Travel/Tourism
Establishment Of National Carrier At Advance Stage—Amaechi
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has once again reiterated that government’s efforts are at advance stage to facilitate the establishment of a National Carrier that would be spear headed by the private sector.
He noted that when established, it will address the current multiple challenges facing the Shipping industry and it will check capital flight, create more employment opportunities for our teeming youth as well as providing opportunity for Sea time training of graduate Cadets.
Mr Amaechi stated this at the 2016 World Maritime Day Celebration in a keynote address he delivered on the theme: “Shipping, Indispensable to the world”, on Wednesday November 2, 2016 in Lagos.
The Minister said opportunities that abound in the Maritime sector which could lift the economy to greater height have remained largely unexploited noting that the most Advance Economies of the World are those that have developed their maritime industries to a greater height and have greatest percentage of participation in international trade.
For Nigeria to achieve this lofty heights, the Minister called for her full participation in international trade which no doubt, has a direct relationship between the development of a nation’s maritime transport by removing all bottlenecks that are affecting the exploration of opportunities that abound in the nation’s maritime sector.
The Minister disclosed that to further address the challenges facing the maritime sector and ensure efficiency and cost effectiveness of the Shipping industry, the Federal Government is putting in place a number of measures which include the privatization of the nation’s Ports and repositioning various regulatory Agencies for effective service delivery as well as vigorously pursuing the expansion of the nation’s Ports system through the development of Deep Sea Ports which will be driven mainly by the private sector.
He further stated that an offshoot of this move was the recent Federal Executive Council approval for the construction of Deep Sea Ports in Lekki and Badagry which are ongoing, and to ensure transparency and accountability in the Maritime Sector, Nigeria as a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has submitted herself to the IMO’s voluntary Audit.
Mr Amaechi said Nigeria quest for sustainable maritime development is not negotiable stating that to achieve this laudable objectives on time, the Federal Government was committed at exploring the Single Window Project and ensuring that the various operational processes of the maritime sector such as vessel reception, cargo handling and clearance among others become automated to reduce revenue leakages in the system. He noted that the Federal Government was also committed to providing enabling environment for increased private sector participation in the operations and provision of services in the maritime sector.
On security, the Minister hinted that government’s attention is geared towards ensuring security in the Shipping industry hence the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is being repositioned to effectively partner the Nigeria Navy and all other relevant security Agencies with a view to addressing the security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea.
According to the Minister, another area of endowment is in the area of coastal trade otherwise known as water transportation. It is most environmentally friendly and cost effective which requires increase involvement of the Private Sector so as to harness the attractive opportunity the sector offer.
“Nigeria coastline of about 853km offers opportunity for high economic activities for cargo on Shipping practitioners and other relevant stakeholders to invest more in this area as Government is committed to providing enabling environment for the development of inland water transportation”, he said.
Captain Adamu Audu Biu, an expert in the Shipping industry delivered a paper titled “Growth and Development of Shipping Industry in Nigeria: Creating enabling environment”. In his paper he examined how shipping industry started in Nigeria, the current position and where it ought to be.
Among those who delivered goodwill messages were, the President of Ship owners Association of Nigeria, Engr. Greg Ogbuefun, Engr. Olu Akinsoji, Dr. Kevin Okonna, DG NIMASA, Dr Peterside Dakuku, MD Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Usman Bala, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Sippers’ Council, Hassan Bello and the Acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Ante Ikpajok.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 14.12 per cent stake in Ikeja Hotel Plc has been acquired by Honeywell Group Limited, a notice on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has revealed.
Honeywell Group took up the part of the hospitality firm through one of its affiliates known as HGL Real Estate Limited.
Ikeja Hotel, in the disclosure filed with the NGX on July 2, 2026, said the stake comprised 305,323,525 units of its equities.
“Ikeja Hotel hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the general public that it has received notification from HGL Real Estate Limited, an affiliate of Honeywell Group Limited, that it has acquired 305,323,525 units of Ikeja Hotel Plc’s shares, representing 14.12 per cent shareholding in the company,” the notice stated.
Ikeja Hotel is one of Nigeria’s leading hospitality investment and hotel management companies with premium hospitality assets.
It operates two leading hospitality organisations in Lagos, the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Balmoral Convention Centre.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 10 hospitality establishments, including hotels and restaurants, were sealed on Wednesday by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
The affected businesses are located in different locations in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the metropolis, Business Post learned from a statement from the agency.
It was stated that they were sealed by LASEPA for persistent violations of environmental regulations despite repeated warnings, abatement notices, and several opportunities to comply with the agency’s directives.
According to the notice, the enforcement exercise was carried out in line with the directives of the Lagos State government to ensure strict compliance with environmental laws and to safeguard public health.
The affected facilities were said to have breached various environmental regulations, including noise pollution, air pollution, unlawful discharge of untreated effluent, obstruction of official duties, among others.
LASEPA closed the premises of Granduer Meridian at Obasa Akiniyi Street, Oluwaga, Ipaja for non-compliance with the agency’s directives; Lasola (Spazio Bar), located on Ipaja Road, Fatolu Bus Stop, Ipaja, was sealed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives; Millennium Restaurant, located at Gate Bus Stop, Ipaja, Ayobo, was shut down for non-compliance with directives; O2 Exquisite Suites & Tower on Jimoh Akinremi Street, Jimoh Bus Stop, Akowonjo, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; and Chirozz Hotel & Suites, located on Samuel Street, Akowonjo, by Vulcanizer Bus Stop, Egbeda, was closed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives.
In addition, House 7 Hotel, located at Remi Akande Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with LASEPA’s directives; House 48 on Isiba Oluwo Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; Exclusive Hotel, located at Ishan Kimishe, Akesan Bus Stop, was shut down by non-compliance with directives; Sabola Ventures Limited, Iocated at Km 11, LASU–Isheri Road, Igando, was shut down for operating without evidence of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), and discharging untreated effluent into public drains; and City Int’l Motel, located at Chief Olu-Adegbite Street, off Oladun Street, Council Bus Stop, Idimu, was sealed for non-compliance with directives.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Emirates has become the first airline cargo carrier to deploy the Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger-to-freighter converted aircraft.
The aircraft (A6-EBK) will enter commercial service with a flight from Hong Kong to Dubai carrying over 100 tonnes of cargo, a statement from the airline operator stated.
The converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF offers 100 tonnes of payload capacity and 811 m³ of cargo volume, representing a 25 per cent increase in cargo volume over the Boeing 777-F production freighter.
At 47 pallet positions, the converted aircraft also accommodates 10 additional pallet positions when compared with the Boeing 777-F production freighter, making it ideal for transporting volumetric cargo such as e-commerce goods, which currently constitute around 20 per cent of global air cargo tonnage with further growth projected in the next few years.
The converted Boeing 777-300ERSF is the sixth new freighter, following five Boeing 777-F production freighters, to join Emirates SkyCargo’s fleet since March 2026.
As part of its ambitious expansion strategy, Emirates SkyCargo will also be taking delivery of five additional Boeing 777-F aircraft as well as one additional converted Boeing 777-300ERSF by December 2026.
Emirates SkyCargo will also be introducing three additional converted Boeing 777-ERSFs into its fleet in 2027.
“The induction of the first converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF into operational service represents the next step in the expansion of our fleet and operational agility.
“We are optimising our fleet assets by converting older Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft to meet the growing demand for air cargo capacity to transport goods rapidly across the world,” Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President, Badr Abbas, commented.
“Combined with our growing fleet of Boeing 777-F production freighters, we have already been able to scale our global freighter network from just over 40 destinations in February this year to 62 destinations currently and growing.
“We are providing our global customers with scalable cargo capacity and ultimate flexibility and connectivity when moving cargo to and through our hub in Dubai,” Abbas added.
