By Seun Ibiyemi

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, during the 2024 commemoration of the International Day for Women in Maritime in Lagos, commended the contributions of Nigerian women to the development of the maritime sector.

Associations that participated in the event with the theme “Safe Horizons: Women Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety” included the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA), Women in Maritime (WIMA), Women in Logistics and Transport (WILAT), and Women in Maritime West and Central Africa (WIMOWCA), among others.

The International Day for Women in Maritime is a significant day established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to honour and celebrate the invaluable contributions and resilience of women across various sectors of the maritime industry.

Dr. Mobereola, who was represented by the Agency’s Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Jibril Abba, informed the audience, comprising various women’s groups in the maritime industry, that the Agency appreciates the contributions of women to the development of the Nigerian maritime industry.

“Let me seize this opportunity to recognise and applaud the incredible achievements of women in maritime. From seafarers and ship captains to engineers and port operators, as well as maritime professionals and trailblazers, women have played a pivotal role in shaping the maritime industry and driving innovation and progress. Their dedication, resilience, and expertise have not only enriched our industry but also inspire a future generation of women to pursue careers in maritime,” he said.

“To all the women in maritime: Your contributions are vital, your voices are heard, and your achievements inspire us all. Together, we can harness the nation’s blue economy to build a more sustainable and prosperous maritime industry that benefits us all. Thank you for your dedication, passion, and commitment to a more inclusive maritime community,” Mobereola added.

Earlier in her presentation, Mrs. Olamide Odusanya, the Director of Financial Services at NIMASA, appreciated the IMO for creating an inclusive and supportive environment to recognize women in maritime, in line with the provisions of Sustainable Development Goal 5, which is Gender Equality.

Her words: “It is clear the pivotal role of women in the maritime industry. Closing the gender gap, which is the SDG 5- Gender Equality, has been an internal quest of women folks since the industrial revolution, and one significant achievement has been made; we still have a long way towards achieving relative parity.”

A paper presented by Mrs. Gloria Anyasodo on “Emerging Trends: Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety and Opportunities for Women” emphasised that safety transcends gender. Therefore, women must cultivate competence through proper education, expertise, and mutual support to uplift one another.

Dr. Odunayo Ani the President of the Women International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria,  Mrs Rollens MacFoy, President of African Women in Maritime, Nigeria chapter, Princess Margaret Inam of Women in Logistics and Transport (WiLAT), Barrister Oritsematosan Edodo-Emore the National President of Women in Maritime of West and Central Africa (WIMOWCA) and Hon. Olaitan Williams, President Ocean Ambassadors Foundation all delivered goodwill messages at the event.

The event culminated with the official inauguration of the WIMOWCA Nigeria chapter by the DG NIMASA.

By Seun Ibiyemi

The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola has described the multiplicity and duplication of same roles at the nation’s seaports by government agencies as hindrance to the Federal Government’s national policy on the ease of doing business.

The Minister expressed his dismay over these challenges yesterday, in Lagos, at the Day 2 session of the Ministry’s “Stakeholders Engagement on Enhanced Activities in the Blue Economy sector.”

According to Oyetola, the government exists for the very purpose of serving, helping and assisting the people through enacting welfarist policies.

He identified the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration’s policy on the ease of doing business as a focal example drawing out that the policy was introduced to ensure that impediments to conducive business operations in Nigeria alongside tax reviews are assessed, pruned and simplified.

The Minister made the call following complaints by the Indigenous Fish Importers and Exporters Association that laboratory and sampling is embarked upon by both the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

He noted that the time and number of samples taken alongside levies and taxes paid poses a serious challenge to the sub-sector and its members.

 Stakeholders therefore, appealed to the Minister to engage some of these agencies and have their activities streamlined under one body.

Responding, Oyetola assured that the Federal Government will find a solution to the said challenge, adding that fish exportation is another source of foreign exchange for the country and allowing it to linger on will penultimately affect the government’s revenue outlook.

He further assured stakeholders in the importation and exportation of fish that other challenges such as accelerated laboratory sampling, delay in the issuance of licence certificates amongst others will be taken upon by the Director of fishery and aquaculture in the Ministry.

Amidst several representatives of the Indigenous Fish Importers and Exporters Association and the Nigeria Fish Dealers Association, Producers and Processors, notable amongst these contributions was that of the Acting National Secretary, National Fish Association of Nigeria, Chidike Ukoh who assured the Honourable Minister of the sub-sector’s capacity to meet local demands.

Chidike however urged the Minister on the need for the establishment of a security outfit with the mandate of securing the lives and properties of fishermen, this is even as he cited instances from establishment of agro rangers for the agric sector and Mining marshals, husbanding and protecting miners.

Also, worthy of notice was the contribution by the National Vice President, Tilapia Aquaculture Developers Association of Nigeria (TADAN), Nurudeen Tiamiyu, diverting from request and support from the government, highlighted that so much perspective is been focused on cat and Tilapia fish farming whence other derivatives from the Blue Economy such as finfish, seaweed, urchins, session cucumbers and crustaceans farming are being shelved either consciously or unconsciously.

By Seun Ibiyemi

Following appeals from boat operators on flexible payments for training, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has approved installmental payments to encourage more participation.

The Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Munirudeen Oyebamiji, gave this concession during a training programme for boat operators in Lagos on Saturday.

Oyebamiji, who was represented by the Lagos Area Manager, Engr. Sarat Braimah, observed that with the option of installments, no operator would have excuses to avoid the training.

“If the operators pay 30 percent of the fee, they can start the training and another 30 percent should be paid during the training. Before receiving their certificates, they should have completed the total payments. This approach is to get everyone onboard with the training. Training is key and it’s better we work together to achieve it.

“The training fee is N80,000 and this covers a period of 3 years. After this payment, the next fees for recertification only costs N16,000 yearly. When you break down the N80,000 into a 3-year span, you’ll find that it costs less than N75 per day,” the NIWA boss said.

According to the NIWA boss, boat operators must have a minimum of 4 lifebuoys on their crafts as she observed that one lifebuoy could save up to 6 people during a boat mishap.

In a bid to maintain safe operations on the Lagos waterways, the NIWA boss also noted that the Authority will commence frequent patrols along the inland waterways.

“NIWA patrol boats will commence monitoring and inspections along the Lagos waterways. With almost 50 members of staff at NIWA Lagos office, 38 police officials, 100 joint task force (JTF) personnel and our collaboration with Marine Police; I believe we have sufficient manpower to carry out frequent patrols which will stimulate the boat operators to conduct their operations in a safe manner,” the regulator said.

During the meeting, some boat operators decried lack of funds to change their boats and beckoned on the federal government to allow them access the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) for financial support.

The operators also alleged that some government agencies extort them on the inland waterways along the Badagry creeks, fingering Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Marine Police, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), among others as the extortionists.

Top waterways operators including the President of Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association (WABOTAN), Mr. Tope Fajemirokun; representatives of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON) graced the occasion which had over 250 boat captains and deckhands from the Badagry region.

The boat captains and deckhands were also trained on how to avoid boat accidents, best approaches during boat mishaps to save lives and minimise casualties, while they also learnt how to manage their vessels for durability and efficient operations.