The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) is rallying the Nigerian maritime industry’s creme-de-la-cream, including the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, Tantita Security Services Limited, Mr Greg Ogbeifun, and the Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN), among others.

Frontline maritime lawyers are also billed to attend, including Mrs Funke Agbor (SAN) and Dr Emeka Akabogu (SAN), who is expected to deliver the keynote address at MAMAL 2025.

Terminal operators and the Chief Executive Officer of Lelook Bags, Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa, are also on the list.

Other associations expected to attend include the Nigerian Trawler Owners Association (NITOA), the African Shipowners Association (ASA), the Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), and the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA).

MARAN also announced that MAMAL 2025, previously scheduled for Aug. 28, at the Eko Hotel, has now been rescheduled for Aug. 27, at the Four Point by Sheraton Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event, which has the theme “Addressing the Burden of War Risk Insurance on Nigerian Maritime Trade,” will focus on the persistent imposition of Extra War Risk Insurance (EWRI) premiums on vessels operating in Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea.

The lecture will host strategic dialogues on maritime security, the impact of global shipping insurance practices, and the way forward for stakeholders in the fishing, shipping, and broader maritime sectors.

Stakeholders participation in the forthcoming MAMAL 2025 is considered critical and timely to help shape actionable outcomes and reinforce industry advocacy for safer waters and fairer trade conditions.

The lecture is expected to bring together over 500 industry participants, including shipowners, terminal operators, insurers, legal practitioners, maritime regulators, naval representatives, and diplomats.

Confirmed speakers include Dr Emeka Akabogu (Maritime Lawyer), Mr Temisan Omatseye (former DG, NIMASA), and top representatives from NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, and international maritime bodies.

Speaking on the upcoming MAMAL Annual Maritime Lecture 2025, MARAN President, Godfrey Bivbere explained that MAMAL 2025 aims to thoroughly examine the perceived threats, realities, and profound implications of persistent Extra War Risk Insurance (EWRI) on Nigeria’s maritime trade and the wider Gulf of Guinea (GoG).

Providing more details about the highly anticipated conference, which has consistently served as a crucial rallying point for all maritime stakeholders due to MARAN’s respected voice, Bivbere added:

“The Summit will also explore issues leading to the classification of the nation’s waters as high-risk zones, roles of classification societies like the Lloyds of London, the roles of core stakeholders like NIMASA, Nigerian Navy and other maritime and security operators.”

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has charged heads of agencies within the ministry to work assiduously to realise their deliverables as captured in the Performance Bond signed by him with President Bola Tinubu.

Oyetola said this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

He noted that the execution of the performance bond, in addition to the completion of key projects within the ministry, would position Nigeria as one of the maritime nations in the world.

The minister also urged maritime agency heads to make Nigeria a premier maritime nation.

He said this would be achieved by utilising the potential of the county’s blue economy to diversify revenue, assure sustainable development, and cultivate environmental stewardship.

He spoke at the maiden edition of the Ministerial retreat, organised for the Ministry and agencies under it, to cascade the directive of the President on set targets and goals of the ministry.

According to Oyetola, the retreat provides the space to evaluate, prioritise, and forge practical resolutions for improvement, which will help cascade the signed bond to Ministry’s Directors and Chief Executive Officers of the ministry’s agencies.

“The maritime sector stands as a reservoir of immense potential, not only for economic growth but also for diversifying our revenue source and generating abundant employment opportunities for Nigerians.

“I am convinced we have what it takes to deliver on our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). We are, therefore, gathered here to brainstorm on how to deliver on the KPIs.

“For instance, three months ago, I was told that the Funtua Inland Dry Port was at 80 percent completion stage. Considering that we are expected to deliver this particular project in the first quarter of next year, it will be interesting to hear from the Nigerian Shippers Council how this can be achieved in record time,” he said.

The minister also shared the ministry’s mandate, vision and mission with workers in the ministry and staff of agencies within it, noting that it was imperative for them to understand and work towards achieving the goals of the ministry.

“Our mandate is to institutionalise Blue Economy as an important pillar for economic sustenance and growth diversification having due regards to the ecosystem.

“The ministry’s vision is to to position Nigeria as a premier maritime nation by utilising the potential of its blue economy to diversify revenue, assure sustainable development, and cultivate environmental stewardship.

“While the mission is to formulate and implement policies, programmes, and initiatives that will facilitate the development of an inclusive maritime and blue economy (Ecosystem), driven by an operating environment that meets global best standards.

“We have a solid team of resource persons and facilitators who will demystify the importance of the mandate, vision and mission to develop the goals and road map for the ministry.

“This is with a view to achieving the performance bond and other numerous projects, programmes and initiatives that will position Nigeria among the top earning nations in the Marine and Blue Economy sector,” he said

On her part, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry , Dr Magdalene Ajani, said the retreat was designed to provide a veritable platform for the top management officials of the ministry and its agencies to cross-fertilise ideas.

According to her, these ideas will galvanise the marine sector to meet the set goals and objectives of the ministry.

“It is worthy to note that the minister has signed a Performance Bond with Mr President, which will serve as a scorecard for the ministry.

“This bond comes with its initiatives, deliverables, Key Performance Indicators, timelines, and target, which the sector must unconditionally achieve,” she said.

Osogbo, Jan.27, 2023: Governor Ademola Adeleke has been sacked as Osun State Governor and Gboyega Oyetola was affirmed as the winner of the 16 July governorship election in the State.

This was confirmed by an Election Petition Tribunal which was hearing the APC Oyetola’s petition against the victory of PDP’s Adeleke on Friday.

According to Justice Tetsea Kume who delivered the judgment on the majority decision, INEC did not comply substantially with the Constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Subsequently, he deducted the over-voting observed from the votes scored by the candidates and declared that Oyetola won the election, having polled 314, 921, while Adeleke’s score came down to 290, 266.

Kume has now directed INEC to withdraw Adeleke’s certificate of return and issue another one to Oyetola who is the rightful winner of the election.