Engine Familiarisation Course(AEFC) and the Boiler Familiarisation Course(BFC).
Speaking during a two-day Management Retreat and Ministerial Handholding Session for Performance Management System (PMS) and the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) held in thr Academy recently, the Acting Rector of the Academy, Dr Kevin Okonna, said the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy had helping the Academy secure positive responses from shipping companies and associations, for onboard training opportunities for Cadets of the Academy.
According to Okonna, the academy has increased its staff capacity-building drive to promote expertise and improve standards.
“The academy in 2024 trained 4,775 Seafarers and Dockworkers, provided laptops and desktops to more Staff to improve productivity, increased staff capacity building drive to promote expertise and improve standards, implementation of the PMS of the Federal Government to encourage accountability, amongst others.
“Also, the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy played a vital role in helping the Academy secure positive responses from shipping companies and associations, for onboard training opportunities for Cadets of the Academy”, he noted.
On maintenance of standards of safety courses on offer in the Academy, the Acting Rector said that the Academy is effectively collaborating with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), adding that the Academy would soon be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central Africa Region, in respect to a course developed by the Academy for the Abuja MOU to enhance deliverables in the sub-region.
He also stated that Management has taken necessary steps to register the Nautical Science Cadets with the Institute of Nautical Studies, the Engineering Cadets with the Institute of Marine Engineers, Science and Technologists (IMarEST), and the maritime transport cadets with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Nigeria.
According to him, this is targeted towards ensuring that all Cadets of the Academy derive tremendous benefits from membership in these professional bodies.
He also promised to deploy the required resources towards fully deploying the ECMS in the Academy.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has lauded Dr. Okonna for his commitment towards effectively implementing the Performance Management System (PMS) reform of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the institution.
Oyetola, who was represented by the director of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Hajia Ibrahim Kalthum, noted that the Retreat was aimed at driving a successful implementation of the PMS and ECMS in the Academy.
According to Oyetola, the ministry embarked on two key reforms to strengthen performance, promote accountability, and accelerate digital transformation across all its agencies.
“The Maritime Academy of Nigeria, as Nigeria’s foremost maritime education and training institution, must lead by example in embracing these reforms, and the Ministry is glad that the Academy is taking these key reforms seriously,” Oyetola added.
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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
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
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