Gulf of Guinea Focus: Week 13
- Agwe Global
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT under the leadership of Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel, who also doubles as the Maritime Component Commander (MCC) South-West, Operation AWATSE, conducted a Medical Rhapsody in the Majidun community, Ikorodu West Local Government Area, Lagos State. The Medical Bankole urged the people of the Majidun Community to take advantage of the opportunity provided by NNS BEECROFTilitary Relations (CDCMR), Rear Admiral OA Bankole, who was the Special Guest of Honour, explained that the exercise was in line with the command philosophy and directive of the Chief of Defence Staff, General CG Musa, to conduct free medical outreach programs across the 8 Theatres of Operations in the country. He added that the purpose of the exercise was to assist the less privileged, especially pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children, by providing free medical services to foster a cordial relationship between military personnel and the community. Rear Admiral Bankole urged the people of the Majidun Community to take advantage of the opportunity provided by NNS BEECROFT.
For further information please check the link below:
The United States Coast Guard has commended Nigeria, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), for what the Coast Guard described as considerable progress in the implementation of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code. This was made public by Joe Prince Larson of the US Coast Guard who led a team from the International Port Security Programme on a Working Tour of some Terminals and Ports in Nigeria to ascertain the level of implementation of the ISPS Code across Nigerian ports facilities. The team had earlier conducted assessment visits to the Dangote Port and Lekki Free Trade Zones in Lekki, Lagos State, as well as private port facilities operated by Matrix and Julius Berger in Warri, Delta State.
For further information please check the link below:
The ugly recurrence of boat mishaps and its attendant fatalities, damages and losses of valuables and goods within the nation’s waterways transportation system has scaled down significantly, since the commencement of safety campaigns and sensitization across riverine locations with pronounced waterways transportation.Acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Kevin Okonna, who dropped above hint, March 24, 2025, at the inland waterways safety awareness workshop organized for boat operators and waterways commuters in Oron, Akwa Ibon State, said the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) remains upbeat at ensuring the betterment of the lives of the Nigerian people, especially people involved in riverine and inland waterways transportation.
For further information please check the link below:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/waterways-safety-campaigns-by-fg-reducing-boat-accidents-okonna/
The Nigerian Coast Guard Bill has repeatedly sparked intense debate and public opposition, emerging from a backdrop of political manoeuvring and bureaucratic missteps. Proponents tout it as a long-awaited solution to maritime insecurity, but a closer look reveals a bill that has been rejected time and again by lawmakers, security experts, and civil society, and rightfully so. Rather than resolving Nigeria’s maritime challenges, the proposed bill would merely add another layer of redundancy to an already overburdened and inefficient security architecture. The bill’s origins can be traced to efforts by certain legislators who, over the years, have pushed for a specialized maritime force. They argue that existing institutions that are saddled with responsibilities of policing the nation’s waters are inadequate.
For further information please check the link below:
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this during a meeting with the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) in Abuja. Mr Tunji-Ojo said the federal government was giving a three-month grace period to the irregular migrants starting from May 1. “So by August 1, there will be a strict clampdown on irregular immigrants in the country. “We hope people will take advantage of the three-month grace period to regularise and subject themselves to established immigration protocols,” he said. The minister also disclosed that the new Expatriate Administration System (EAS) would commence, effective May 1, after which enforcement would begin from August 1. He added that there would be an immigration amnesty programme for the regularisation of due processes for three months.
For further information please check the link below:
The Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Navy, Badagry, Lagos, handed over 287 seized bags of foreign parboiled rice to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). Navy Capt. Oyeleye Omotayo, the FOB Commanding Officer, said the bags of rice were seized by the operatives in different operations along the Badagry Port Novo Waterways. Omotayo, who was represented by Lt. Cdr. Bamidele Afolabi, the base Operations Officer, said the seizures were a continued effort to ensuring maritime security along the Badagry– Porto Novo creek and its adjoining land areas. “The FOB, Badagry has intensified its operation, significantly disrupting the smuggling of foreign parboiled rice into the country. “In separate operations on March 4, March 8 and March 19, the Quick Response Team of the base was able to seize and confiscate 287 bags of foreign parboiled rice within its assigned area of operation. “This is in line with the Nigeria navy Standard Operating Procedure. The base handed over 71 – 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice to the NCS, Seme area command.
For further information please check the link below:
Comments