We are not intimidated by attacks on PDP — Gbenga Hashim Declares, warns against one-Party agenda

 

Former presidential candidate We are not intimidated by attacks on PDP — Gbenga Hashim Declares, warns against one-Party agenda. Gbenga Hashim has declared that he is not intimidated by either legal or political manoeuvres aimed at weakening the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting that Nigeria’s multiparty democracy is too deeply rooted to be destroyed.
In a strongly worded statement, Hashim said he was “not intimidated by the legal and political subterfuges sponsored by the ruling APC”, stressing that no individual or party can monopolise power in Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria has historically adopted pluralism as a means of managing its diversity, noting that the nation’s founding fathers deliberately chose a multiparty system at independence.
“Nigeria has always been committed to multiparty democracy,” Hashim said. “Even in the First Republic, political power was never concentrated in the hands of one man or one party.”
He recalled that despite the towering influence of Sir Ahmadu Bello as leader of the Northern People’s Congress, other political forces such as Aminu Kano’s NEPU, J.S. Tarka’s Middle Belt Congress, and Sir Kashim Ibrahim’s Borno People’s Union coexisted with significant influence and representation.
Hashim noted that similar political diversity thrived in the South West, where the Action Group competed with the NCNC, alongside regional parties such as the Ibadan People’s Party.
“Our democracy has never been a democracy of one star flying in its firmament,” he said. “In our sky are thousands of stars.”
Drawing lessons from history, Hashim likened the current political climate to the failed self-succession agenda of late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, who attempted to impose himself as the sole presidential candidate of all five registered political parties at the time.
“We are living witnesses to the failure of that plot,” he said, warning that although today’s situation carries “a more sinister twist,” the outcome would be no different.
“While Abacha sought to make himself the sole candidate of all parties, the current agenda is to ensure that no major party is strong enough to field a credible candidate,” Hashim stated.
Expressing confidence that such efforts would collapse, he added, “Just as the Abacha plot ended unrealised, this infantile machination will end in disaster for its authors, by the grace of God.”
Hashim also recalled his personal involvement in the struggle against military rule, emphasising that the resistance was led from within Nigeria, not from exile.
“We fought the self-succession plot here at home, not as self-styled exiled democrats sipping cognac in foreign embassies,” he said.
He revealed that he was part of the internal resistance delegation present at Fort IBB on June 8, 1998, during a critical moment in Nigeria’s history, even as heavy military movements threatened the nation’s future.
Concluding, Hashim expressed firm belief that history would repeat itself.
“The same God who granted us the grace to witness the collapse of the Abacha plot will also help us see the end of the APC-or-no-other-party agenda,” he said.

Picture: Dr Gbenga Hashim

NIMASA commends Maritime Media for Nigeria’s IMO Council victory

 


The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has lauded the role of Nigerian journalists, particularly the maritime media, in Nigeria’s recent victory at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council elections, urging them to sustain responsible and patriotic reporting to consolidate the global gain.

Nigeria last month secured a coveted Category C seat on the IMO Council, ending a 14-year streak of unsuccessful attempts and marking a significant milestone in the country’s maritime diplomacy.

Speaking while receiving the leadership of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), led by its caretaker chairman, Mr. Tunde Ayodele, at NIMASA headquarters in Lagos, the agency’s Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations, Mr. Edward Osagie, said the maritime media played a critical role in projecting Nigeria’s maritime potential and governance reforms to the international community.

Osagie noted that consistent and informed reporting by maritime journalists complemented the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and NIMASA in showcasing Nigeria’s capacity in maritime administration, which ultimately strengthened the country’s campaign for the IMO Council seat.

He stressed the importance of developmental journalism in nation-building, warning that negative or misleading narratives could damage Nigeria’s image and undermine its international standing.

“The international community is taking note of every report we write about our country and using them to assess us as a nation,” Osagie said. “That is why patriotism and commitment to nation-building must guide how we report issues.”

He, however, expressed concern over what he described as attempts by a few journalists to push “wrong narratives” following the recent arrest of a vessel, MT *Skipper*, by the United States Coast Guard over alleged crude oil theft and other transnational crimes.

Clarifying the issue, Osagie said the vessel neither flew the Nigerian flag nor was its alleged owner, Thomarose Global Ventures Limited, registered with NIMASA as a shipping company.

“What identifies a vessel is the flag it flies,” he said. “Since the detained vessel was not flying the Nigerian flag, those who ascribed its ownership to Nigeria did so either out of mischief or ignorance.”

Despite these concerns, the NIMASA spokesman praised MARAN for what he described as consistent responsible journalism and balanced reporting, even in instances where the agency may not have met the expectations of journalists.

“MARAN is a brand we are proud of in the industry,” Osagie said. “Despite our shortcomings, you have not written negative reports about our activities and operations.”

He pledged the agency’s support for the newly constituted MARAN caretaker committee, assuring members of NIMASA’s commitment to maintaining a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with the association.

Earlier, Ayodele said the visit was aimed at consolidating the long-standing relationship between MARAN and NIMASA, noting that the association would continue to practise responsible journalism that enhances the agency’s operations and promotes Nigeria’s credibility in the global maritime space.

He called on NIMASA to reciprocate the gesture through actions that would strengthen the professional integrity and welfare of maritime journalists.

Both parties engaged in discussions on deepening collaboration, reaffirming their shared values and commitment to advancing Nigeria’s maritime sector and international reputation.
Picture: (L-R) Chairman, MARAN Caretaker Committee, Tunde Ayodele, Treasurer, Ruth Umunna and Deputy Director/Head of Public Relations, NIMASA, Mr. Edward Osagie at NIMASA headquarters, Lagos.

Marine and Blue Economy Ministry unveils Digital Platform to boost transparency, service delivery

 

By Foster Obi

 

The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has taken a significant step in its digital reform initiative with the launch of an Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), designed to enhance transparency, efficiency, and service delivery across the sector.

This was contained in a statement signed by Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.

According to the statement, the platform was unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, alongside the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, at the Ministry’s Fourth Quarter 2025 Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

The engagement, which drew regulators, private sector operators, investors, and development partners from across the marine and blue economy value chain, was held under the theme, “Positioning Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy for Investment, Innovation and Expansion: The Pathway.”

Speaking at the event, Oyetola described the launch of the ECMS as a critical pillar of the Ministry’s institutional reform agenda and a practical expression of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“A digitally enabled Ministry is a more responsive Ministry,” the Minister said. “Through the ECMS, we are streamlining workflows, strengthening records management, improving decision-making, and enhancing our capacity to support investors, operators, and partners with speed, clarity, and integrity.”

He said the stakeholder engagement was deliberately designed to deepen transparency, accountability, and shared ownership of reforms, as the Federal Government works to reposition the marine and blue economy as a driver of economic diversification, growth, and global competitiveness.

Highlighting the sector’s potential, Oyetola noted that Nigeria’s long coastline, extensive inland waterways, and strategic location offer vast opportunities in maritime trade, fisheries, aquaculture, logistics, tourism, and allied services, with significant implications for job creation and regional integration.

The Minister outlined key gains recorded by the Ministry over the past year, particularly in fisheries and aquaculture, where local fish production rose from 1.1 million metric tonnes to 1.4 million metric tonnes. While acknowledging that the figure remains below Nigeria’s annual consumption level of about 3.6 million tonnes, he said the improvement reflected targeted interventions, better coordination, and increased use of technology.

He also disclosed that the Ministry has begun engagements with financial institutions to provide single-digit interest loans for fishermen across the country, a move aimed at boosting productivity, expanding access to affordable finance, and tackling illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

On the international front, Oyetola said Nigeria’s election into Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as well as its emergence as Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, signalled renewed global confidence in the country’s maritime governance and policy direction.

According to him, the Ministry’s reform efforts have also attracted positive national recognition, including a 96 per cent performance rating by the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit, favourable assessments by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, and recent National Bureau of Statistics data ranking water transportation among the five fastest-growing sectors of the economy.

In her remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Walson-Jack, praised the Ministry for what she described as far-reaching reforms, particularly the successful deployment of the ECMS.

She said the platform would support paperless governance, improve records management, and significantly reduce bureaucratic delays within the Ministry, while aligning it with the broader digital transformation agenda of the Federal Civil Service.

“The ECMS will strengthen institutional memory, enhance accountability, and promote faster, more efficient service delivery,” she said.

Stakeholders at the event reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the growth and sustainability of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy, describing the reforms as timely and critical to unlocking investment and innovation in the sector.

Picture: The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack arriving for the launch.

 

Tompolo’s birthday salute to Wike: More than words from the Creeks

 

 

By Foster Obi

 

High Chief (Dr.) Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, on Sunday publicly congratulated the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on his 58th birthday. He described him as a leader whose public life continues to reflect courage, conviction, and an unwavering sense of duty.

In the message issued on behalf of the leadership and staff of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), Tompolo said Wike’s journey through public service, marked by legal brilliance, political audacity, and firm decision-making, has consistently demonstrated that true leadership is defined by impact, not rhetoric.

He noted that from Wike’s formative years in public administration through his tenure as Governor of Rivers State and now as FCT Minister, his performance has remained anchored on results, resilience, and a relentless commitment to public good.

Among other things, he eulogized Wike as “Mr Projects,” his massively felt presence at the FCT while praying for renewed strength, good health, sharper vision, and continued success in all his assignments.

Analysts believe that while the message read like a simple goodwill note between two Niger Delta sons but in Nigeria’s oil-soaked politics, such gestures are not mere words. They are signals carefully calibrated, deeply political, and often loaded with meaning.

Tompolo’s birthday message also praised Wike’s “courage, leadership, and unwavering commitment to national development.” Coming from one of the most powerful non-state actors in Nigeria’s oil security architecture, the message was not just personal; it was political communication.

Both men hail from the Niger Delta, a region where oil, grievance, and politics intersect with unusual intensity. Wike, a former Rivers State governor and now one of the most influential ministers in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, is known for his blunt political style and extensive power networks. Tompolo, once the face of armed resistance in the creeks, has reinvented himself as a central player in Nigeria’s oil security ecosystem.

In that context, the birthday salute served as a public acknowledgement of mutual relevance. For Tompolo, it reinforced access, symbolic and practical to the corridors of federal power. For Wike, it underscored his continued acceptability among key Niger Delta stakeholders whose cooperation remains essential to oil production stability.

Tompolo’s influence today rests largely on Tantita, the private security firm contracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to provide pipeline surveillance across major oil-producing corridors in the Niger Delta.

Since its engagement, Tantita has been credited by government officials and industry insiders with contributing to improved crude oil output by helping curb large-scale theft, illegal tapping, and vandalism. Nigeria’s production recovery from historic lows has frequently been linked to tighter surveillance and community-based intelligence, an area where Tantita’s local roots give it an edge.

Yet the model is not without controversy. Critics argue that outsourcing critical national infrastructure protection to private firms, especially those linked to former militant leaders, risks entrenching patronage and weakening institutional accountability. Supporters counter that conventional security agencies failed for years, and that pragmatic solutions are required in difficult terrain.

Tompolo’s birthday message to Wike, therefore, sits within this delicate balance: affirming loyalty to the state while reminding Abuja of the value Tantita brings to the table.

Echoes of the Jonathan years

The dynamics are not new. During the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, another Niger Delta son, Tompolo enjoyed unprecedented influence. His company, Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, was engaged by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to provide maritime security services under a public-private partnership arrangement.

That era represented a high point of state-ex-militant collaboration. Tompolo was seen as a stabilising force, ensuring calm in the creeks and protecting oil and maritime assets. But it was also politically contentious. When President Muhammadu Buhari took office in 2015, the Global West arrangement was terminated, amid allegations of impropriety and a broader effort to dismantle Jonathan-era patronage structures.

The lesson was clear: proximity to power matters but only for as long as the power configuration holds.

It is against this historical backdrop that Tompolo’s latest gesture should be read. The birthday message is a reminder that he has learned the cost of political isolation and now prioritises relationship-building across administrations.

Tompolo has never hidden his loyalty to Jonathan. During the turbulent election cycles that followed, he openly aligned with Niger Delta interests, even as militancy simmered and later gave way to the federal government’s amnesty framework.

What has changed is the method, not the objective. Where armed agitation once dominated, today’s strategy is engagement, symbolism,a nd economic relevance. Publicly acknowledging powerful figures like Wike serves to position Tompolo not as a rebel at the gates, but as a stakeholder within the system.

The birthday message, therefore, is part of a broader recalibration, a signal that Tompolo is invested in stability, partnership , and continuity.

Ijaw Welfare and grassroots legitimacy

Beyond contracts and politics lies another layer: community legitimacy. Tompolo remains a revered figure among many Ijaw communities, where he is seen as both protector and benefactor. Through employment opportunities, local surveillance networks, and informal welfare interventions, Tantita has become an economic lifeline in some riverine areas.

By maintaining visibility and relevance at the federal level, Tompolo strengthens his ability to deliver benefits back home, reinforcing a social contract that underpins peace in the creeks.

In this sense, the birthday message also speaks to his base. It reassures supporters that their leader remains connected, heard, and influential in Abuja.

Nigeria’s oil security architecture remains fragile, shaped as much by relationships as by rules. In such an environment, symbolic gestures carry weight. Tompolo’s message to Wike is one such signal, a quiet affirmation of alignment, a hedge against political uncertainty, and a reminder of the enduring role of Niger Delta power brokers.

Whether this translates into expanded influence, contract renewals, or deeper political cooperation remains to be seen.

 

 

Otti maps Abia’s future, unveils 25-Year Development plan with legal backing 

 

By Foster Obi

 

Governor Alex Otti yesterday placed Abia State firmly on a long-term development path, unveiling a legally binding 25-Year Development Plan that will guide governance, spending, and growth priorities up to 2050, while declaring the state “a new development frontier” in Nigeria’s evolving macroeconomic landscape.
Speaking at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Otti said the future Abia seeks “will not happen by chance,” insisting that disciplined planning, rather than political improvisation, was the only shield against uncertainty in an era of global economic shocks.
Quoting Lewis Carroll and Benjamin Franklin, the governor warned that societies that fail to plan “are already planning to fail,” adding that the newly unveiled blueprint was not a utopian wish list but “a realistic framework against which policies, budgets, and leadership choices will be judged.”
“This plan is not an imaginary El Dorado by 2050,” Otti said. “It is a holistic development framework that captures where we are, where we want to be, and the decision pathways required to get there.”
Why a new plan:
Otti explained that Abia’s earlier 30-year plan, launched in 2020, had become outdated, overtaken by sweeping changes in local and global economic fundamentals, landmark legislations, constitutional adjustments, and the policy direction of the new federal and state administrations.
More critically, he said, Abia’s own rapid progress over the past 30 months had rendered many old assumptions obsolete, demanding a recalibration of the state’s long-term economic architecture.
“Expectations are higher, optimism is rising, and confidence in Abia is growing both locally and internationally,” he said, pointing to the presence of global development partners as evidence of renewed trust in the state’s economic direction.
A plan with teeth:
In a clear departure from past development documents that gathered dust after launch, Otti disclosed that the 25-year plan has been anchored in law by the Abia State House of Assembly, making it binding on successive administrations.
“What we are unveiling is more than a proposal,” he said. “It is a binding law that this administration and those to come are obliged to follow.”
Under the framework, annual budgets from the 2026 fiscal year will be drawn directly from the plan, while comprehensive reviews will be conducted every five years to measure progress, correct lapses, and recalibrate projections in response to major socioeconomic disruptions.
The plan sets milestones across education, healthcare, infrastructure, housing, transport, water and sanitation, environmental sustainability, and institutional capacity building.
Self-sufficiency agenda:
Otti also linked the development roadmap to Abia’s fiscal strategy, announcing a bold target to achieve self-sufficiency in recurrent expenditure beginning in 2026 through stronger internally generated revenue (IGR).
The governor said Abia aims to fund salaries, pensions, and routine government operations entirely from internal revenue, while channeling all external inflows into capital projects.
“As we deliver impactful infrastructure, productivity will rise, assets will unlock value, and public revenue will grow,” he said, expressing optimism that within a decade, Abia would rely far less on external allocations.
Global confidence, local ownership:
The governor paid glowing tribute to the Abia Economic Management Team, the Abia Global Economic Advisory Council (AGEAC), co-chaired by Prof. Arunma Oteh, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi, Bolaji Balogun, and Ifueko Okauru, as well as development partners including UNDP, PIND, PACE, and PwC for shaping what he described as a people-owned plan.
“This is not the ideas of a few eggheads,” Otti said. “It reflects the collective aspirations of the Abia community and makes room for future generations.”
“The future is now mapped”
As he formally unveiled the document, Otti urged citizens to see the plan as a collective covenant rather than a government proclamation.
“The New Abia project is our shared responsibility,” he said. “All that is required of us is to believe and do our part.”
With the blueprint now in place, the governor declared, “The future of Abia is mapped.”

2025 in Review: How NSIA deepened Its role as Nigeria’s Systems Builder

By Foster Obi

 

 

More than a decade after its establishment, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) is steadily redefining its place in Nigeria’s development architecture, evolving from a stabilisation and savings vehicle into a strategic national systems builder addressing structural constraints across key sectors of the economy.
Created by an Act of Parliament to save for future generations, provide fiscal stabilisation and invest in critical infrastructure, the Authority has, in recent years, expanded its mandate in practice by blending financial discipline with targeted interventions in healthcare, energy, agriculture, housing, innovation and capital markets. In 2025, that trajectory became more pronounced.
The Authority strengthened its standing as one of the world’s best-governed sovereign institutions, attaining a 100 per cent rating on the Global SWF Governance, Sustainability and Resilience Index, while maintaining its 9/10 score on the Linaburg-Maduell Transparency Index. The ratings reinforced NSIA’s growing reputation for accountability, responsible investing, and institutional integrity.
Financially, 2025 marked a defining phase. Although established with dollar-denominated capital, NSIA reports in naira in line with its enabling Act, while also presenting results in U.S. dollars to reflect underlying value amid currency volatility. By June 2025, net assets crossed the $3 billion threshold for the first time, supported by government contributions and retained earnings. Core Total Comprehensive Income rose by six per cent year-on-year to ₦202.10 billion in the first half of the year, while net assets grew from $1 billion at inception to $3.10 billion, representing a compound annual growth rate of 9.9 per cent across multiple economic cycles.
Beyond balance-sheet strength, NSIA continued to deploy capital to deliver measurable development outcomes. In the innovation space, the Authority partnered with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to establish the $28 million Impact Innovation Fund, combining concessional financing with NSIA capital to support early-stage technology startups addressing social challenges. The Fund, which progressed through key legal and operational milestones in 2025, is designed to tackle Nigeria’s persistent early-stage financing gap and scale commercially viable solutions.
This intervention builds on the momentum of the NSIA Prize for Innovation (NPI), which has become a major pipeline for young entrepreneurs. The third edition attracted over 5,000 applications nationwide, with more than $250,000 awarded to top innovators. Many beneficiaries have since attracted follow-on funding, strengthening confidence in Nigeria’s emerging innovation ecosystem.
In healthcare, NSIA expanded its footprint through its subsidiary, MedServe, following its appointment by the Federal Ministry of Health as project manager for upgrading oncology and nuclear medicine facilities in six tertiary hospitals. In 2025, three upgraded oncology centres were commissioned at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, and Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina. Patient treatments commenced at UNTH, while training programmes were scheduled to begin at the other centres. The projects build on NSIA’s existing oncology and diagnostics facilities and are expected to significantly improve access to quality cancer care.
To complement infrastructure with human capital, the Authority continued its $2 million oncology training programme, launched in 2024 in partnership with global health organisations. By 2025, over 186 clinicians had undergone specialised training, delivering more than 10,000 hours of capacity building and strengthening the foundations of sustainable cancer care delivery nationwide.
Energy access remained another focal area. Through the Renewable Investment Platform for Limitless Energy (RIPLE), NSIA advanced investments across the renewable value chain, from diesel displacement to solar manufacturing and battery storage. RIPLE builds on the 10MW Kano Solar Project, Nigeria’s largest grid-connected solar plant. In parallel, the Distributed Renewable Energy Fund, launched in 2025 with partners including Africa50 and the International Solar Alliance, aims to unlock private capital for off-grid and mini-grid solutions in underserved communities.
In agriculture, NSIA’s stewardship of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) continued to yield structural gains. Since assuming management in 2017, the number of operational fertiliser blending plants has grown from four to over 80, supporting more than 100,000 jobs and producing an estimated 130 million bags of fertiliser. In 2025, NSIA worked with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated to transition PFI-NPK Ltd into a new governance framework, safeguarding the programme’s long-term sustainability.
Housing also featured prominently. Under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Initiative, NSIA supported the development of affordable housing in Kano, with the project reaching 75 per cent completion by the third quarter of 2025 and running ahead of schedule. This complements the Authority’s earlier role in establishing institutions such as the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company and the Family Homes Fund.
In financial markets, NSIA helped deepen credit access through its contribution to the ₦100 billion capitalisation of the National Credit Guarantee Company, alongside other public institutions. The initiative builds on NSIA’s earlier success with InfraCredit, which has mobilised over ₦300 billion for infrastructure financing, and the Green Guarantee Company, a climate-focused guarantor developed with international partners.
The Authority also played a policy-shaping role, contributing to the development of Nigeria’s National Carbon Market Framework, approved in November 2025, positioning the country to attract climate finance and generate high-integrity carbon credits.
On the continental stage, NSIA hosted the fourth Africa Sovereign Investors Forum, culminating in the launch of the ASIF Investment Platform, co-stewarded with Morocco’s Ithmar Capital, to mobilise capital for infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and food security across Africa.
Cumulatively, NSIA’s interventions have created more than 245,000 jobs, reflecting an approach that views national development as a function of resilient systems rather than isolated projects.
As 2025 draws to a close, the Authority says it is well-positioned to benefit from an improving global outlook and enters 2026 with a strong financial and strategic footing. For NSIA, the numbers tell only part of the story; behind them lie improved healthcare outcomes, empowered entrepreneurs, expanded energy access, and stronger institutions—evidence of a sovereign wealth fund increasingly aligned with Nigeria’s long-term development priorities.

APC Picks Oyebamiji:Can a riverboat record sink an incumbent in Osun?

 

Picture: Oyebamiji

 

By Foster Obi

 

The emergence of the immediate past Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, as the consensus governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has thrown up a contest layered with power, precedent, and political irony.
Oyebamiji is not just another technocrat-turned-politician. He is widely seen as one of President Bola Tinubu’s trusted hands, a perception strengthened by his smooth sail to the APC ticket. Yet, his entry into the Osun governorship race also reopens old political wounds for the ruling party at the centre, especially given the complicated history between Tinubu’s political camp and the incumbent Osun governor, Ademola Adeleke now flying the flag of the Accord Party.
Oyebamiji’s tenure at NIWA provides the clearest window into how he may govern Osun, if elected. Appointed at a time when the inland waterways sector was mired in regulatory overlaps, institutional rivalry and insecurity, his leadership focused on asserting NIWA’s statutory authority, particularly over inland ports and waterways infrastructure.
Under his watch, NIWA pushed aggressively to reclaim and regulate inland waterways from state encroachment, often putting the agency on a collision course with powerful subnational actors. Supporters hail this as courage and fidelity to federal law; critics describe it as combative centralism that sometimes prioritizes authority over consensus.
There were visible gains: increased attention to inland water transport, renewed interest in barge operations, and attempts, however uneven, to improve safety standards and revenue remittance.
Yet, the NIWA years were also marked by controversies, including disputes with coastal states and lingering questions over how much of the promised inland waterway revolution truly reached everyday users.
For Osun voters, the question is simple: does a record forged on rivers and ports translate into leadership on land, on roads, schools, healthcare and jobs?
A Tinubu Man in a the eye of the storm:
Politically, Oyebamiji enters the race with the full weight of the APC’s national machinery and, crucially, the perceived backing of President Tinubu. In Osun, that matters. The state remains one of the symbolic battlegrounds of South-West politics, where Tinubu’s influence has been tested, and bruised in recent years.
That bruising came most notably through the defeat of the immediate past Osun governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, now Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and a cousin of the President. His loss to the current governor, who has since decamped to the Accord Party, remains a painful reminder that federal might does not automatically translate to electoral victory in Osun.
This is the irony Oyebamiji must navigate. He benefits from Tinubu’s support, but he also inherits the burden of Tinubu’s last political loss in the state.
The incumbent governor’s defection to the Accord Party adds another layer of unpredictability. Stripped of a major party platform but armed with incumbency, grassroots structures and a tested voter base, he represents a different kind of challenge.
Incumbency in Osun has historically been a powerful weapon. Control of local networks, visibility through governance, and the ability to frame the election as continuity versus uncertainty could play strongly in his favour, especially if the electorate views the APC as recycling external influence rather than offering a fresh social contract.
Oyebamiji’s challenge will be to avoid being branded merely as “Abuja’s candidate” or “Tinubu’s man,” and instead convince voters that his technocratic background equips him to fix Osun’s peculiar problems.
What the race may bring:
Ultimately, the contest may not hinge on party logos alone, but on narratives:
On the side of APC: competence in the face of a bleeding economy and beleaguered populace, federal alignment, and a promise to plug Osun into national development pipelines.
On the side of the Incumbent: experience, continuity, and resistance to external political dominance.
Oyebamiji’s NIWA record gives him an image of discipline and administrative firmness. Whether that image resonates with market women in Ilesa, farmers in Iwo, and civil servants in Osogbo is another matter entirely.
As Osun heads into another defining election, the state may once again test a familiar proposition of Nigerian politics which is, Can technocracy, backed by federal power, defeat incumbency rooted in local loyalty?
For Bola Oyebamiji, the rivers he once regulated may prove easier to navigate than the political currents now ahead.

Ogalla exits as Navy chief, urges consolidation of gains against oil theft

By Foster Obi


As Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla took his final salute at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Quorra in Apapa on Thursday, his departure marked the end of a tenure defined by intensified operations against crude oil theft, piracy, and other maritime crimes, threats that have long bled Nigeria’s economy and stained its standing in the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking at his departure parade, the immediate past Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) credited the Navy’s improved maritime security outcomes to “strengthened operations and the dedication of its personnel,” urging the service to consolidate the gains recorded in recent years. Under his watch, the Navy prioritised practical, intelligence-driven measures aimed at denying criminals freedom of action at sea and along Nigeria’s vast coastline.
That focus, Ogalla said, yielded “greater security in the maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea as a whole,” a claim that aligns with the steady decline in reported piracy incidents and increased interdictions of illegal refining sites and crude-laden vessels within Nigeria’s waters. More than hardware or platforms, he emphasised the commitment of officers and ratings across all ranks as the engine of progress.
Ogalla’s exit comes at a moment when the fight against oil theft has again seized public attention following the interception by United States authorities of a supertanker, MV Skipper, over alleged crude oil theft. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has since denied reports suggesting the vessel was Nigerian-flagged, stressing that it does not sail under Nigeria’s registry.
While that clarification is significant, maritime experts insist it should not breed complacency. Oil theft is a transnational crime, and Nigeria, by virtue of its production volumes and strategic location remains a prime target. The episode underscores the need for sustained vigilance, intelligence-sharing, and coordinated action between the Nigerian Navy, NIMASA, and international partners, regardless of a vessel’s flag.
During Ogalla’s tenure, the Navy deepened cooperation with sister agencies and private security partners, tightened patrols in critical corridors, and sustained presence in Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone. These efforts contributed to Nigeria’s improved reputation in the Gulf of Guinea, once labelled the world’s piracy capital.
Yet consolidation, as the outgoing CNS advised, is now the real test. Criminal networks adapt quickly, exploiting legal loopholes, weak inter-agency coordination, and economic pressures in coastal communities. Sustaining the gains will require continued investment in platforms, maritime domain awareness, personnel welfare, and robust prosecution of offenders to break the cycle of arrest-and-release.
As Vice Admiral Ogalla passes the baton, his legacy is one of operational momentum and renewed confidence within the Navy. The charge to his successors is clear: hold the line, deepen reforms, and ensure that Nigeria’s waters and the wider Gulf of Guinea do not relapse into insecurity. The fight against oil theft and maritime crime is far from over, but the foundations laid must not be allowed to erode.

U.S. seizure of Nigerian Supertanker exposes depth of Crude theft crisis

 

…Navy, Tantita in spotlight as Abuja faces tough policy choices

 

By Foster Obi

Nigeria’s battle against crude oil theft entered a new and troubling phase this week after U.S. authorities intercepted and impounded a Nigerian-owned Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) over allegations of transporting stolen crude. The development, one of the most high-profile foreign seizures linked to Nigeria’s illicit oil networks has once again raised concerns about the country’s maritime governance and the reach of organised bunkering syndicates.
The action by the U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies is being read by analysts as a stark international indictment of Nigeria’s long-running struggle to secure its pipelines, terminals, and export corridors. More troubling is what security sources describe as “a maturing criminal ecosystem”: a network capable of moving siphoned crude from Delta creeks to global markets using reflagged vessels, shell companies, and complex trading channels.
Preliminary disclosures suggest that U.S. authorities acted on weeks of intelligence-sharing with international maritime partners, tracking the suspect vessel’s movements and paperwork. What they uncovered, officials say, fits a familiar pattern, clandestine tapping of pipelines, illegal loading via makeshift barges, midstream transfers in remote waters, and eventual aggregation into ocean-going carriers shielded by opaque documentation.
For a country already losing billions annually to oil theft, the symbolism of a foreign power halting a Nigerian-linked tanker is hard to miss. It signals, experts say, “a systems failure” that transcends law enforcement and speaks to deeper structural weaknesses in regulatory oversight, export protocols, and maritime surveillance.

Navy, Tantita and the complex architecture of enforcement:

On the home front, the Nigerian Navy has, in recent years, expanded patrols, interdictions, and joint operations across the Niger Delta’s labyrinth of creeks. Senior naval officers point to dozens of arrests, equipment seizures, and the destruction of illegal refining sites as evidence that the tide is turning.
Still, they admit that the terrain and the sophistication of criminal actors present a formidable challenge. Limited surveillance assets, difficult waterways, and deep community entanglements combine to frustrate even well-planned missions.
Running parallel to the Navy’s efforts is Tantita Security Services Ltd., the private security outfit with deep local roots. Its operations contract with the federal government has produced significant discoveries of illegal taps and loading points. Industry observers credit Tantita with “re-introducing local intelligence” into a fight often dominated by hardware rather than knowledge.
But the partnership is not without friction. Concerns persist about overlapping mandates, accountability gaps, and occasional tensions with established security agencies, a reminder that Nigeria still lacks a unified operational doctrine on how state and private actors should collaborate in high-risk maritime theatres.
The VLCC seizure illustrates the governance loopholes that criminals exploit:
Opaque ship-ownership structures, often registered across multiple jurisdictions.
Weak beneficiary-owner disclosure rules in maritime operations.
Slow inter-agency intelligence coordination, especially between upstream regulators, security agencies, and export terminals.
Limited international legal cooperation delays the prosecution of transnational actors.
Analysts warn that until Nigeria fixes its maritime registry transparency and accelerates legal cooperation with foreign jurisdictions, more vessels will slip through and some will be caught only when they reach faraway ports.
Policy experts outline several urgent interventions:
Full transparency in vessel ownership and chartering, with strict enforcement of beneficial-owner disclosure.
A single maritime intelligence fusion centre bringing together the Navy, NIMASA, NNPCL, Customs, and vetted private security partners for real-time response.
A stronger diplomatic and legal framework to pursue stolen-crude cases abroad swiftly and coherently.
Clear rules for integrating private security operations, ensuring accountability without undermining their community-level intelligence capacity.
A sustainable community-engagement model that tackles the economic incentives driving crude theft at the grassroots.
The U.S. seizure is more than a headline; it is a warning flare. It signals that Nigeria’s crude-theft crisis is no longer a domestic embarrassment but a global security concern. And while recent efforts by the Navy and Tantita have produced notable gains, the scale and sophistication of the networks involved suggest that enforcement alone will not be enough.
If Abuja responds with coordinated reforms, rather than another cycle of ad-hoc measures, the country may yet regain control of a sector that remains the backbone of its economy. Failure, however, would mean continued losses, weakened global credibility, and emboldened criminal syndicates.

Picture: The intercepted Supertanker

NSC unveils Enterprise Content Management System, sets Benchmark for Digital Governance

 

Picture: Participants in a group photo. The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, is 6th left, while the Executive Secretary and CEO of the NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, is 5th from right.

 

 

Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has officially unveiled its Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), marking a milestone in the Federal Government’s drive to modernise public‑service delivery and improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria’s maritime sector. The unveiling ceremony took place in Abuja.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, commended the initiative, describing the ECMS as “a tool that will significantly enhance operational efficiency, eliminate administrative delays, and elevate the quality of public service delivery.” He urged other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to emulate NSC’s digital transformation drive.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, described the launch as “timely and strategic,” noting that technology is now essential for transparency and competitiveness in the maritime sector. “The Shippers’ Council’s digital leap strengthens the foundation for more efficient service delivery,” he said.
He added that the digital transformation remains central to the Ministry’s vision to position Nigeria as a competitive and efficient maritime nation.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson‑Jack, noted that the NSC is the first agency to invite her to an ECMS launch, highlighting the Council’s leadership in driving the Federal Government’s digital agenda.
She described the ECMS as “a digital ecosystem that minimises delays, prevents loss and fosters unity and clarity across departments,” and urged sustained capacity‑building and digital literacy for staff.
She also emphasized the Federal Government’s commitment to a fully digital, paperless public service by the end of 2025 while calling for continuous staff training and improved digital skills.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary and CEO of the (NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah, explained that the ECMS is a core pillar of the Council’s transformation agenda, designed to eradicate manual file movement and long‑standing administrative bottlenecks, in line with the Federal Government’s digital mandate
The NSC boss expressed appreciation to the SGF, Minister, Head of the Civil Service, stakeholders, and the Council for their support and contributions to the project’s success.
He called on staff to fully embrace the new platform to maximise its transformative value.
Stakeholders at the event commended the NSC for pioneering the system and expressed their readiness to support its broader adoption across MDAs.
The launch further reinforces the NSC’s role as an economic regulator committed to innovation, transparency, and improved service delivery in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

Picture: The launch is about to Kickstart. The Executive Secretary and CEO of the NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, is in a blue tie from left, followed by the Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson‑Jack.