All Posts in "DFC Management"

By Foster Obi

 

 

 

 

 

Nigeria’s return to the IMO Council in Category C is cause for celebration but it also amplifies a long-standing national embarrassment. Despite repeated promises, committees, and ministerial assurances, Nigeria still lacks a functional national shipping line. That absence has tangible costs and strategic consequences for the country’s trade, balance of payments, and maritime independence.
Official promises and the silence that follows
When Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, set out the administration’s blue-economy agenda he repeatedly framed indigenous shipping as central to the plan. The Ministry has published a string of statements affirming the government’s commitment: “Our commitment to indigenous shipping is total and irreversible,” the Ministry quoted the Minister as saying in an official release tied to NIMAREX activities.
Also in his earliest stakeholder engagements, the minister publicly announced plans to re-establish a national shipping line under a strategic public–private partnership, describing the initiative as capable of adding as much as $10 billion in economic value if properly structured.
Yet industry sources and insiders say the high-level promises have not translated into an actionable, funded implementation plan that would actually put government-backed tonnage to sea.
“We heard the pledges. We saw the statements. But there has been no visible pilot project, no transparent procurement or clear funding window that demonstrates those words will become ships,” said a senior maritime agency source who has attended Ministry meetings
A bitter cycle of committees, study-tours, and abandoned recommendations
This pattern is painfully familiar. In 2016, then-Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi received a committee report on reviving a national shipping line after the ministerial committee’s work and trips abroad. Press coverage at the time recorded concerns about patronage of foreign ships, including a widely reported figure that Nigeria was losing billions to foreign shipowners, and the committee’s recommendations were not fully implemented.
Former President of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria, SOAN, and Chairman of Starzs Shipping Company, Chief Greg Ogbeifun, told Thisday in an interview that Nigeria was losing over $15 billion annually for not having a national shipping line, with freight services alone accounting for $7 billion.
He said this figure also reflects the taxes Nigeria is forfeiting by not employing Nigerian seafarers and other maritime professionals.
He recalled efforts by the then Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, to revive the country’s national shipping line.
“One of the first things the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, did when he assumed office was to form two committees: one to work on the establishment of a national fleet, and the other to examine the structure of NIMASA,” Ogbeifun said.
As a member of the committee on the national fleet, Ogbeifun explained that their mandate was to study what other countries were doing that enables them to successfully establish and maintain their own national fleets.
Another former member of that committee later said the exercise produced recommendations on financing models, governance, and vessel acquisition but the report gathered dust while money was spent on foreign visits and short-term PR.
“We travelled, we consulted, we prepared a blueprint. It was never used as the basis for a viable national fleet.”
The economic cost: valuations and official projections
Estimates cited in past reporting show the scale of the leakage. Press reporting around earlier revival efforts quoted figures such as $10 to $12 billion lost to patronage of foreign ships in specific years and government sources have put the upside from a successful national carrier in the billions. In public statements and press briefings, the Federal Government has repeatedly said a national carrier could unlock substantial value, jobs, and retention of foreign exchange.
Clarion Shipping: an indigenous start but has limits
In the vacuum left by the absence of an officially backed national fleet, private initiative has started to fill gaps. Clarion Shipping West Africa, owned by a woman has publicly launched a container service and acquired at least one indigenous-flagged containership (MV Ocean Dragon), pitching itself as Nigeria’s first fully indigenous containership operator. The firm’s launch and vessel acquisition were reported in multiple outlets during 2025.
Clarion’s management has publicly called for patronage and policy support, highlighting challenges such as dollar-denominated port charges and the capital intensity of liner operations. Analysts and business reports note that Clarion’s arrival is an important symbol and commercially, but that a single private line cannot substitute for a deliberate state framework that addresses finance, levies, guarantees, and route support.
“Clarion’s MV Ocean Dragon shows Nigeria can own and operate ocean-going tonnage. But shipping is a long-haul, capital-intensive game. The Government must reduce structural barriers if indigenous lines are to survive,” said Kalu Eke a freight forwarder at Lagos port.
Why the Minister must move from rhetoric to delivery
Winning a Category C seat at the IMO gives Nigeria influence in rule-making and technical decisions. But influence without capacity is hollow. A properly structured national shipping programme would: Retain freight earnings and reduce outflows of foreign exchange, Provide commercial capacity for crude, refined product, and specialist cargoes when national interest demands it, Strengthen the hand of Nigerian delegations in multilateral forums by pairing diplomacy with demonstrable capacity.
Also, it will expand training and career paths for Nigerian seafarers and shore staff, and encourage the development of local ship-management, repair, and maritime services.
It’s so humiliating that the country churn out cadets from its maritime academies yearly with no practical seatime experience.
Minister Oyetola himself has repeatedly framed the marine and blue economy as central to economic diversification and insisted indigenous shipping is a priority; words the Ministry has put on record. The sector’s question now is simple: will those words be matched by a funded implementation plan, transparent PPP terms, and early demonstrable steps such as vessel guarantees, subsidy-for-route trials, or a government anchor equity stake that draws private capital?
“The Ministry must stop issuing speeches and start publishing project documents: tender timelines, public-private governance structures, and a rolling five-year financing plan that shows how ships will actually be bought, insured, and deployed,” said Helen Udi, an international shipping policy expert.
What success would look like:
Publish a transparent PPP prospectus and procurement timeline, create a modest pilot fleet (2–4 modern multipurpose/feeder vessels) on strategic routes with guaranteed volume support, offer temporary, targeted levy relief or dollar-charging reform for newly-flagged indigenous services to fix the port-levy cash-flow mismatch like Clarion, others cite.
Use the IMO Category C seat strategically, pair diplomatic credibility with demonstrable capacity creation on the water, make the 2016 committee’s (and any later) recommendations public, and explain which will be adopted or discarded and why.
Nigeria’s return to the IMO Category C table should be something to ginger us. The country has both private actors (like Clarion) and a newly invigorated Ministry that has publicly vowed to back indigenous shipping. But unless the Minister moves beyond statements to publishable, funded, and accountable action plans, Nigeria risks repeating old patterns: committees, foreign trips, press releases, and no national carrier.
As Minister Oyetola put it in Ministry statements, “Our commitment to indigenous shipping is total and irreversible. Stakeholders will judge those words at the end, whether they were real actions or mere words designed to hug newspaper headlines, as Nigerian politicians are wont.

DFC Management by — November 30, 2025 in Uncategorized 0
MARAN commiserates with former President, ASU BEKS on loss of his wife

 


The entire members of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria MARAN, join their Colleagues in other Associations in the Maritime industry and beyond, to commiserate with their one-time President, Elder Asu Beks, over the irreparable loss of his amiable and lovely Wife, Mrs HELEN ASU BEKS, whose sad and untimely demise occurred on Thursday,15th November, 2025.
The Association expresses deep shock and exasperation over the incident, hence wishing our former President, his lovely Children, and the entire extended family members of the great ASU BEKS dynasty, divine strength, fortitude, and courage to bear the great loss.
Every MARAN member prays that the Good Lord will continue to preserve and protect the family, while the soul of the Departed AMAZON be granted a perfect rest on the bosom of the Almighty God.
We all say, “TAKE HEART, SIR”, for the Good Lord assures us that those who sleep in Him are not dead but will resurrect on that bright Resurrection Morning, to part no more.
“Sir, do take consolation in this fact and be strong in Him. MARAN loves and stands with you in fervent prayers that would avail much, in His sight.”

DFC Management by — November 29, 2025 in Transport/Maritime 0
NPA spokesman urges journalists to project Nigeria’s maritime industry positively to international community

…Receives MARAN three-man caretaker committee


The General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA), Ikechukwu Onyeamakara, has admonished the Nigerian journalists in the maritime industry to embrace developmental reporting that will positively project the sector to the international community.
Onyeamakara made this admonition while he was playing host to the three-man Caretaker committee of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN)led by Tunde Ayodele, who paid him a courtesy visit at the NPA headquarters in Lagos on Tuesday, November 25th, 2025.
Pointing to journalism and its ethics, which allow for balance, accuracy, and facts, Onyeamakara urged Maritime Journalists to strictly adhere to the ethics of the profession, noting that nothing good was ever gained from negative reports.
He solicited for developmental reporting in the sector, especially now that Nigeria is gearing up for elections into the Category C seat at the International Maritime Organisation, (IMO).
The NPA chief image maker noted that such responsible reporting would positively project the industry in Nigeria to the outside world which he believed would garner support from global maritime nations for Nigeria’s victory.
Onyeamakara explained that in other climes, Journalists do not project negative issues of their countries, no matter the situation, hence calling for similar attitude by Nigerian Journalists.
He, however, eulogized MARAN as the very first among the many Maritime Reporters Associations in the sector with a pedigree that has stood the test of time.
He explained that the NPA, in its position both locally and internationally, is more interested in whatever happens in the industry, hence welcoming the idea of a united body of all Journalists’ associations in the maritime industry.
He stressed the need for developmental journalism among the maritime reporters, which he said was crucial for the success of the new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Maritime is a global industry, and whatever the journalists write has a great impact on how the international community views our country.
” In other climes, journalists project the positive side of their maritime industry, although these countries too have the same challenges Nigeria has,” the NPA image maker disclosed.
Onyeamakara also pledged the NPA’s continued support for MARAN and urged the Caretaker Committee to work assiduously to ensure that a credible set of leaders emerges after the association elections.
” The kind of leaders you elect could make or mar the good legacies of the association.
“So you must be careful and meticulous in your choice of the next leaders of the association so that the efforts of the founding leaders of MARAN would not be jeopardized” Onyeamakara admonished.
In his response, the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mr Tunde Ayodele, thanked his host for the warm reception and pledged the continued support of MARAN to ensure the management of the NPA succeeds in its task of repositioning the maritime industry.
“NPA has been a long-standing ally of MARAN over the years, and the present caretaker committee will consolidate on the friendship that exists between the two parties through responsible reporting,” Ayodele declared.
He however explained that the recent
Reorganization in the association became necessary to reposition the foremost journalists’ body in the industry.
The Caretaker committee chairman further pledged that MARAN, as the flagship media association in the maritime industry, would continue to practise developmental journalism, adding that MARAN is open to mutually beneficial partnerships with stakeholders, including government agencies in the industry, to build a vibrant shipping sector.
Ayodele used the occasion to invite the NPA management to the MARAN Book Launch, which comes up on December 4th, 2025, in Lagos, a request to which Onyeamakara graciously acceded, promising that the agency’s management will be adequately represented.

Picture: Onyeamakara in a suit with MARAN caretaker committee. The chairman Tunde Ayodele is in Ankara while, Obot is sporting a white caftan and the Treasurer, Ruth Umunna.

DFC Management by — November 29, 2025 in Transport/Maritime 0
MARAN celebrates Nigeria’s historic IMO Council victory

 


The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has congratulated the Federal Government on Nigeria’s election into Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, describing the victory as a major boost for the nation’s global maritime standing and a strategic win for the blue economy agenda.
In a press statement issued on Friday, the Caretaker Chairman of MARAN, Jayeolatunde Ayodele, said the association received the news of Nigeria’s return to the IMO Council with immense joy, noting that the development reflects the renewed trust of the international community in the country’s maritime reforms and security efforts.
Ayodele said the victory marked the successful culmination of a year-long diplomatic campaign led by the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, whose strategic engagements across continents helped rebuild Nigeria’s presence and credibility within the global maritime sphere. He noted that the win was particularly significant as Nigeria had been absent from the IMO Council for 14 years.
According to him, Nigeria’s election into the Council reaffirms its position as a key maritime state in the Gulf of Guinea and reinforces its role in contributing to international decisions on shipping regulation, maritime safety, and ocean governance. He added that the development would also help drive policy directions that align with Nigeria’s national interest and regional maritime stability.
Ayodele commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing strong political backing to the campaign, stating that the President’s support enabled the Ministry to engage effectively with partner nations and maritime blocs in a highly competitive election cycle. He said the win would further strengthen the administration’s drive to reposition the marine and blue economy sector as a growth engine for the country.
The MARAN chairman noted that the election could not have come at a better time as Nigeria is intensifying reforms across its maritime institutions, including port modernisation, improved waterways security, and enhanced regulatory efficiency. He said being on the IMO Council would open more channels for technical cooperation, knowledge sharing, and partnerships that could accelerate these reforms.
KHe urged maritime agencies to leverage the momentum created by the victory by deepening collaboration, improving service delivery and aligning their operations more closely with international standards. According to him, Nigeria must now demonstrate through its actions that it is prepared to take full advantage of its restored seat at the IMO.
Ayodele reaffirmed MARAN’s commitment to supporting the Ministry and maritime agencies with accurate reporting, constructive analysis, and sustained coverage, stressing that the association remains a critical partner in efforts to advance Nigeria’s maritime development. He said MARAN expects that Nigeria’s renewed presence at the Council will strengthen investor confidence, attract new opportunities, and give the country a more influential voice in global maritime affairs.
He expressed optimism that Nigeria would utilize the platform to contribute meaningfully to discussions on maritime safety, shipping innovations, environmental sustainability, and global regulatory frameworks that shape the shipping industry.
Ayodele concluded by emphasizing that MARAN will continue to uphold its responsibility as the watchdog of the sector while supporting government efforts aimed at improving the maritime domain and ensuring that Nigeria’s interests are well represented on the international stage.

DFC Management by — November 29, 2025 in Transport/Maritime 0
NCJTFLCA alleges assault, arbitrary detention of officials at Seme border

By Foster Obi

Picture: Bank receipt of the money allegedly paid to process bail for the detainees

 

 

The National Compliance Joint Taskforce of Licensed Clearing Agents (NCJTFLCA) has condemned what it describes as a violent attack and unlawful detention of its officials during a routine monitoring exercise near the Seme Border on Monday, November 24, 2025.

A statement signed by Rev. Alex Nwokedi, National Secretary, and Comrade AA Victor, Western Zone PRO, stated that its Western Zone PRO, Comrade AA Victor, led a team to the Badagry roundabout area after observing trucks with covered registration numbers, a red flag for illicit trade. Their attempt to investigate was allegedly met with force by more than 30 individuals, who were allegedly linked to the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).

Victor was reportedly beaten, thrown into a drainage, and left with serious injuries before the matter was reported to the police.

NCJTFLCA described as “shocking and unacceptable” the subsequent detention of its officials by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), allegedly acting on the directives of the Deputy Comptroller, Enforcement, Badagry. The officials were allegedly held for three days, released only after posting bail and signing an undertaking.

The Taskforce says the assault and detention amount to an orchestrated attempt to intimidate its members for uncovering suspicious movements of goods at the border. It linked the incident to what it describes as rising smuggling activities under the new Seme Area Controller, Adewale Adenuga, “with no corresponding improvement in revenue.”

“This is persecution for doing our legitimate job,” the group said, insisting that its findings point to a surge in illicit trade facilitated by compromised elements at the border.

NCJTFLCA demanded a full investigation into the attack, immediate release of any remaining detained officials, sanctions against those behind the smuggling networks, and greater transparency in Customs operations at Seme.

 

Picture: The officials in detention

DFC Management by — November 29, 2025 in Transport/Maritime 0
Nigeria breaks the cycle: secures IMO Category C seat after multiple failed bids 

By Foster Obi


Nigeria has finally clinched a seat in Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for the 2026–2027 biennium, a breakthrough that ends years of failed attempts and marks the country’s most significant diplomatic comeback in the maritime sector in over a decade.
The victory, announced during the Assembly’s Council elections, elevates Nigeria back into the powerful policymaking circle that shapes global maritime regulations, safety standards, and the future of international shipping.
While headlines will simply celebrate the win, the deeper story is Nigeria’s long and frustrating history of unsuccessful bids. For several cycles, Nigeria campaigned vigorously but consistently fell short, losing its place as other African and Middle Eastern countries consolidated their alliances and sharpened their diplomacy.
Maritime analysts recall that Nigeria’s last successful election was in 2009; subsequent attempts, including those in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023, ended in disappointment, often by narrow margins. Over time, the country’s credibility in the IMO system began to erode, with delegates quietly questioning whether Nigeria still had the strategic coordination to win multilateral contests.
But 2025 changed the narrative. The turning point came under the leadership of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who launched the most structured, targeted, and professional IMO campaign Nigeria has run in years.
Instead of the old practice of last-minute lobbying and bloated delegations, the 2025 campaign adopted:
Bilateral shuttle diplomacy to key IMO member states
Technical positioning, highlighting Nigeria’s leadership on Gulf of Guinea maritime security
A unified national delegation, ending the previous era of inter-agency fragmentation
Evidence-based engagement, showcasing port reforms, deep blue security architecture, and inland waterways development
A quiet African bloc consolidation, which analysts say was decisive
Inside the IMO corridors in London, Nigeria was no longer seen as campaigning for prestige but for a country returning to play a serious role in global maritime governance.
The IMO Assembly elected 20 countries into Category C, reserved for states with significant maritime interests not captured under categories A or B.
Category C includes:
Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Türkiye.
This group reflects a balance of regional representation and strategic maritime influence. Nigeria’s inclusion restores West Africa’s weight in IMO decision-making and reaffirms the country’s relevance in global shipping governance.
Securing a Category C seat gives Nigeria the following opportunities: A direct vote on key IMO policies
A platform to influence safety, pollution, and trade rules affecting Nigerian ports and shipping
Leverage to negotiate technical assistance and capacity-building programs
Opportunity to champion African maritime security and trade corridors
It also strengthens the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry’s strategic agenda to grow Nigeria’s shipping participation, expand cabotage implementation, modernize ports, and deepen the blue economy.
What stands out in this election is not just the win, but the resilience behind it. Nigeria entered this race carrying the baggage of numerous defeats. Yet the 2025 campaign proved that global maritime diplomacy rewards coherence, preparation, and seriousness, qualities that were missing for many years.
By winning, Nigeria has not only re-entered the room but has reopened a door that had seemed permanently shut.
The newly elected Council will meet for its 136th session on 4 December to elect its Chair and Vice Chair for the new biennium — and for the first time in years, Nigeria will be there as a voting member, not an observer. This is not just a victory. It is a reset.

Picture: Marine and Blue Economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola

DFC Management by — November 28, 2025 in Transport/Maritime 0
Sahara Group Foundation awards USD 130,000 to 20 African EXTRApreneurs

 


The Sahara Group Foundation (SGF), the social impact arm of Sahara Group, a leading energy and infrastructure conglomerate, has awarded over USD 130,000 to 20 outstanding African EXTRApreneurs under its flagship Sahara Impact Fund (SIF) Cohort 4 and Making A Difference Around Africa (MADAA) initiatives.
For nearly two decades, the Sahara Group Foundation has been a catalyst for sustainable development across Africa, investing in programmes that advance entrepreneurship, environmental stewardship, innovation, and community transformation.
The 2025 editions of the SIF and MADAA programmes were re-engineered in response to insights from previous cycles, which revealed a widening gap between early-stage innovation and market entry in Africa. By deliberately aligning MADAA and SIF, the Foundation has built a streamlined innovation pipeline designed to eliminate barriers, strengthen capacity, and ensure sustainability well beyond the life of the grants.
“Our focus goes beyond disbursing grants,” said David Ayinde, Program Supervisor, Sahara Group Foundation, during the Awards and Gala Night. “We have built a capacity development and business advisory framework that equips our EXTRApreneurs with business intelligence, financial strategy, governance discipline, and commercial readiness to scale their solutions sustainably across African markets.”
“By reinventing the Sahara Impact Fund and elevating the MADAA programme, we are closing the loop between discovery, support, and scale,” said Chidilim Menakaya, Director, Sahara Group Foundation. “These enhancements reflect our commitment to identifying high-potential changemakers and innovators, equipping them with the right skills, and creating real pathways for them to grow sustainable solutions. Ultimately, this integrated approach ensures that promising EXTRApreneurs have a clear, structured, and fully supported route to delivering measurable impact across their communities.”
Charging the awardees to embrace resilience, discipline, and innovation in their businesses, Dr Kola Adesina, Executive Director, Sahara Group said these attributes will help African EXTRApreneurs achieve “transformative impact across the continent with the added incentive of scaling their businesses for global competitiveness.”
Also speaking, Ade Odunsi, Executive Director, Sahara Group, said, “Sahara started out with the mindset of EXTRApreneurship. Your businesses must have unique value propositions that can continually be reengineered for more impact through innovation.”
The 2025 programme cycle attracted over 2,000 applications from across Africa, demonstrating the depth of innovation on the continent. A rigorous selection process shortlisted about 300 innovators for an intensive Capacity Building Workshop delivered by Sahara Group experts. The sessions covered business strategy and sustainability, governance and regulatory compliance, brand positioning and communications, commercial and stakeholder management, and legal, financial, and tax advisory processes.
20 high-potential EXTRApreneurs were eventually selected for the Business Advisory Bootcamp and Sahara M.A.D Den in Lagos, Nigeria, ultimately receiving grants for their businesses.
The recipients of $10,000 include: Chinwendu Augustina Nweke of Bridge Merchant Enterprise (Nigeria); Elvis Kadhama of Essymart Africa Business Link Limited (Uganda); Violet Awo Amoabeng of Skin Gourmet (Ghana); Tracey Shiundu of FunKe Science (Kenya); Salma Medhat of Hiryo (Egypt); Anita Nsiah Donkor of Timoya Farms (Ghana); Dr. Sisay Abebe of KMS ETH Health Trading S.C (Ethiopia); Kedumetse Liphi of Ked-LiphiBw (Botswana); Ernest Mongezi Majenge of The Wheelchair Doctor (South Africa); and Joan Rukundo Nalubega of Uganics Repellents Ltd (Uganda).
$5,000 grants were awarded to Eunice Adewale of Smokeless Briqs Energy Solutions (Nigeria); Henry Danwawo Lamba of Schrödinger Technologie Ltd (Nigeria); Johnson Obute of Maximus Recycling Solutions (Nigeria); Abraham Ugbenja Iborchan of PureLube Limited (Ghana); and Brian Okeyo of Nawiri Organics (Kenya). The $1,000 grant recipients include Jide Ayegbusi of EdGo Technology Ltd (Nigeria); David Ssembajjwe of Camelot Agroecology Farm Ltd (Uganda); Mojola Ola of Gridcrux Energy Solutions (Nigeria); Abiodun Quadri of Zerosmoke Ventures (Nigeria); and Fasanya Samuel Akinpelumi of Poshfil Polish Products Ltd (Nigeria).
For more information on the Sahara Impact Fund, Making A Difference Around Africa Initiative, and other Sahara Group Foundation programs, please visit: www.saharagroupfoundation.org.

Picture: Ade Odunsi, Executive Director, Sahara Group, flanked by recipients of the Sahara Group Foundation Sahara Impact Fund, and Making A Difference Around Africa Grant

DFC Management by — November 28, 2025 in General News 0
DR. BONIFACE ANIEBONAM: THE MAN WHO TURNED MARITIME INTO A MOVEMENT

…Adapted from a Tribute by Hon. Patrick Ezegbudo(Nze Agbalanze)

 

Picture: Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam (Ozo Ebubechukwu Umuawulu, Eze-Oba Nri

 

 

By Foster Obi

From the gentle valleys and fertile hills of Umuawulu, where grace meets greatness and destiny takes form, emerged a man whose vision and courage reshaped Nigeria’s maritime landscape in ways that continue to inspire new generations. Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam (Ozo Ebubechukwu Umuawulu, Eze-Oba Nri) stands today not just as a towering figure in the maritime sector, but as a national asset whose ideas have transformed an entire industry.

A Visionary Who Rewrote the Rules

Few Nigerians have influenced the maritime and logistics ecosystem as profoundly as Dr. Aniebonam. As the founding spirit behind the **National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), he championed professionalism, discipline, and advocacy at a time when the sector was largely unstructured.

He gave freight forwarders a voice.

He gave the industry a compass.

He gave Nigeria a roadmap.

Through NAGAFF, he introduced reforms that strengthened stakeholder engagement, elevated standards, and empowered thousands of practitioners to see themselves not just as port users, but as contributors to the national economy.

A Mind Far Ahead of His Time

Long before the term “blue economy” entered the national conversation, Dr. Aniebonam had been articulating its importance. Long before the current push for port automation, multimodal transport, corridor efficiency, and trade facilitation, he had already laid the intellectual foundation and pushed the conversation into national consciousness.

His ideas have consistently proven prophetic.

His advocacy remains unmatched.

His influence continues to shape policy direction.

A Builder, Mentor, and Thought Leader

Beyond his institutional achievements, Dr. Aniebonam is a mentor to many leaders, young freight forwarders, policymakers, and maritime professionals who have benefited from his guidance and generosity.

His leadership style is marked by clarity, calm persuasion, and an unwavering commitment to integrity.

His traditional titles, Ozo Ebubechukwu Umuawulu and Eze-Oba Nri, reflect not only honour, but responsibility and service to his community.

A Living Archive of Maritime Knowledge

Dr. Aniebonam’s contributions to Nigeria’s port and trade ecosystem are not just historical, they are ongoing. He remains a reference point for maritime policy, a respected voice in national discourse, and a steady compass for those navigating the complex waters of the industry.

Institutions rely on his experience.

Stakeholders value his counsel.

Nigeria continues to draw from its deep reservoir of insight.

Honouring a Maritime Icon in His Lifetime

This tribute celebrates a man who has not only built institutions but continues to nurture them; a man whose ideas do not fade but gain relevance with each passing year; a man whose legacy is not in the past tense, but alive, active, and evolving.

Dr. Boniface Aniebonam is a reminder that one visionary, driven by courage and conviction, can transform an entire sector. And he is still doing so.

 

 

DFC Management by — November 28, 2025 in Transport/Maritime 0
NBA Badagry spotlights Maritime reforms, honours Shippers’ Council CEO

 

Picture: Dr Akutah appreciating the honour 

 

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, has been honoured by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Badagry Branch, also known as the Heritage Bar.

The recognition was conferred on him during the 10th Law Week and the public presentation of the Heritage Bar Journal, held on Thursday in Lagos.

With the theme“Judicial Reputation: Challenges and Solutions,” the event focused on restoring credibility within Nigeria’s justice system and addressing the structural issues undermining public confidence.

Responding to the honour, Dr. Akutah expressed deep appreciation, describing the award as both unexpected and humbling. He attributed the recognition to diligence and commitment to duty, noting that he considers the privilege a product of divine grace and professional dedication.

He urged Nigerians, especially public servants to always give their best, stressing that excellence should be pursued not for applause, but as a matter of principle and integrity. “Whatever responsibility we are given, we must execute it diligently, whether or not recognition comes,” he said.

Representing the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba, Hon. Justice Babafemi Adamson cautioned legal practitioners and the public against the growing culture of analyzing and condemning court judgments on social media without a proper understanding of the law.

He noted that the legal profession is structured with laid-down mechanisms for redress, urging dissatisfied parties to seek remedy through appellate courts rather than social media commentary.

According to him, the core essence of the legal profession is to “sanitize society.”

In his welcome address, Chairman of the NBA Badagry Branch, Lawal Rashidi, Esq., described Dr. Akutah as a distinguished public servant whose proactive leadership at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council aligns strongly with national development priorities.

He noted that the NSC boss has continued to make significant and measurable contributions to the growth and reform of Nigeria’s maritime sector.

 

Picture: Shows Dr Akutah receiving the award from Heritage Bar

DFC Management by — November 28, 2025 in Transport/Maritime 0
Otti rolls out N1.016 trillion 2026 budget, projects N223bn IGR

… Pledges full recurrent spending from internal revenue

 

 

 

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, on Tuesday presented the 2026 budget, titled “Acceleration and New Possibilities”, to the State House of Assembly, proposing a N1.016 trillion fiscal plan with a strong focus on infrastructure, social services, and economic growth.

At the session, Otti highlighted the State’s impressive progress across health, education, agriculture, energy, and urban development in the past 11 months, stressing that the government’s strategic investments had significantly expanded economic activity and investors’ confidence.

“Our cities and towns now rank among the cleanest urban destinations in the country, while productivity in the civil service is rising due to improved welfare and capacity-building programmes,” he said.
“Our grand plan for the youth is to provide them the extensive support they need to build and sustain themselves through consistent value creation.”

Healthcare and Human Capital Development:

The governor announced that health workers in Abia enjoy parity with their federal counterparts, and that 771 new health professionals had been recruited to bolster service delivery across the State.

Since the rollout of the formal sector health insurance programme in April, about 120,000 persons have been enrolled, guaranteeing access to quality healthcare services at partner facilities. Otti noted that Abia was recently ranked the most prepared state for health emergency responses nationwide.

Education: Abia’s Biggest Industry:

Education, described as the State’s largest sector, continues to receive the largest budget allocation, with 20% of the 2026 budget earmarked for education. The government has already recruited 5,394 teachers for primary and secondary schools, with another 4,000 in progress, while over 100 schools are being remodeled and retrofitted with smart learning infrastructure.

“Enrolment has doubled in the last nine months, especially following the rollout of the free and compulsory basic education policy,” the governor said.
Financial and structural support is also being extended to tertiary institutions, including Abia State University, Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, and Abia State College of Education Technical.

Agriculture and Food Security

Otti emphasized a data-driven approach to agriculture, creating a comprehensive database to map farmers, farmlands, and assets. In the last farming season, over 2,000 small-holder farmers received targeted support. Dormant State-owned agricultural assets, including rubber and palm oil plantations, have been surveyed and digitized to guide investor engagement.

Energy Milestones:

Abia’s push for energy independence has seen the passage of the Abia State Electricity Law and the establishment of the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency (ASERA). The government has successfully negotiated the acquisition of electricity distribution assets outside the Aba corridor, advancing its goal of controlling the electricity value chain statewide.

Budget Overview: N1.016 Trillion for 2026

The proposed budget for 2026 totals N1,016,228,072,651.99, a 13% increase over the 2025 budget. 80% of the budget (N811.8 billion) is earmarked for capital projects, including road construction, ICT, health facilities, schools, and urban development, while 20% (N204.4 billion) will fund recurrent expenditure, including salaries and day-to-day administration.

Key allocations include:

Education: N203.2 billion (17 model schools, 3 technical colleges, ICT labs, staff quarters, and tertiary institutions).
Health:*mN149.7 billion (life-saving equipment, 23 public health facilities, and 7 general hospitals).
Roads:N169.3 billion (Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, Ahiaeke-Okwuta-Bende Road, Umuahia-Umueze-Agwu-Mbom Road, and others).
Public Transport: N11.1 billion (80 additional electric buses, transport terminals, junction improvement works, and bus shelters).
Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Youth, Women, Vulnerable Groups: Over N229 billion earmarked for inclusive growth, job creation, and resuscitation of dormant economic assets.

Fiscal Prudence and Revenue Projections:

The governor projected Abia’s IGR at N223.4 billion in 2026, up from about N100 billion in 2025, stressing that all recurrent expenditures will be funded from internal revenue, while external sources will finance capital projects.

Revenue projections include:

FAAC: N83.2 billion
VAT collections:N67.1 billion
Grants and aids: N26.5 billion
Other federal accruals: N168 billion

Total revenue is estimated at N607.2 billion, leaving a deficit of N409 billion, which will be financed through concessional loans exclusively for capital projects.

“Not a penny shall be borrowed to finance recurrent expenditures,” Otti affirmed.
“We shall borrow only when absolutely necessary and only for projects capable of liquidating the loans in the medium to long term.”
Otti thanked the Speaker and Assembly members for their collaboration and formally laid the draft budget before the House for careful consideration and passage.
“This budget is a reflection of our commitment to accelerated development, fiscal prudence, and inclusive growth. I urge the House to consider it judiciously in the interest of all Ndi Abia,”* the governor concluded.

Picture: Governor Alex Chioma Otti

DFC Management by — November 26, 2025 in General News 0