News & Reports - NOGSpeed

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has stated that his ministry is fostering collaboration with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and is fully committed to promoting partnerships with industry players, driving innovation, and championing sustainability.
Oyetola made this statement during his opening address at the Stakeholders Sensitization Workshop on Deep Seabed Activities in Nigeria, held on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, “Government-private sector partnerships are vital to unlocking the maritime sector’s full potential,” emphasizing that effectively harnessing the vast potential of the nation’s marine resources is a crucial step in diversifying Nigeria’s economy.
He stated that the transition from a fossil fuel-based economy to a mineral-based one presents opportunities for Nigeria to leverage its marine resources, particularly wave and tidal energy, to generate clean energy. Henoted that this shift could significantly contribute to the nation’s energy needs.
“Nigeria’s establishment of a full-fledged Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2023 demonstrates our commitment to diversifying our economy and capitalizing on the global surge in deep-sea exploration. As a major oil-producing country with an extensive coastline and inland waterways, we cannot afford to lag in this new frontier,” said Oyetola.
The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Oloruntola Olufemi, explained that the workshop aimed to raise awareness among key stakeholders in the sector about the significance of deep seabed exploration and exploitation.
On his part, NIMASA’s Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said the Agency in collaboration with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and relevant MDAs, will ensure Nigeria’s compliance with global standards.
Speaking on the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, Dr. Mobereola noted that the need to amend the Act to reflect relevant provisions of the ISA’s model of legislation on exploration and exploitation could not be overemphasized. He acknowledged the commitment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and NIMASA to ensuring the full implementation of relevant legislative frameworks for the sustainable use of the marine environment and safety standards.
“We remain committed to ensuring that relevant legislative frameworks on the sustainable use of the Marine Environment and Safety standards are fully implemented,” he said.
Representatives of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), National Border Commission (NBC), International Seabed Authority, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, among others attended the workshop.

The Director-General (DG) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola has said that he is working to raise maritime industry’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Mobereola also said he is repositioning NIMASA support development of Nigeria’s blue economy.
He spoke on efforts towards enhancing seafarers capacity development, vessels acquisition, Cabotage Vessels Financing Fund (CVFF), security and safety on the waters.
The NIMASA DG, during a media engagement in Lagos also said improving on maritime contribution to the GDP requires that every aspect of local maritime industry is productive, beginning with a very robust cabotage trading through vessel acquisition by local shipowners and availability of cargo for them to lift.
According to the DG, the country needs to improve on what the maritime industry is contributing to the GDP and theagency intends to achieve this by a set of enforcements including deployment of the modular floating dock, seeking the appropriate and relevant trainings for cadets and boosting cabotage trade.
He said: “We are reviewing the process of how vessels crew are being engaged. We are also working to ensure that the cadets we produce under the National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) are good products after training. All these issues are on our table. There’s no single day we don’t deliberate on them.
“We are also working on deploying the modular floating dock. We have many proposals on the table but we want to make sure that a good decision is reached on it. We want to put it on use as soon as possible. It will create employment for ourtrained cadets, earn revenue and improve the sector, but we want to do it right.
“On the issue of CVFF, the fund is safe with the government and we are looking out for the right opportunity to start its disbursement, in a sustainable manner that will ensure that only those actively playing in the industry gets it. There are many considerations in the disbursement of CVFF These factors are not only within Nigeria but international factors and there has to be cargo for the vessels to lift after they have been acquired.”
Highlighting the significant foreign exchange Nigeria could earn from seafarers exportation, the NIMASA DG said proper capacity development for local seafarers is not negotiable.
“I am aware of the benefits of seafarers in the Philippines where seafarers repatriate $26 billion to the country annually. Their seafarers are not better humans than our own. It is a matter of good training. Many countries are looking for good seafarers and we don’t want to send out half-baked seafarers. We are working on it,” he said.

A Naval Base Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Gideon Yashim Gwaza, has died while leading his men on rescue operation.
It all started on 30 July 2024, when the Nigerian Navy received a distress call from MV AMBIKA 4, a dredging vessel working at Okpobo field contracted to Sterling Global Oil Limited.
It was reported that the vessel was at the risk of sinking near Okpobo River entrance an area known to be turbulent at this time of the year.
Accordingly, Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base BONNY deployed a Rescue Team comprising 10 armed personnel in 2 Interceptor Boats led by the Base Operations Officer Lieutenant Commander Gideon Yashim Gwaza, for the rescue operation.
Attempts to approach the distressed vessel proved challenging due to the force of the waves and another squadron of 3 boats was dispatched to reinforce the rescue team.
Additionally, another vessel, Nigerian Navy Ship GONGOLA, drones, Nigerian Navy Helicopters, and one Nigerian Airforce helicopter were deployed for the Search and Rescue mission.
Eventually, all 59 crew were rescued successfully but the Base Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Gideon Yashim Gwaza paid the supreme price.
He fell overboard accidentally during the rescue operation which lasted for about 10hours from midnight of 29 July 2024 to 1000 hours on 30 July 2024. The Nigerian Navy deeply mourns the loss of Lieutenant Commander Gideon Yashim Gwaza, who bravely risked his life to save others.
Lieutenant Commander Gwaza was a well-trained combat diver whose painful death reflects the risks and sacrifices of Nigerian Navy personnel towards the safety of Nigeria’s maritime domain. His dedication and sacrifice will forever be remembered.