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Just IN : Renewed Hope Agenda, Tinubu Turning maritime industry becomes a key driver of economic growth and sustainable development, Says Oyetola
The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration has put all necessary efforts, policies, and strategies in place to ensure that the nation’s maritime sectors becomes a key driver of economic growth and sustainable development.
This was in Lagos yesterday, by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
Addressing stakeholders at the World Maritime Day 2024 in Lagos, Oyetola said that his ministry, “in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is taking proactive measures to enhance the maritime sector by embracing emerging technologies and fostering innovation to drive economic growth.
Key among the initiatives taken by the ministry, Oyetola said, “Is digitalisation and automation of port operations to enhance safety, security, and efficiency as well as a performance optimisation to reduce costs and increase reliability, and the adoption of innovative practices to propel our industry towards sustainable development.”
Oyetola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Michael Oloruntola said the federal government is making significant strides in the nation’s maritime industry to boost the economy
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the minister added, is also “investing heavily in port modernisation to reduce inefficiencies, lower operational costs, and improve safety in our ports. This process is being financed through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) arrangements.”
The theme of the event is: Navigating the Future, Safety First
The President Tinubu administration, Oyetola added, “Is investing in upgrading our facilities and building capacity to ensure Nigeria remains competitive in the global arena of seaborne trade.”
The Minister said further that, “the theme emphasises the International Maritime Organisation’s dedication to enhancing maritime safety, security, and environmental protection, while also encouraging innovation and technological advancement. This theme presents us with an opportunity to reflect on the strides Nigeria has made in developing its maritime sector, positioning it as a key driver of our national economic growth.
“As we embrace this moment, we must re-examine the safety and security challenges that confront our maritime sector, particularly in the context of new technologies and alternative fuels that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from ships. To safeguard both shipping safety and operational efficiency, we must invest in upgrading our facilities and building capacity to ensure Nigeria remains competitive in the global arena of seaborne trade.
The year 2024, Oyetola said, “Marks a significant milestone, which is the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, a crucial International Maritime Organization (IMO) treaty regulating maritime safety. Since the IMO’s founding in 1948, safety has been at the forefront of its mission. Nigeria has consistently worked to align its regulatory framework with IMO standards and other international maritime regulations, reinforcing our commitment to upholding the highest standards of maritime safety.
“Ladies and gentlemen, in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Federal Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy is taking proactive measures to enhance the maritime sector by embracing emerging technologies and fostering innovation to drive growth. Key among the initiatives of the Ministry are digitalization and automation of port operations to enhance safety, security, and efficiency as well as performance optimization to reduce costs and increase reliability, and the adoption of innovative practices to propel our industry towards sustainable development.
As you are aware, “the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is investing heavily in port modernisation to reduce inefficiencies, lower operational costs, and improve safety in our ports. This process is being financed through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) arrangements.
The federal government, Oyeyola said, has also made significant progress in creating a conducive environment for port operations by aligning its policies with global best practices.
This, he said, “has enhanced safety, security, and efficiency in our ports, leading to notable reductions in the delays associated with processing exports and imports. However, achieving the world-class standards we aspire to, will require continued support from the private sector, whose collaboration is essential in providing the resources and state-of-the-art facilities needed to take Nigeria’s maritime industry to a higher trajectory.
Oyetola to host deep seabed confab
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, achieving safety in our maritime environment is a goal well within reach, but it requires collective effort. With the diverse range of industry players and stakeholders present here today, I am confident that this edition of World Maritime Day will set the stage for a transformative future, one that drives Nigeria’s maritime sector towards unprecedented growth and prosperity,” the Minister said.
In his address, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho said the agency is entrusted with ensuring safety and sustainability.
“This dual focus—on safety and environmental stewardship—reflects the growing recognition of our responsibility to address the environmental challenges that impact the world today, especially those tied to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships Safety is not only about protecting lives and property but also about safeguarding our environment for future generations.
In navigating the future of maritime trade, the NPA chief said: “It is critical that we integrate safety considerations into how we manage port operations, reduce emissions, and implement sustainable practices. A secure, clean, and efficient port system is central to maintaining the safety and integrity of maritime operations, and at NPA, we are committed to this vision.
The maritime industry, the MD NPA added, “Accounts for roughly 3 percent of global GHG emissions, and as international trade continues to grow, this figure could rise if not addressed.
“For Nigeria, as a coastal and maritime nation, this presents both an environmental and economic risk. Climate change, driven by increased GHG emissions, poses serious threats, including rising sea levels and extreme weather events, which endanger our port infrastructure and surrounding communities. In our efforts to ensure the safety of the environment and maritime operations, we must tackle the issue of GHG emissions head-on. As part of our strategy, we aim to make our ports more environmentally friendly by implementing measures that will reduce carbon footprints across all port activities.”
To address these challenges, he said: “The Nigerian Ports Authority is proud to announce the development of a Port Emissions Inventory. This will be a comprehensive tool to measure and monitor emissions from all port-related activities, including vessels at berth, cargo-handling equipment, and port service vehicles. The emissions inventory will allow us to have a clear and precise understanding of the sources of GHG emissions at our ports.
“By quantifying these emissions, we will be able to develop targeted strategies for reducing them, track our progress, and ensure compliance with both national and international environmental standards. This inventory represents a proactive step in addressing the environmental impacts of port operations while enhancing transparency and accountability in our environmental management practices. In line with international maritime conventions, the Nigerian Ports Authority has taken steps to enhance existing “Port Reception Facilities,” he said.
In his address, the director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola said safety is crucial in the maritime industry.
He said: “There are many challenges in the maritime industry. These challenges also provide opportunities for tremendous success in the industry. Rapid technology advancement, environmental concerns, sustainability, and involving global trade are some issues affecting the industry.
“While we confront these challenges, we must accord safety an important priority. In this regard, we must, one, invest in cutting-edge safety technologies, two, emphasize training and capacity building for the maritime sector, three, strengthen our regulatory frameworks to meet international standards, and four, foster collaborations between the public and private sectors.”
NMASA, Mobereola said: “Is leading the way to creating a safer and more efficient and sustainable maritime future for Nigeria and beyond.
“As we commemorate this day, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each one of you. Your efforts are not just crucial but a trigger to navigating and shaping the Nigerian maritime industry’s future. I extend my thanks to the IMO, safe harbours, maritime industry stakeholders, global maritime communities, ministries, departments, and agencies, our developmental partners, and policymakers who continue to work tirelessly to promote safety values in the industry.
“We need to strengthen collaboration and cooperation to address the increasingly complex regime due to emerging technologies. Your involvement is crucial in this progress. Furthermore, let us renew our dedication to safety, innovation, and responsible stewardship in our maritime environment.
“This commitment is not just a goal but a promise that we must uphold. Together, we can navigate towards a brighter, safer future for our maritime industry. I urge us all to reflect on how far we have come and renew our commitment to making the maritime sector efficient for operation and safer, secure, and more sustainable for future generations,” Mobereola said.
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Nigeria’s ‘Fake’ Agency Exposed: Meet Director, 20 State Coordinators, China, US Representatives
The alleged fake National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office had a structure spanning several states and two foreign countries, with an acclaimed national coordinator, zonal directors, state coordinators and representatives in China and the United States,
A check by our correspondent on Saturday found that the office’s website listed Hon. Nwabueze George as its “Executive Director, National Coordinator,” alongside a director of national administration, three zonal directors, 20 state coordinators and representatives for the United States and China.
Recall that the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu, disclosed on Friday that President Bola Tinubu had ordered the immediate arrest of George Nwabueze, identified by the commission as “the promoter” of the alleged fake office.
Tinubu also ordered the immediate suspension of three permanent secretaries — M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare and Richard P. Pheelangwah — following the discovery of the office, which the ICPC said it had been allocated space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation without presidential authorisation.
The ICPC said the promoter was also found to have operated under several variations of his name, including George Nathan Nwabueze, George Nwabueze, George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze.
Nwabueze and Zonal directors
The website listed Nwabueze as the “Executive Director, National Coordinator.”
It also listed Dr Bassey B. Unaowo as “Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary on Political and Economic Affairs, OSGF”; Dr Hajara Njidda Amoni as Director, National Administration; Mr Oladunjoye Musiliua as Zonal Director, South-West; Hafsat Sahabi Dange as Zonal Director, North; and Mrs Ugochi Akudo Nwosu as Zonal Director, South-East.
Made in Nigeria Zonal Directors
Made in Nigeria Zonal Directors. Credit: website
The website also claimed that the project operated under the OSGF. Its framework page described the project as being overseen by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, in the OSGF.
However, this claimed government connection is significant in light of the ICPC’s finding that the office was operating without presidential authorisation.
20 state coordinators
The website listed the following as state coordinators:
Katsina: Dr Babangida Kabir Ruma
Kaduna: Hon. Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim
Delta: Hon. Dr Godwin Adolor
Kebbi: Hussaini Abdullahi, Esq., FSI
Osun: Hon. Olugbemi Adetola Adelowokan
Anambra: Hon. Chiamaka Nnake
Nasarawa: Hon. Osolafia Muhammed, PhD
Plateau: Mrs Salome Audu Bidda
Benue: Hon. Orduen Andrew Ikon
Ondo: Amb. Orioye G. Benedict
Ogun: Hon. Engr. Kehinde Akintonide, FNSE
Sokoto: Hon. Ibrahim Umar Aliyu
Abia: Hon. Mrs Nwosu Chinyere R.
Zamfara: Hon. Ibrahim Bello Marafa
Niger: Haj. Zainab Mohammed
Kano: Hon. Abubakar Ahmad Bichi (Khalifa)
Taraba: Hon. Justin Aondoaseer Tyopuusu
Oyo: Alhaji Bello Kolawole Ghaffar, FCA
Bauchi: Hon. Farouq Siyi
Kogi: Hon. Olorukooba Bidemi
Made in Nigeria state coordinators. Credit: website
Newsthumb check also found indications that some of those listed had previously held public positions or had links to established political, governmental or community structures in their respective states.
Another fake agency! FG suspends three perm secs, orders arrest
Made in Nigeria state coordinators. Credit: website
Made in Nigeria state coordinators. Credit: website
In Taraba, Tyopuusu has been identified in recent reports as a Special Assistant to Governor Agbu Kefas on Digital Economy, while serving as the state coordinator of the Made in Nigeria Special Project.
Made in Nigeria state coordinators. Credit: website
Their inclusion on the website does not, by itself, establish that they were aware that the organisation had allegedly lacked government authorisation.
Efforts made so far to reach the management of the acclaimed agency is abortive as of the time of filing the report as all three phone numbers on its website are switched off. Message sent to the acclaimed national cordinator by our correspondent has not been replied.
Reps in US, China
The website also listed Hon. Emmanuel Enemali Achema as “Country Rep./Coordinator, U.S.A.” and Hon. Ameh Enedugbojo Glory as “Country Rep./Coordinator, China.”
Made in Nigeria country reps. Credit: website
The claimed international structure was presented alongside the state and zonal network as part of the organisation’s purported nationwide and international operations.
The office’s website described its activities as including trade exhibitions, economic forums, promotion of Nigerian products and support for small and medium-sized enterprises, claim ICPC disputed.
The development is the latest in an investigation into purported fictitious government bodies.
The ICPC had previously identified the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and two other alleged fictitious bodies, the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima will serve as chairman and vice chairman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, according to the list released Saturday morning.
Party Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda will also serve as vice chairman, while former Zamfara State governor Senator Abdulaziz Yari will serve as the director-general of the campaign.
Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as secretary of the campaign council. APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru and Hadiza Bala-Usman will serve as deputy and assistant secretaries.
The chairman of the campaign Council, President Tinubu, will work with a body of advisers comprising Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Segun Osoba, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and Senator Florence Ita Giwa.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abass, and Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State have been assigned as deputy director-generals for the campaign in the south and the north. They will work with Senator Bamidele Opeyemi and Senator Jibril Barau in the two zones.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole will serve as deputy director-general in charge of mobilisation, while the President’s Chief of Staff will serve as deputy director-general for administration.
James Abiodun Faleke, who played a pivotal role in the 2022/2023 campaign, has returned as deputy director-general for election planning, coordination and monitoring.
Faleke will work with zonal directors, with Senator Olushola Adeyeye in the South West, Dr Ngozi Olejeme in the South South, Senator Uche Ekwunife in the South East, Muntaqha Rabe in the North West, Ahmed Muhammed Ketso in the North Central, and Senator Sani Danladi in the North East.
Ms Stella Okotete, Engineer Abdullahi Garba Ramat and Audu Maikori will serve as secretaries of the election planning directorate.
Muiz Adeyemi Banire will lead the legal directorate as director, with Dr Liman Hassan and Babatunde Ogala as deputies. Other members are Prince Lateef Fagbemi, former governor Ibrahim Shema, Worgu Boms and Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, will serve as the coordinating director for media and Strategic Communication, along with Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga, and Lanre Issa-Onilu. The media directorate also includes Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala, and Felix Morka, who have been assigned as coordinating deputy directors.
Abdulaziz AbdulAziz will work with three others, Temitope Ajayi, Arabinrin Aderonke, and Frederick Nwabufor, as coordinating secretaries of the media directorate. Segun Dada will serve as Director, New Media, the same role he performed in 2022. Solomon Arowolo will serve as Secretary, New Media.
The campaign has also appointed five spokespersons, led by Dele Alake. Other spokespersons are Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda.
President Tinubu has charged all council members to work tirelessly to deliver victory for the party in the January 2027 elections. He has also encouraged the leaders of the various directorates to reach out to other party members who may not have been formally listed to join their crucial efforts.
“We have delivered on our campaign promises and set our country on a path of economic progress. We are definitely out of the dark tunnel and are now at the cusp of reaping the benefits of a prosperous economy that will benefit all Nigerians. As we march into the campaign season, we have many achievements to trumpet—let us confidently showcase our record and inspire hope in every corner of our nation. Let us soundly defeat all those forces who plan to take our country backwards.”
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of one George Buchi Nwabueze and the suspension of three permanent secretaries over the discovery of another fake agency operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
They include M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah.
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN disclosed this to State House correspondents on Friday after briefing the President for the second time in two days, following an earlier meeting on Thursday.
Aliyu said the newly uncovered fake office, operating under the name “National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office,” had been illegally allocated office space within the premises of the OSGF, contrary to extant laws and without presidential authorisation.
He said, “Upon further briefing by ICPC to Mr President on the ongoing investigations into the fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and procedural weaknesses in the public service, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has uncovered another fake agency and office operating under the name National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office, which has been illegally allocated office space within the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” Aliyu said.
He said the discovery emerged in the course of the commission’s broader investigation, as earlier directed by President Tinubu, and identified the promoter of the fake office as one Prince George Buchi Nwabueze, who was found to be operating under multiple aliases.
“The fake agency office, National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, was promoted by one George Buchi Nwabueze, with active suspected collaborators in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, contrary to extant laws and without authorisation of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The promoter was discovered to also operate under four other variations of his name: George Nathan, George Nathan Nwabueze, Honourable George Buchi Nwabueze, Prince George Buchi Nwabueze and George Nwabueze,” Aliyu said.
He revealed that the ICPC had engaged the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to ascertain vital information relating to the fake office under investigation, and had comprehensively briefed the President on the new developments.
“I have briefed Mr President comprehensively on these new developments. ICPC will continue with its investigations accordingly,” he said.
Aliyu said following the discovery, “Mr President has directed as follows: the immediate arrest of Prince George Buchi Nwabueze; the immediate suspension of the following permanent secretaries; M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah,” he said.
Friday’s development is the latest in a scandal that began with the exposure of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, whose self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, is currently facing prosecution on charges of forgery and impersonation.
The ICPC’s interim report, submitted to the President on August 6 after a 30-day investigation, had earlier disclosed the existence of two other fictitious bodies, the FCT Investment Promotion Agency and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership.
The National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office is the fourth fake agency uncovered after the PFIFC scandal since early April.
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