Maritime
Jonathan Approves N2bn Maritime Institute For Rivers
President Goodluck
Jonathan has approved two billion naira for a maritime training institute in Obu-Ama community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State for the training of ex-militants and other Nigerians.
The institute, which is expected to metamorphose into a Maritime University when completed, will mark the end of training of ex-militants in maritime related studies outside Nigeria.
Presidential Adviser on the Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku was reported to have disclosed this recently when he visited the Obu-Ama Community to assess the site of the proposed maritime training institute which will commence operation within the next one year.
Accompanied by the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Asari Dokubo, Kuku explained that the presidential amnesty office has already defended the project before the National Assembly during deliberations on the 2014 appropriation budget.
He explained that the presidency decided to site the project in Obu-Ama as part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda and the need to bring development to the coastal communities.
According to a Maritime source, the construction of the maritime institute, which will admit some 500 ex-militants, will cost about N2 billion.
He said the project would include hostel facilities and staff quarters for teachers.
Kuku expressed optimism that the institute when completed will drive business activities, employment and empowerment in the country and its environs.
He said: “The project we are going to site here is called Maritime Training Institute. This project when completed is going to accommodate 500 students at a time. We are also going to have hostels that will accommodate 500 people and there will be staff quarters for those who are going to be lecturers there. Some of them are going to be your sons and daughters. We are going to train them to come and train the people in that school. We are going to send five of your sons outside this country to be trained as trainers in maritime studies. I foresee a situation where this institute will become a university or tertiary institution in time to come. We need to go to these native communities that are demanding development and one of such is this old community that was founded in 1882 by the late Tom Harry. Mr. President will be happy with what we are doing here today”.
Kuku said that the institute’s location in Obu-Ama was also in honour of Asari Dokubo whom he described as one of those who brought the issue of underdevelopment and poverty in the Niger Delta to the fore of national and global discourse.
Asari Dokubo on his part commended the Presidency for the institute, which he observed, will transform the community into a university town, soon.
“This honour is not done to me, it is done for the community and everyone of us. This institution will metamorphose into a university. Obu-Ama is going to be a university town very soon. Kingsley has trained two pilots from this community. They are going to be trained in the best maritime institutes in the world”, he said.
L-R: Chairman, Board of Directors, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, Mr Chris Asoluka, Guest Speaker, Prof. Pat Utomi, representative of Minister of Transport, Mr Oqua Eta and Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Patrick Lokemi, at the National Workshop on Public Private Partnership Strategy for Infrastructural Development and Modernisation in the Nigerian Maritime Sector in Lagos, recently.
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, says its gallant officers have rescued nine women from the hands of suspected human traffickers.
FOB said the suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for prohibition of Human trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This was disclosed to newsmen in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Litunent B. Awodeyi, in Lagos.
Awodeyi said the first interception of the women was during a stop and search operation by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Command in a boat traveling to mile 2 and Panshi Jetty in Lagos State were five women between the ages of 19 and 32 were rescued.
The statement further said four women were also rescued by QRT two days later in a boat along Tongeji Island in Badagry, with the ages of victims ranging from 19 to 24 years.
Awodeyi said the rescued suspects were under investigation in line with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on arrest.
Although the names of the suspects were not made public by FOB, it insisted that the operation reflects Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2023 and 2026.
The directive, Awodeyi said, is aimed at promoting safety in Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike, if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) fails to pay nine months of salary arrears owed its employees.
Adeyanju said the affected workers are members of MWUN, and accused CRFFN management of neglecting its financial responsibilities.
MWUN in a statement by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the actions of the CRFFN’s Acting Registrar.
The statement noted that MWUN had exhausted all available options for negotiation, including issuing several ultimatums, but that the efforts were ignored by the management of CRFFN.
“The most recent attempt at mediation occurred in Abuja on September 18, 2024, yet no progress was made in resolving the matter”, it said.
The statement criticised CRFFN for disregarding a crucial resolution reached during the mediation meetings.
According to Ikemefuna, one of the resolutions stipulated that when funds become available to the CRFFN, the payment of employees’ salaries should be prioritis ed.
The statement further noted that CRFFN diverted available funds to conduct what it described as a “kangaroo” training programme for select staff members, leaving the issue of unpaid salaries unaddressed.
“This is a clear violation of the agreements reached”, it emphasised.
The Union said CRFFN’s actions have deepened the financial challenges faced by its members, hence MWUN expressed disappointment that, despite their willingness to cooperate with the CRFFN management, the regulatory body has continued to act in a manner that undermines the rights and welfare of its members.
The workers union, therefore, insisted that it would no longer tolerate the perceived impunity of the CRFFN and declared that if the outstanding nine months salary arrears are not paid, it would have no choice but to initiate a total withdrawal of its members from services.
“This action would impact key sectors of Nigeria’s maritime industry, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, dock labour, shipping and freight forwarding agencies, as well as seamen working across all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms”, Ikemefuna stated.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has thwarted a smuggling attempt of N1.1billion illicit drugs in four containers at Apapa Port.
The four seized containers were filled with narcotics valued at N1,183,915,500.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this to newsmen through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Usman.
The seizure involved 236,783 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine and Barcadin, packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command’s jurisdiction.
Three other seizures were made at APM Terminals, while one was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Comptroller Olomu explained that, “On October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of a 1×40 container, number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup—34,800 bottles packed into 174 cartons, each containing 200 bottles.
“The shipment was expired at the time of interception”.
The statement said on the same day, another 1×40 container, number TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in cartons containing 100 bottles each.
Additionally, a third container (TCKU6800526) examined on October 15, 2024, at APMT Terminal, labelled as containing essential goods, revealed 19 cartons of concealed CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest with codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Another major seizure was recorded on October 15, 2024, at Kachicares Resources Terminal: A 1×40FT container, number SUDU8579006, declared as containing kitchen wares, was found with a concealed stash of Barcadin cough syrup in 1,584 cartons, along with 83 loose bottles.
Comptroller Olomu described the seizures as part of the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling.
Apapa Command, he said, “is committed to efficient trade facilitation while maintaining strict controls on revenue collection and anti-smuggling activities.
”I urge those engaged in illegal trade to avoid Apapa Port. Our vigilant officers, using intelligence, technology, and experience, are poised to detect and intercept any smuggling attempts”.
He insisted that Codeine abuse has been linked to severe side effects, including drowsiness, confusion, and increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.
“The Nigerian government banned the importation of codeine-containing cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse among youth”, he noted.
The Comptroller said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the smuggling attempts.
