FG proposes creation of national shipping carrier to revitalise maritime sector

The Federal Government is committed to revitalizing the maritime sector in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to enhance the welfare of Nigerians. During a recent facility tour of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA) Headquarters and various centres in Lagos, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, outlined his vision for the sector. Oyetola emphasized the need for transformative measures in the maritime industry to position Nigeria as a major player. One of his key recommendations is the establishment of a national carrier through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to facilitate freight transport within the country. Notably, Nigeria stands as the only member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) without a national shipping line flying its flag. The Minister highlighted that creating a national carrier would help eliminate the burden of the 30% freight charge associated with chartering vessels. However, he clarified that his call for a national line should not be confused with advocating for the revival of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL). Furthermore, Oyetola expressed interest in NIMASA’s Modular Floating Dock, recognizing its potential to generate employment opportunities and curb capital flight. He urged the agency to engage stakeholders to support this initiative. Addressing the potential of the Blue Economy, the Minister underscored that Nigeria, with one of the world’s largest wetlands, is well-suited for coastal tourism development. He also committed to exploring opportunities in fishing and other sectors to stimulate economic growth. Bashir Jamoh, the Director General of NIMASA, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for establishing a dedicated Ministry for the Maritime sector. This move has long been advocated by stakeholders and Nigerians. With the creation of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry, Nigeria joins seven other countries worldwide with standalone Blue Economy Ministries. Jamoh assured that this development positions NIMASA to elevate Nigeria’s global maritime presence.

Alkali pledges to reactivate road, rail transport operations

The newly appointed Minister of Transportation, Sen. Saidu Àhmed Alkali, has assumed office, with a pledge to reactivate road and rail transport operations in the country. The Minister gave the assurance in Abuja during his first day in office, saying he will collaborate with relevant Ministries, Agencies, and corporate entities to make this possible. Similarly, Sen. Alkali said that his administration will carefully study the prevailing economic trends, as well as undertake the provision, modernization, rehabilitation, planning and development of the rail transport sector with efficient security services to support the realization of the primary purpose of government. This initiative according to him, will no doubt maximize the potentials embodied in the recent constitutional alterations that moved rail transportation services to the Concurrent List, adding that this will reduce the frequent menace on Nigerian roads which are characterized by accidents, kidnappings, and armed robbery. ”As a compliment towards ensuring the realization of this aspiration, I will support the provision of necessary conducive environment while at the same time, maintaining zero tolerance to indiscipline, laxity, inefficiency, and any form of misconduct in the discharge of any official responsibilities. While pledging that the Ministry will under his supervision, strive to ensure the realization of its mandate and the mandates of agencies under its purview, he joined the staff to accord him the necessary support to succeed. According to him, working as a team would not only help to harness the resources of the nation but promote national prosperity and a dynamic self-reliant economy that would actualize the renewed hope of the present administration’s developmental agenda of ensuring an efficient transport system that is in consistent with the socio-economic objectives of the constitution. The Minister further said that he will soon embark on facility tour of Agencies supervised by the Ministry with a view to making them more efficient and effective to meet global standards. Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation/ Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Magdalene Ajani in a welcome address, promised a smooth working relationship with the Minister for the development of the sector, while expressing optimism that he would be of immense help to the Ministry coming from the National Assembly. Speaking on the agencies under the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary said: “The University of Transportation in Daura is our newest baby. It was a Corporate Social Responsibility from one of our main railway contractor, CCECC. So, the University was built in Daura purely for transportation; training of Nigerians on transportation. The immediate past President appointed the Vice Chancellor just before he left and he’s trying to midwife the University”.

Allow us fix moribund refineries, female engineers beg Tinubu

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), at the weekend appealed to President Bola Tinubu to give female engineers an opportunity to fix the nation’s moribund refineries. Newly-elected APWEN Lagos Chapter Chairman, Mrs Atinuke Owolabi, made the call during the association’s public lecture and Annual General Meeting in Ikeja. Owolabi assured that female engineers spread across the various arms of the profession could fix the refineries within a year. “All women engineers are ready to come together and see how we can proffer solutions, making sure that we revamp these refineries. “So, we call on our president to challenge female engineers to revamp and rehabilitate these refineries, and I want to assure you that, within a year, just challenge us, we will make sure that the refineries would be put to operation by the grace of God,” she said. She said any nation aspiring for development must empower its indigenous engineers and manpower. “It is imperative that our homegrown engineers are empowered and granted the right opportunity to showcase our competence,” she said. She said women had inbuilt natural qualities of being good managers and being excellent, adding that their talents should also be explored in building roads and other critical infrastructure. Owolabi said Nigeria should reduce reliance on foreign experts and give opportunity to local engineers who are equally or more competent than their imported counterparts. “I want to also implore our leaders, especially our president and governors, to empower indigenous engineers because we are very good. “A country without engineers cannot develop,” she said. Owolabi, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, promised that her administration would focus on mentorship and skill development for young engineers. She also pledged collaboration with other NGOs while reeling out planned development programmes for three Lagos communities. “Together, we shall shatter barriers and triumph over challenges in reaffirmation of the fact that gender should never constrain one’s potential in any domain,” she said. The guest speaker, Mrs Olayinka Abdul, speaking on the theme, “The Role of Female Engineers in Building Sustainable Infrastructure”, said rising fuel prices required urgent measures for green alternatives. Abdul, a former APWEN President, said green buildings reduce wastes, conserve energy and ensure huge energy savings and enormous long-term benefits. She said Lagos was investing heavily in renewable energy while listing completed and ongoing interventions in various sectors, including health, education, housing and transportation. Abdul said the various options available were wasting because some Nigerians have a class mentality not allowing them embrace local researches. She cited examples of viable technologies, developed by “our forefathers”, being ignored because people want to move with trending foreign technologies. Abdul advised APWEN to adopt communities and train them on how to generate power from their wastes. She also enumerated measures female engineers could adopt against work place discrimination and how to receive mentorship from male counterparts without bruising their ego. Panelists at the event proffered solutions to the multifaceted problem of inadequate water supply in Lagos State. They enumerated ways mentorship and advocacy could grow capacity of female engineers.