NEWS
Maritime Day : NASS Committed to Maritime Safety — Senator

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Sen. Wasiu Sanni, has expressed the National Assembly’s commitment to policies that would drive safe operations in the maritime sector.
Sanni said this during the commemoration of the 2024 World Maritime Day with the theme: “Navigating the Future: Safety First”.
He said that maritime safety was a national imperative, adding that there is need to embrace new innovation as the country improved on safety.
“As we look into the future, let safety be the guide to enable Nigeria be the leading maritime nation in the West and Central Africa,” Sanni said.
He urged agencies in the maritime sector to ensure compliance to international safety conventions.
He advised operators to make safety their guiding principle to position the country as a leading player in the global maritime community.
Sanni asked the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to resubmit the petition concerning retired seafarers who had not been paid gratuity during the Nigeria National Shipping Line (NNLS) regime.
He assured the union that the senate would work with Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to ensure justice for the seafarers who had contributed to the growth of maritime industry.
The Director, Maritime Safety and Security, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Babatunde Bombata, said that maritime industry depended on the world’s ocean and waterways.
Bombata described the ocean and waterways as vital channels for international trade, innovation, and connectivity.
He said that safety was not merely an operational consideration, but the cornerstone upon which the future of the maritime industry must be built.
“The safe operation of vessels, the security and well-being of seafarers, the protection of the marine environment are also interconnected, with safety serving as a key factor in unifying trade.
“Without prioritising safety, we risk not only human lives but also the ecosystems and economies that rely on our oceans.
“In an era of rapid technology change, where innovations like autonomous vessels, renewable energy platforms, and artificial intelligence are reshaping the landscape, our commitment to safety must be unwavering,” he said.
According to him, these advancements present great opportunities, but they also introduce new risks.
“We must, therefore, ensure that these technologies enhance safety standards rather than compromise them, guiding us into a future where innovation and safety work hand-in-hand,” Bombata said.
He urged stakeholders to come together with the ministry in shared commitment to advance maritime operations, prioritising safety, innovation and sustainability.
Speaking earlier, the President of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, urged government to address the issue of the retired seafarers from NNLS who have not been paid their pensions after three decades.
He commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, for signing an MoU with the shipping companies and terminal operators to increase Seafarers’ minimum wage to N200,000
The Rector, Maritime Academy, Oron, Commodore Duja Effedua, said that the institution was navigating the future of the academy with quality training for cadets
He commended NIMASA for restructuring and adequately equipping the academy, and urged stakeholders to support the Federal Government to improve the standard of the school.
“For the first time in 42 years of the existence of the institution, we are now admitting foreign students based on the standard stimulators and other equipment put in place by NIMASA.
“I am also happy that the students of the academy who participated in the maritime essay competition organised by NIMASA, took the best runner with other nine shortlisted institutions.
“Our academy will also give you the student scholarship to complete his studies,”Effedua said.
In his good will message, Prof. Lawrence Awosika of Nigeria Institute of Maritime and Oceanography, commended Oyetola”s leadership of Marine and Blue Economy.
Report says that NIMASA appreciated 10 outstanding student from maritime universities and universities that offer maritime courses who participated in the NIMASA essay competition.
The students were rewarded with cash prizes on N500,000 each.
Yhe Nigerian Ports Authority also gave six students who participated in secondary school essay maritime competition laptops and cash prices up to N800,000.
The Inland Waterways Authority also gave a study trip to two runners up from the second school competition in Ghana and Porto- Novo (NAN).
NEWS
Ewhrudjakpo Commends CCN’s Intervention Programmes, Pledges Support
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State government has commended the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) for propagating the teachings of Jesus Christ and its intervention programmes towards providing succour to people affected by natural disasters.The Deputy Governor, Sen.
Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo gave the commendation recently when the Christian Council of Nigeria, South-South zone, paid him a courtesy call in Government House, Yenagoa. He expressed delight that the CCN had offered to support the state’s development initiatives which he described as laudable and also congratulated the new South-South Zone executive members of the foremost Christian organisation in the country on their election.Ewhrudjakpo implored the current executives to make a difference by consolidating on the gains of their predecessors and demonstrate exemplary leadership, stressing that true leaders respond to the yearnings and aspirations of the people.Commenting on the interaction between the church and society, the deputy governor expressed displeasure over the church’s inability to adequately play the role of catering to the welfare of the less privileged.According to him, the churches should not place unnecessary burden on their adherents but allow them to make free will donations to support their programmes and projects.He also frowned at the practice whereby the church now placed more emphasis on materialism to the detriment of spiritual wellbeing as exemplified in the scriptures which enjoin humanity “to seek first the kingdom of God and all other things shall be added unto them.”Ewhrudjakpo further noted that one of the major concerns of the church should be about attracting people to the word of God for redemption and salvation as well as taking care of the needy.On the CCN’s request for land in Bayelsa, he expressed the government’s willingness to provide land for the purpose of establishing the National Research institute for the South-South zone.In their presentations, the National General Secretary of CCN, Rt. Rev. Evans Onyemara, and the South-South Zonal Chairman, Rev. Dr Jonathan Ihwighwu, said they were in the state to hold a zonal meeting as well as inaugurate the new executive of the CCN, South-South zone.Rt Rev Onyemara explained that aside from its evangelical mission, the CCN also provides humanitarian services and assists in developmental issues.He added that in 2022, the General Assembly of the CCN resolved that the South-South zone should establish what it called, the Institute of Church and Society and appealed to the state government to provide land for the building of a national research institute in Bayelsa for the South-South zone.The Bayelsa State Chairman of CCN, who is also the Bishop of the Northern Izon Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt Rev. Funkuro Amgbari, that of Rivers State, Rev Dr Innocent Ordu and their Akwa Ibom, Delta, Cross River and Edo counterparts accompanied the Zonal Chairman on the visit.The Highlight of the visit was the offering of prayers for Governor Douye Diri, Senator Ewhrudjakpo and the entire government and people of Bayelsa.NEWS
Blue Economy: Bayelsa Woos Investors in Sector’s Huge Potential

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Government has again indicated its determination for effective collaboration with reputable individuals and firms to harness the abundant resources in the Blue Economy sector of the state.The Deputy Governor, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, indicated the state’s readiness at a dinner organized by the state government in honour of participants of the Senior Executive Course(SEC) 47, 2025 of the National Institute For Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Yenagoa, at the weekend.
Ewhrudjakpo, described Bayelsa as a state richly endowed with not only oil and gas but also huge marine resources as low hanging fruits waiting for investors to pluck.To this end, he called on private and other corporate investors to look at Bayelsa for new investment opportunities in the blue economy sector, especially in the area of developing a deep sea port.He also reiterated the foresightedness of the present Bayelsa State Government in establishing a ministry of marine and blue economy, and assured prospective investors of the safety of their investments in the state.The Deputy Governor urged the participants of the Senior Executive Course 47 to act as ambassadors of Bayelsa and tell the world about the potentialities of Bayelsa in the blue economy sector.Ewhrudjakpo equally implored the team to make its report available to the state government in good time, stressing that Bayelsa was looking forward to the outcome of their study in the state believing it will help in the development of the sector.His words: “We are happy that you are happy. We are here to round off what we started some few days ago. As we all know, everything that has a beginning must have an end.”We believe that in Bayelsa we have the potential for a vibrant marine and blue economy. That is why the present administration created a separate full-fledged ministry to oversee that critical sector. We are the first state to do so in the country.”Just as oil and gas, the marine and blue economy is also very important to us. And so, we are looking forward to the outcome of your study so we can see what we can achieve with it in the area of blue economy.”We want you to be our ambassadors and tell other people that Bayelsa is investment friendly. Bayelsa is also very safe for investment.”For the participants, I believe that your coming today will add to our thinking capacity and we are open to all the critiques that will come with it.”Earlier in his opening remarks, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, lauded participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47, 2025 for their choice of Bayelsa and the discipline they all exhibited throughout the period of the study tour.Prof Ayawei, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, SSG’s Office, Mr Felix Asingbi, expressed optimism that their visit will open up opportunities for the state to make progress in the development of its blue economy potential.Also speaking, the Leader of the NIPSS Study Team, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Umar, commended the Bayelsa State government for what he described as exceptional hospitality accorded to members of the team.He said going round the state enabled the team to have first-hand knowledge of Bayelsa’s huge potential in the blue economy sector, and urged the government to vigorously pursue the development of the sector.NEWS
Delta Warns Contractors over Substandard Projects, Vows Sanctions for Negligence

From Francis Sadhere, Delta
The Delta State Government has issued a stern warning to contractors handling state-funded projects, emphasizing that it will not tolerate substandard work, negligence, or any form of misappropriation.Speaking on the government’s renewed commitment to infrastructure accountability, a senior official of the state’s project oversight agency stressed that effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms have been put in place to track the progress and quality of ongoing projects across the state.
He stated that the state will take decisive action against any contractor found delivering poor-quality work or engaging in sharp practices, noting that public funds must be judiciously used for the benefit of the people.”Let me make it clear: any contractor who fails to meet the standards expected of them or attempts to cut corners will face the full weight of the law. This administration is determined to deliver projects that will stand the test of time,” the official said.The agency, according to him, is actively inspecting projects to ensure they align with contractual specifications and timelines, adding that erring contractors risk sanctions ranging from blacklisting to legal action.This move comes as part of the state’s broader effort to promote transparency, accountability and value for money in all government undertakings.Residents have welcomed the warning, urging the government to match words with action and ensure no contractor goes unpunished for delivering substandard work.