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Tag: Oyetola

  • Oyetola distributes free JAMB forms to 1,000 Osun admission seekers

    Oyetola distributes free JAMB forms to 1,000 Osun admission seekers

    No fewer than 1,000 admission seekers have received free Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from the social intervention of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.

    The initiative tagged ‘Ileri-Oluwa Hands of Fellowship’ was facilitated by the Executive Director of Marine and Operations at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Engr. Olalekan Badmus.

    Speaking during the distribution of the forms to beneficiaries, Badmus stated that in a bid to complement the Federal government’s efforts by increasing enrolment of students in tertiary institutions, the former governor embarked on the initiative.

    He stated that, “This initiative, which is the 6th, is aimed at underprivileged youths who are willing to go to school. We put this together in the name of the Minister of Marine, Oyetola, who is our mentor. This initiative is about ensuring education is affordable and accessible for all,” he said.

    “Students who excel in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) would qualify for additional scholarships.”

    Chairman of the Ilerioluwa JAMB Scholarship Committee, Hon. Femi Adejumo, described the 6th edition as the largest so far.

    He said four designated centres, Oja-Oba, Ayetoro, Igbona, and one other in Osogbo, were opened to serve applicants from the Osogbo Federal Constituency and surrounding communities, including Ikirun and Iragbiji.

    Adejumo revealed that 1,200 forms were printed, out of which 1,000 would be fully sponsored for qualified candidates. 

  • Oyetola dismisses alleged interference in Osun local government affairs

    Oyetola dismisses alleged interference in Osun local government affairs

    Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola has dismissed allegations by the Osun State House of Assembly that he interfered in the administration of local governments, including the disbursement of their funds and the issuance of directives to banks regarding the operations of the third tier of government.

    Reacting to the claims, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Bolaji Akinola, dismissed the allegations as fabricated and malicious, stressing that local governments across Nigeria enjoy full financial autonomy under the Constitution.

    In a statement responding to a press release issued by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, on Sunday, February 1, 2026, Akinola described attempts to link Oyetola to local government finances as reckless propaganda aimed at diverting attention from the state government’s failures and ongoing legal challenges.

    He said the minister has no constitutional or statutory role in the administration or disbursement of local government funds and has neither issued directives to banks nor interfered in the running of local councils in Osun State.

    According to Akinola, the statement credited to the Speaker merely recycled what he described as discredited narratives earlier promoted by Governor Ademola Adeleke, characterising them as a desperate bid to unlawfully reassert state control over local government funds in defiance of binding court judgments.

    He noted that the Osun State Government and the House of Assembly are uneasy with the constitutional reality that local governments possess full financial autonomy, as affirmed by the Supreme Court.

    Akinola recalled the Supreme Court judgment of July 11, 2024, which unequivocally granted full financial autonomy to all local governments in Nigeria, affirming their independence and expressly barring state governors from interfering in their affairs or appropriating their funds.

    He stressed that the judgment is final, binding and cannot be overturned through press statements or political threats.

    He also referenced a subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on February 10, 2025, which reinstated the duly elected local government chairmen in Osun State. He noted that the state government declined to appeal the ruling, rendering it final and enforceable, and conferring lawful authority on the reinstated chairmen to administer their councils.

    Dismissing claims that the chairmen are “illegal,” Akinola described such assertions as false and intellectually dishonest, emphasising that they were duly elected and reinstated by a superior court of record.

    He further alleged that the Osun State Government has filed no fewer than twelve separate court cases on the matter, creating administrative bottlenecks, and accused the Adeleke administration of instigating and sponsoring an eleven-month strike by local government workers to paralyse council operations and undermine their autonomy.

    Akinola maintained that local governments have full authority to manage their funds independently of the governor or the state assembly, adding that they also have duly elected councillors who constitutionally constitute the legislative arm of local government administration.

    He condemned what he described as deliberate misinformation by the Speaker of the House, accusing him of misrepresenting settled legal issues to mislead the public. He also cautioned Egbedun to exercise restraint in his public statements, particularly against making what he termed reckless remarks about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Akinola called on Nigerians, civil society organisations, and advocates of constitutional democracy to defend local government autonomy and resist what he described as attempts by the Osun State Government and House of Assembly to circumvent the Supreme Court judgment of July 11, 2024, insisting that the rule of law must prevail.

  • Oyetola makes clarifications over Osun LG funding crisis

    Oyetola makes clarifications over Osun LG funding crisis

    • …accuses Adeleke of misinformation

    The controversy over local government funding in Osun State has taken a new turn, as Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of spreading propaganda and falsehoods to mask what he described as administrative failure and disregard for court rulings.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday, Akinola said Adeleke’s recent claims over alleged withholding of local government funds were a “desperate attempt to deflect attention from glaring incompetence and serial abuse of the judicial process.”

    He dismissed the governor’s allegation that Minister Oyetola was responsible for any disruption in local government financing, insisting that any delays stem from the Osun State Government’s legal actions.

    According to him, the Adeleke administration had burdened the courts with “frivolous and ill-conceived lawsuits” in a failed bid to overturn settled judicial decisions.

    “No serious government sabotages its own legal standing and then seeks scapegoats for the consequences,” Akinola said.

    He further accused the governor of previously paralysing local government operations by instigating a prolonged strike by council workers, describing Adeleke’s current claim that councils remain inactive as “a blatant falsehood.”

    “The local government secretariats are open and functioning. Services continue to run, workers are back to their posts, and council administrations are carrying out their statutory responsibilities. The narrative of paralysis exists only in the imagination of a governor using falsehood to seek public sympathy,” he added.

    Akinola referenced a Court of Appeal judgement delivered on February 10, 2025, which he said reinstated elected local government chairmen in Osun State. He noted that the judgement was not appealed by the state government and therefore remains final and binding.

    “The continued agitation by Governor Adeleke represents a deliberate refusal to accept judicial authority,” he stated.

    On the tenure of the reinstated chairmen, Akinola maintained that they were elected for a three-year term and were allegedly removed illegally shortly after assuming office.

    He said any contrary claims amounted to ignorance or deliberate misinformation, noting that the issue of tenure is currently before the courts.

    He also cited a Supreme Court ruling of July 11, 2024, which granted financial autonomy to local governments nationwide, affirming their status as an independent tier of government and barring state governors from dissolving elected councils or imposing caretaker administrations.

    “Adeleke should perish the thought of interfering with local government administration in Osun State. The councils are autonomous, lawful, and operational,” he said.

    Akinola also rejected claims that Minister Oyetola was influencing the Nigeria Police, describing the allegations as false and irresponsible.

    “The police operate under established institutional command structures and cannot be privately controlled by any individual minister. Adeleke should stop misleading the public, stop manufacturing conspiracies, and stop whipping up sentiment to cover manifest ineptitude. Governance is not theatre, and Osun people deserve facts, not fiction,” he said.

    He concluded that Osun’s local government administrations remain lawful, autonomous, functional, and protected by binding court judgements, arguing that “the only crisis confronting the system is a governor unwilling to accept legal reality.”

  • Oyetola, Oyebamiji and the Osun guber equation

    Oyetola, Oyebamiji and the Osun guber equation

    Make no mistake: the Osun State governorship election, slated for August 8, this year, is far from a done deal. We are looking at a scrappy, bruising, super three-horse race. The current clout of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun simply does not mirror its dominance in Ekiti, where the ruling party appears more entrenched ahead of its own June 20, 2026 contest.

    With no real ideological daylight between the major contenders – the Accord Party (A), the Action Democratic Congress (ADC), and the APC – personality will be thrust to the fore. In the end, the individual, not the platform, will likely be the deciding factor.

    Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji – known to everyone simply as AMBO – will have former Governor Gboyega Oyetola in his corner, to borrow from boxing parlance. Across the ring, the chief motivator of the ADC’s campaign will be his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Effectively, we are looking at a titanic clash of personalities, a shadow-war that might just swallow the actual names on the ballot.

    What Oyebamiji must lean on is the growing, restless clamour across the state for real managerial competence. Right now, there is an eerie feeling that Osun’s stewardship has become haphazard – a ship drifting without a clear map for sustainable development. AMBO can seize an early lead if he sells himself as the steady hand – a seasoned manager capable of rising above petty bickering to lock the state’s sights back on actual development. He has no choice!

    Like him or not, Rauf Aregbesola remains a formidable grassroots engine and a ferocious campaigner. On his own, the ADC candidate lacks a particular persona that truly sticks with the streets, meaning he’ll be forced to lean hard on the charismatic Ogbeni to do the heavy lifting of the campaign.

    Oyebamiji and his mentor – the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy – will inevitably beat the drum of ‘the benefits of aligning with the centre.’ This plays the potent ace card of ‘Cultural Hegemony’, which, in our local parlance, translates to the persuasive ‘Omo wa ni, e jé ó sé’ (He is our son, let him lead). This is a massive advantage for the Oyetola/Oyebamiji camp and one that must be kept in constant rotation; after all, politics is built on the law of constant reminders, as that master of the dark arts, Niccolò Machiavelli, was wont to say. It is a card that will be flogged to death, and one the Ademola Adeleke camp will find incredibly difficult to neutralize.

    Read Also: Oyetola woos Danish investors to maritime sector

    On his part, Adeleke is wrestling with both image and political demons. It feels as though Osun, under the governor, is drifting in a state of anomie. People aren’t exactly enthralled by his stewardship, yet they don’t quite loathe him either. Of course, there’s a limit to how much ‘Skelewu’ rigmarole one can feed the electorate. Ultimately, one must wonder: beyond just jumping in the ring, what exactly will Adeleke’s campaign message lean on?

    The deeper truth? Adeleke is no orator, let alone a naturally commanding figure. But he’s got one wild card: his nephew. Bringing in Davido to stir the youth is a massive play, no doubt. But the real question is whether the governor has a team capable of actually decoding the lyrics of Osun politics – turning that stadium hype into cold, hard votes. Walahi, it’s a desperate gamble. After all, noise at a rally and numbers at the poll have never been known to share the same frequency.

    With nearly 200,000 newly registered voters added to the state’s tally of 1.95 million, the real question is: what slice of that number falls into the ‘Davido bracket’ – the young, the restless, those for whom a superstar’s nod acts as a command? It will be telling to see if Osun APC keeps that same fire in the current registration drive. That momentum alone could shift the earth under the candidates’ feet.

    The outcome of previous and current registration cycles – if leveraged with a sharp, strategic thrust – will be decisive. So, we must interrogate the demographic makeup of these new additions, specifically the geographic spread across the three senatorial districts. Particular attention must be paid to traditional, high-turnout hubs like Osogbo, Ede, Ilesa, Ile-Ife and Ijebu-Jesa. This distribution is a heavyweight factor that must sit at the centre of any serious analytical projection.

    The gravity of current economic realities must be factored into every permutation. We are told that all politics is local, but the national economic crisis inevitably seeps down to the local government level. And, while the prize is still anyone’s to claim, the reality is that Oyebamiji sits on a heap of untapped advantages. If he shuffles his deck right and plays his cards with enough skill, he has a clear path to victory.

    ​The past should serve as a guide, but it must not become an obsession. Life does not stop at a fact; it deals with it. Anything else is mere PR! Having lost the last two elections in a row, it is clear the structure of the Osun APC is currently fragile and must be revitalized with earnestness. In other words, the party can no longer take victory for granted.

    To breathe new life into the fold, Oyebamiji should secure a first-class, shrewd campaign manager capable of weaving disparate strands into an unbreakable cord – and Oyetola must be central to this effort. He must leverage his vast networks and the substantial public goodwill he still commands. As I have noted elsewhere, how IleriOluwa rebuilds the party into a fighting force will largely define his legacy. Again, I stand by it!

    While Osun APC is fortunate to have avoided major defections after the primary – likely because “federal might” makes decamping unattractive – this is no time to bleach reality with the toning cream of complacency. Take it or leave it, the war is far from won. Therefore, the party must conduct a thorough post-mortem of its setbacks and move swiftly to pacify those sitting on the fence, as well as those waiting for the election proper to “extract their revenge.”

    History, it is often said, writes its summary not based on who shouted the loudest or danced the longest, but on whose policies outlived their tenure. Beyond the “Bitter Spectators” label, politics is more than a game of “who leads the house”; it is a contest of ideas. Above all, modern politics has transcended raw emotion; it is now about sifting through cold realities. Far from dwelling in the valley of “bitter spectators,” Oyetola and his lieutenants, like Oyebamiji, are the architects of the fiscal foundation upon which the current administration now builds.

    To thrive, Osun does not need the erasure of Oyetola’s legacy to justify Adeleke’s presence. It needs a recognition that his “unfinished business” is, in fact, the ongoing pursuit of a state that works – not through the “heart of love” alone, but through the cold, hard discipline of governance.

    As previously noted, ‘Cultural Hegemony’ – the instinctual pull to identify with one’s own, specifically a Yoruba man at the centre – remains a positive factor for the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. His consistency and loyalty to both his principal, President Bola Tinubu, and his mentor, Gboyega Oyetola, are clean and clear. For now, discerning calculations put the APC candidate slightly ahead. But a caveat is necessary: these are early days, and the road to Bola Ige House remains long.

    May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!

    • Email: ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk. Mobile: 08033614419 SMS only
  • Oyetola launches Cabotage vessel financing fund portal to boost indigenous ship ownership

    Oyetola launches Cabotage vessel financing fund portal to boost indigenous ship ownership

    The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has officially unveiled the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) Application Portal, a milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to establish structured financing for indigenous ship ownership.

    The launch, held in Lagos on Thursday, attracted senior government officials, maritime industry leaders, legislators, and key sector stakeholders.

    Speaking at the event, Oyetola described the portal’s inauguration as “a deliberate and strategic step in repositioning Nigeria’s maritime sector as a central pillar of national development.”

    He added that the initiative supports the broader national goal of economic diversification while unlocking the vast potential of Nigeria’s maritime domain, coastal resources, and inland waterways.

    “The maritime sector remains the backbone of global commerce, yet despite Nigeria’s strategic geographic location and vibrant entrepreneurial base, our participation in coastal and inland trade has remained limited,” the Minister said.

    “A major constraint has been the absence of a functional, credible, and transparent financing framework to support indigenous ship ownership. Today, we are changing that narrative.”

    The Minister recalled that the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, established under the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act of 2003, was designed to address the financing gap faced by Nigerian shipowners.

    He, however, acknowledged that institutional and structural considerations over the years delayed its operationalisation.

    Oyetola added that upon assuming office, his Ministry adopted a clear policy objective to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime capacity and ensure that the CVFF is implemented strictly in line with sound governance and financial principles.

    Read Also: Oyetola woos Danish investors to maritime sector

    “The CVFF is structured as a strategic development instrument,” he said. “By facilitating access to competitive vessel financing for indigenous operators, we hope to reduce reliance on foreign-flagged vessels in our coastal trade, improve retention of value within the domestic economy, create employment opportunities for Nigerian seafarers, and stimulate growth in allied sectors such as shipbuilding, ship repair, and maritime services.”

    He further emphasised that the Fund’s impact extends beyond economics, noting that a stronger indigenous fleet would enhance maritime safety and security while supporting national efforts to maintain a regulated and efficient maritime domain.

    Stressing accountability, he reminded potential beneficiaries that the CVFF is a revolving fund that must be prudently utilised and repaid to ensure sustainability for future generations of maritime entrepreneurs.

    The Minister explained that the newly launched digital portal would serve as the institutional gateway for the transparent administration of the Fund.

    “Through this platform, eligible Nigerian shipowners can submit applications that will be assessed against clearly defined criteria, supported by robust due diligence and professional financial oversight through approved Primary Lending Institutions,” he said.

    He said that the portal aligns with the Federal Government’s e-Government agenda and efforts to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and improve ease of doing business.

    “By digitising the end-to-end CVFF application and evaluation process, we are simplifying access, improving predictability, and ensuring service delivery is efficient, transparent, and responsive,” he said. “I am confident that this initiative will strengthen our shipping industry, empower Nigerian enterprise, and contribute meaningfully to national growth,” he said.

    Also speaking at the event, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring the CVFF delivers on its purpose. He stated that NIMASA has established a dedicated CVFF unit to drive implementation, manage applications, coordinate with financial institutions, and ensure strict adherence to eligibility, compliance, and risk management procedures.

    “Our objective is to make the CVFF work as a practical and reliable financing window for Nigerian shipowners to acquire vessels at competitive long-term financing rates,” he said.

    He assured that the agency will ensure professional handling of applications, continuous engagement with Primary Lending Institutions, rigorous due diligence, and transparent monitoring of the entire process.

    He said the agency is determined to build confidence in the system and ensure that every disbursement follows clear rules, measurable criteria and global best practice.

    Goodwill messages were delivered by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshinloku, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Hon. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim.

    Both legislators commended Minister Oyetola and NIMASA for what they described as a landmark achievement that responds to longstanding demands of the maritime community. They pledged continued legislative support to ensure effective implementation of the Fund and sustained reforms in the sector.

    Industry stakeholders also expressed strong support for the initiative. The President of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association, Mike Igbokwe (SAN); President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Aminu Umar; President of the Nigerian Shipowners Association, Sola Adewunmi, and President of the Shipowners Association of Nigeria, Sonny Eja, all praised the Minister and NIMASA for their commitment to finally unlocking the CVFF.

    They described the portal launch as a turning point for indigenous ship ownership, capacity development, and investor confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

    The CVFF was established under the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act of 2003 as a vital instrument to provide structured financing for Nigerian shipping companies to acquire vessels and participate meaningfully in domestic maritime trade. However, for more than two decades, the Fund remained largely inaccessible, leaving indigenous operators dependent on costly foreign financing or foreign-flagged vessels.

    Recall that in 2025, Dr Oyetola directed NIMASA to commence the process of disbursing the CVFF, signalling a firm commitment to actualising the Fund’s original intent and unlocking its immense potential for national economic growth.

    Responding to this directive, NIMASA issued a Marine Notice inviting eligible Nigerian shipping companies to submit applications. Qualified applicants will have the opportunity to access up to USD 25 million each at competitive interest rates to acquire modern vessels that meet stringent international safety and performance standards.

    The Fund’s administration will be conducted in close collaboration with carefully vetted and approved Primary Lending Institutions, ensuring a professional, efficient, and accountable disbursement process.

  • Oyetola inaugurates Shema, ten others into board of Nigerian Shippers’ Council 

    Oyetola inaugurates Shema, ten others into board of Nigerian Shippers’ Council 

    The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, on Monday inaugurated the governing board of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).

    The Chairman of the board is the former Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema.

    Other members of the Board include: Dr. Pius Akutah, Chief Emi Membere-Otaji, Chief John Aluya, Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins, Hon. Funmilayo Olasehinde, Engr. (Dr) Funmilola Rashidat Adeoti, Mele Kolo Giadem, Mrs Hafsatu Mohammed, Hon. Maharazu Adamu Dayi, and Mrs Uzoamaka Okereke.

    The Minister said the inauguration of the board represents the activation of institutional governance, the entrenchment of accountability, and the commencement of a renewed phase of purposeful oversight within our marine and blue economy sector.

    Oyetola said, “This decisive action underscores the administration’s commitment to good governance, institutional effectiveness, and the strategic repositioning of the Marine and Blue Economy as a driver of national transformation.”

    Oyetola disclosed that the Ministry is undertaking comprehensive reforms to reposition the sector as a vital pillar of economic growth and national development, with a focus on improving port efficiency and competitiveness, strengthening trade facilitation, and enhancing marine transportation.

    He said, “The Board of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is expected to align fully with these priorities and provide the strategic oversight required to translate policy into measurable outcomes.

    “The Nigerian Shippers’ Council occupies a critical position as the designated Port Economic Regulator, entrusted with promoting efficiency, fairness, and transparency in port pricing, charges, and service delivery. The effective discharge of this mandate is essential to reducing the cost of doing business at our ports, facilitating trade, protecting the interests of shippers, and strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and global commerce.

    “As members of this Board, you bear a solemn public trust. You are charged with providing policy guidance, strategic direction, and vigilant oversight in accordance with the law. Let me emphasise that while Management is responsible for day-to-day operations, the Board’s duty is to ensure that the Council remains faithful to its mandate, complies with government policies, and consistently delivers value to Nigerian shippers and to the national economy.” 

    He also charged members of the board to ensure that their meetings are purposeful.

    “Every meeting must be purposeful, every deliberation must lead to clear and actionable decisions, and every decision must advance efficiency, fairness, and competitiveness in the maritime sector. 

    “Your effectiveness will be measured not by the frequency of meetings held, but by the tangible impact of your decisions on trade facilitation, cost reduction, and national competitiveness.

    “As we inaugurate this Board today, we do so with confidence in your collective experience, professionalism, and dedication to national service. I urge you to justify the trust reposed in you by Mr. President and the Nigerian people through integrity, discipline, and demonstrable results.”

    The Minister while urging members of thr board to work in close harmony with the Management of the Council, stated, “You must be guided by professionalism, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to excellence in service delivery. There must be no distractions or conflicts that could hinder institutional performance. All deliberations, decisions, and actions of the Board must strictly conform with extant laws, government policies, rules, guidelines, and circulars.”

    Speaking on behalf of the members, Shema pledged that the board would discharge its responsibilities with diligence and integrity.

    He said the board would focus on strengthening regulatory oversight, embracing best practices, enhancing the use of technology, and supporting reforms aimed at improving trade facilitation and revenue generation in the maritime sector.

    “We assure you that this board will remain faithful to the mandate of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and work to enhance efficiency, fairness and competitiveness in the sector, in line with existing laws and government policies.”

  • Oyetola urges states to invest in fibre boats to end wooden craft accidents 

    Oyetola urges states to invest in fibre boats to end wooden craft accidents 

    The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy,  Adegboyega Oyetola, has renewed his call on state governments across the federation to urgently ban the use of wooden boats for commercial water transportation and invest in safer, modern fibre and aluminium boats.

    Oyetola made the call against the backdrop of recent tragic boat accidents, which claimed several lives and left many families in mourning. He expressed deep sympathy with the victims of the mishaps and extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. 

    The Minister also charged waterway users to take personal responsibility for their safety by adhering strictly to basic safety measures. 

    He warned against night travel, which often comes with poor visibility and higher risks, and urged passengers to insist on wearing approved life jackets at all times.

    “Waterway users must refuse to board rickety or overloaded boats,” he cautioned. “No journey is worth risking your life. Avoid night travels, wear life jackets, and prioritise safety above all else.

    Our thoughts and prayers, he said, “are with the families who lost their loved ones. These recurring tragedies are painful and unacceptable, and they underscore the urgent need to address the root causes of waterway accidents in the country,” he said. 

    According to the Minister, the continued reliance on rickety boats in many riverine states and non-adherence to safety standards remain the major contributors to accidents on Nigeria’s inland waterways. 

    He noted that many of these boats are poorly constructed, inadequately maintained, and prone to structural failure, especially when overloaded or exposed to harsh weather conditions.

    Wooden boats, Oyetola pointed out, “deteriorate quickly due to constant exposure to water, leading to cracks, leakages and eventual collapse,” he explained. “They lack stability, are easily capsized, and often have no safety features. In many cases, they are operated without proper regulation or adherence to safety standards, putting passengers’ lives at serious risk.”

    The Minister stressed that phasing out wooden boats in favour of fibre-reinforced plastic and aluminium boats would significantly improve safety on the waterways. He highlighted that fibre and aluminium boats are more durable, stable, and resistant to corrosion, making them better suited for commercial operations.

    “These modern boats are stronger, more reliable, and easier to maintain,” he said. “They offer better balance and buoyancy, reduce the risk of sudden breakage, and can be fitted with essential safety equipment.”

    Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to waterway safety, Oyetola disclosed that the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has continued to roll out interventions aimed at reducing accidents. He cited the distribution of 35,000 life jackets by the Ministry to riverine states in 2025 as part of efforts to enhance safety consciousness and preparedness.

    “Despite these interventions, we are still witnessing boat mishaps, largely because of the persistent use of unsafe wooden boats,” the Minister noted. “This is why we are appealing to state governments to urgently complement federal efforts by investing in modern, non-wooden boats for commercial operations in their states and provide standard life jackets for all water transport passengers in their domains.”

    He emphasised that ensuring safety on Nigeria’s waterways requires collective action and political will at all levels of government. 

    “Water transportation is a critical component of our blue economy. But it must be safe, regulated, and sustainable. Together, we can put an end to these avoidable tragedies and protect the lives of our citizens,” Oyetola said.

  • Oyetola dismantles obstacles hindering maritime growth in 2025 – Spokesman

    Oyetola dismantles obstacles hindering maritime growth in 2025 – Spokesman

    The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, implemented significant reforms throughout 2025, which assisted the country in removing long-standing obstacles to maritime growth and development.

    According to the Minister’s Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola, the marine and blue economy sector has been decisively unlocked for genuine growth and development under Oyetola’s leadership, with several long-standing jinxes — once thought permanent — successfully broken

    Nigeria’s maritime sector, Akinola said, has entered a decisive phase of renewal following a series of far-reaching interventions by Oyetola.

    Akinola said the Minister’s actions since assuming office in August 2023, and most notably throughout 2025, have dismantled obstacles that constrained the sector for decades. These reforms, he noted, have restored confidence, improved performance and repositioned the marine and blue economy as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.

    Foremost among these achievements, he said, was the resolution of the notorious Apapa gridlock, which for over 20 years paralysed the Lagos port corridor and severely disrupted trade. By early 2024, sustained policy coordination, operational discipline, and infrastructure optimisation delivered lasting relief to Apapa and its environs.

    He said the clearing of the gridlock significantly reduced cargo dwell time, lowered logistics costs, enhanced port efficiency, and removed a major disincentive to investment, effectively restoring the Lagos ports as functional gateways for national and regional commerce.

    Another long-standing setback, according to the Special Adviser, was Nigeria’s prolonged absence from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council. 

    He noted that Nigeria’s return to the IMO Council in 2025, after 14 years outside the global maritime decision-making body, followed a keenly contested election and marked a major restoration of the country’s international maritime standing. 

    Achieved under Minister Oyetola’s focused leadership, the feat strengthened Nigeria’s influence in shaping global maritime regulations, reinforced its leadership role in Africa, and reaffirmed international confidence in its maritime governance.

    Akinola added that the Minister also secured approval in 2025 for Nigeria’s first comprehensive port upgrade and modernisation in over 50 years, breaking another jinx that left the nation’s ports operating on obsolete infrastructure. 

    This milestone, he said, signals the beginning of a transformative era that will align Nigerian ports with global standards, boost competitiveness, attract larger vessels, and position the country as a maritime and logistics hub for West and Central Africa.

    In a related landmark development, he said, the Ministry also issued compliance certificates for the Bakassi Deep Sea Port and the Ondo Deep Sea Port to the Governors of Cross River and Ondo States, respectively. 

    According to Akinola, the issuance of the certificates represents a critical regulatory breakthrough that clears the way for accelerated investment, construction, and eventual operations of the two ports, further expanding Nigeria’s port capacity and strengthening regional trade connectivity.

    The Special Adviser also highlighted the establishment of the Regional Maritime Development Bank (RMDB) in 2025 as the resolution of a 16-year stalemate that had stifled access to maritime finance. With the RMDB now in place, he said long-term funding is expected to flow into shipping, port development, and maritime services, providing the financial backbone required for sustained sectoral growth and deeper regional integration.

    Equally important, he said, was the approval granted by the Minister in 2025 for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to commence the long-awaited disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF). He said for over two decades, the CVFF remained idle. Its activation, he said, represents a major turning point for indigenous ship ownership, enabling Nigerian operators to acquire modern vessels, expand capacity, and compete more effectively in both coastal and international trade.

    Beyond these milestones, Akinola said Minister Oyetola recorded a historic policy breakthrough with the development and approval by the Federal Executive Council in May 2025 of Nigeria’s first-ever National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy. He described the policy as a watershed framework that provides a coherent, long-term roadmap for harnessing the country’s vast marine resources.

    The policy integrates shipping, ports, fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism, offshore energy, seabed resources, and environmental sustainability into a unified national strategy, eliminating fragmentation, improving inter-agency coordination, and providing clarity and certainty for investors. 

    According to him, it lays the institutional and regulatory foundation needed to maximise economic value, create jobs, protect marine ecosystems, and ensure inclusive and sustainable growth.

    Akinola also pointed to notable gains in maritime security under Oyetola’s leadership, noting that the sustained deployment and effective coordination of assets under the Deep Blue Project have helped maintain zero piracy incidents in Nigerian waters. This achievement, he said, has strengthened Nigeria’s reputation as a safer maritime domain, boosted investor confidence, and reinforced the country’s leadership in regional maritime security.

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    He also revealed that Nigeria recorded an increase of 300,000 metric tonnes in fish production in 2025 — the first such rise in over a decade. He described this as a clear testament to the Minister’s determination to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, the country’s heavy dependence on fish importation, while boosting food security, employment, and value creation across the fisheries and aquaculture value chain.

    Akinola added that the cumulative impact of these achievements is the laying of a solid foundation for the sustainable growth and development of the marine and blue economy sector. While notable milestones have been recorded since August 2023, he stressed that 2025 stands out as a defining year marked by bold reforms and tangible outcomes.

    Looking ahead, he assured that the Minister remains firmly committed to supporting indigenous ship owners and pursuing policies that will enable them to thrive and compete on equal footing with foreign operators. He also assured of the Minister’s commitment to boost fish production.

    With long-standing constraints now dismantled, Akinola said the sector is poised for accelerated growth as Oyetola builds on the gains already recorded to deliver even greater outcomes in the years ahead.

  • Oyetola presents revalidated certificate of Ondo deep sea port to Aiyedatiwa

    Oyetola presents revalidated certificate of Ondo deep sea port to Aiyedatiwa

    The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has formally presented the revalidated certificate for the Ondo deep sea port to the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

    Oyetola, who presented the certificate to the Governor in his office in Abuja, described the revalidation as a strategic intervention by the Federal Government to unlock Ondo State’s vast maritime and blue economy potential.

    The Minister also noted that the deep-sea port would catalyze trade, industrialisation, and regional economic integration.

    He said the port aligns with the federal government’s agenda to diversify the economy through maritime infrastructure, logistics, and coastal development.

    The Minister, in a statement on Monday by his media aide, Dr Bolaji Akinola, stated, “The Ondo Deep Sea Port is not just a project for Ondo state, it is a national asset that will strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in global shipping, reduce pressure on existing ports, and create a new hub for exports, manufacturing, and job creation.”

    Oyetola also explained that the port’s location along the Atlantic corridor would significantly boost non-oil exports, enhance ease of doing business, and attract foreign direct investment into the South-West and the country at large.

    “The revalidated licence provides certainty to investors and sends a strong signal that Nigeria is ready for serious maritime investments. With the supporting infrastructure planned around the port, Ondo State is positioning itself as a major player in the blue economy.”

    Governor Aiyedatiwa thanked President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council for approving the revalidation, describing the moment as the culmination of years of painstaking effort.

    He recalled that the licence, originally obtained during his tenure as deputy governor, had suffered setbacks due to a naming error in the initial business case, which required the preparation of a fresh and comprehensive submission.

    “This revalidated certificate is a turning point for Ondo State. It validates our vision for industrial growth, job creation, and sustainable development anchored on our long coastline and maritime assets,” the governor said.

    He further explained that his administration was prioritising supporting infrastructure, including the dualisation of access roads to industrial zones and modernisation projects, alongside preparations for residential, educational, and hospitality facilities to cater to the expected influx of workers and investors.

    The governor reiterated that the port and associated projects would have a statewide impact, driving inclusive development across all local government areas.

  • Oyetola presents certificate to Governor Otu on Bakassi Deep Sea Port

    Oyetola presents certificate to Governor Otu on Bakassi Deep Sea Port

    The Bakassi Deep Seaport has crossed a major regulatory milestone as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, presented the project’s Certificate of Compliance to Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, following recent approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    The presentation, which took place in Abuja, signals fresh momentum for the deep seaport project and reinforces the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding the country’s maritime infrastructure under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Presenting the certificate, Oyetola described the Bakassi Deep Seaport as a strategic national asset capable of repositioning Nigeria as a competitive maritime and logistics hub. He assured that the federal government would continue to support Cross River State to ensure the successful delivery of the project.

    “This project has the capacity to significantly boost livelihoods, create jobs and expand economic opportunities not only for Cross River State but for Nigeria as a whole,” Oyetola said.

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    He also commended Otu for what he described as the commitment and pace at which the state government is driving the project, adding that sustained collaboration between the federal government, the state and private sector partners would be critical to bringing the port to fruition.

    The minister linked the project directly to the administration’s broader economic and infrastructure reform agenda, noting that deep seaports remain central to Nigeria’s ambition to become a leading maritime and logistics hub in Africa.

    While receiving the certificate, Otu described the moment as historic, calling it a major milestone in Nigeria’s effort to unlock the full potential of the marine and blue economy.

    “Receiving this certificate is a significant boost that brings balance and momentum to our pursuit. I am confident that with the professionalism, diligence and commitment of the ministry and private sector players, we are firmly on track with the deep seaport project,” he said.

    The governor said Cross River State is strategically positioned to play a leading role in Nigeria’s maritime development, drawing comparisons with Brazil and other coastal nations that have successfully leveraged maritime assets to drive economic growth.

    He also commended the president for establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and for appointing Oyetola as minister, describing both decisions as timely and critical to the growth of the sector.

    Also speaking, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Jobson Ewalefoh, described the Bakassi Deep Seaport as a game-changer for Nigeria’s maritime and logistics ecosystem.

    According to him, the project would open a new maritime gateway for the country’s North-Central and North-East regions, while strengthening Nigeria’s position as a major logistics hub for West and Central Africa.

    The Bakassi Deep Seaport is expected to complement existing port infrastructure, decongest major gateways and support the Federal Government’s drive to expand trade, boost revenue and deepen participation in the blue economy.