General News
Nigeria’s maritime industry: A N1trn opportunity waiting to be tapped…NIMENA chair
By Saint Mugaga
Nigeria’s blue economic sector is estimated to have the capacity to generate over One trillion Naira annually into the national coffers if properly harnessed.
Engr. Dr Eferebo I. Sylvanus FNSE, National Chairman, Nigeria Institution of Maritime Engineers and Naval Architects, NIMENA, while speaking at the 14th Annual Conference of the Institution with the theme, “Digital Maritime Transformation and Smart Solutions: A Pathway to the Advancement of Nigeria’s Blue Economy, ” held in Port Harcourt.
He said lack of clear national policy, poor standardisation and lack of technical sovereignty still threaten actualisation of the full gains of the sector.
According to him, Nigeria has one of the most active maritime sectors because of oil and gas business and a long stretch of coastline and inland waters.
He said the sector has the capacity to create millions of jobs for the young population and create enormous wealth for the country.
Sylvanus, however, said the country is missing out on opportunities to unlock the sector because it technically relies on foreign certification and standardization for its operations.
“If we want to solve unemployment issues in this country and create enormous wealth.
Nigeria has one of the most active maritime sectors in the oil and gas industry. We also have a long coastline; our inland waterways alone span 10,000 kilometres. Then, to crown it all, we also have young talents.
So, the problem is not about shortage of talents but a structured pathway, so this conference is an avenue to unlock these potentials.
“Nigeria is losing out in various sectors. To unlock the potential, we have to be sovereign. We are a sovereign nation, but we are not technically sovereign.
“We still depend on technical expertise from foreign nations, so we cannot even standardise our tools, we cannot certify our tools, for us to have our engineers or cadets on board, they have to get foreign certification, ” he stated.
The NIMENA national chairman also called for a national vision on maritime development in the country.
“Nigeria has a huge human capital population; it’s now for us to have a structured pathway towards harnessing it. We must also have a national vision for our maritime sector. We must come to a round table and fashion out a vision that will now help us to frame our policies better, ” he added.
In his address, the President of the Council for the Registration of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN), Engr. Prof. Saddiq Abubakar, FNSE, said the Nigerian maritime domain plays a significant role in trade, logistics, energy exports, naval defense, and blue economy development.
He pointed out that, despite this strategic position, Nigeria’s maritime capacity is constrained by the proliferation of substandard marine engines and equipment, a poor maintenance culture, high failure rates of marine machinery, inadequate shipyard capabilities, and limited local content.
Abubakar also cited weak conformity assessment for imported maritime equipment, fragmented enforcement of engineering and marine standards, and insufficient technical regulations for naval machinery as challenges facing the sector.
The keynote speaker at the conference, Dr Aladenusi Olugbemiro, emphasised that digital transformation remains essential for Nigeria to build a competitive and globally attractive maritime industry.
He commended NIMENA for playing a crucial leadership role by driving the national conversation from that perspective.
By Saint Mugaga
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Hon. Magaji Da’u Aliyu as the Managing Director of the Sheda Science and Technology Complex, Abuja.
The Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) is responsible for conducting research and development in technology and for operating a nuclear research facility.
A statement by the Special Adviser (Information and Strategy) to the President, Bayo Onanuga said Tinubu also appointed Engr. Adesayo Olusegun Michael as the Managing Director/CEO of the Board of Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).
Other Board members of NEMSA appointed by the President include: Engr. Aliyu Abdulazeez (Executive Director, Technical); Ikechi Clara Nwosu (Chairman, South East); Zubair Abdur’rauf Idris (Member); Igba Elizabeth (Member-North Central); Sani Alhaji Shehu (Member–North East); Adeyemi Adetunji (Member–South West); Engr Emmanuel Eneji Nkpe (Member–South South) and Engr. Charles Ogbonna Asogwa (South East).
The President nominated Amina Gamawa, representing Bauchi, and Abdullahi Muktar, representing Kaduna, as Commissioners to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
The President has sent the two nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
By Our Correspondent
At least 102 Tiv Christians have been feared killed with dozens of churches burnt in 33 days in Taraba state.
According to Northern Christian Religious Leaders Assembly (NOCRELA), the killers, suspected to be militia Fulani men, have committed the crimes between 2nd January to 3rd February 2026 in Chanchanji ward, Takum Local Government Area of Taraba state.
NOCRELA also disclosed that the body has interacted with the Tiv community and the affected NKST pastors extensively when they were told that the killings were perpetrated by Fulani militia and were specifically targeting the Tiv community and NKST churches.
In a submission, the Taraba State Chairman, NOCRELA, Rev. Dr. Micah Dopah, on Monday condemned the continuous, horrific, brutal, and targeted killing of the Tiv Christians brethren and their properties.
“Within an interval of 33 days only from 2nd January 2026 to 3rd February 2026, the militia killed at least 102 people and injured over 31 as analyzed by the local authorities.
“The local authorities also complained that the government and security agencies have not done enough to protect their lives, houses, and churches. stating that the laxity of the government in defending their people and properties has encouraged the militia to perpetrate the satanic killings.
“Ten murderous attacks in 33 days is horrific. Where is the government? And where are the security agencies?
“We interacted with the Tiv community and the affected NKST pastors extensively. They told us that these killings were perpetrated by Fulani militia, and are specifically targeted at the Tiv community and NKST churches.
Relatedly, similar attacks are going on in Benue state by suspected Fulani against the Tiv settlements in Kwande local government where whole communities have been sacked with many indigenous people killed.
Anwase and Abande, among other villages, have been deserted and there is great apprehension that they would be occupied by the invading Fulani militias whose aim to seize Tiv lands and occupy them is no longer new as the case of Moon.
The invasion is partly to take over the lands now known to be rich in gold and other minerals.
By Our Correspondent
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has been asked to dismiss the ₦100.5 billion defamation suit instituted against Prof Zacharys Anger Gundu, VC of University of Mkar, Mkar by the Nasarawa State Government and Governor, Abdullahi Sule.
The request is contained in a notice of preliminary objection filed by the defendant through his legal team led by Sebastian Hon, SAN.
Gundu flawed the competence of the suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/3554/2025, and asked the court to decline jurisdiction, describing the case as frivolous and an abuse of court process.
The legal team said the claimants did not comply with a mandatory condition precedent required for the validity of the originating processes, as stipulated under Order 2 Rule 8 of the FCT High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2025.
This faulty premise, the alleged non-compliance, the team asserted, renders the suit procedurally defective and liable to be struck out.
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