By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA) has called for the removal of import duties on cabotage vessels to promote the growth of the indigenous shipping fleet ahead of the planned disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) next month.

Speaking at the 2025 NMLA Seminar held in Lagos last week, Mr Boniface Igwe, former Director of Cabotage at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), argued that waiving import duties on such vessels would significantly lower procurement and operational costs.

He also said eliminating these duties would give local shipowners a competitive advantage over foreign operators engaged in Nigeria’s coastal trade.

“It is high time NIMASA began engaging with the Nigeria Customs Service to consider waiving certain duties in support of Cabotage implementation,” Mr Igwe stated, noting that effective and well-monitored Cabotage enforcement could boost Nigeria’s cargo tonnage, enhancing the country’s chances of securing a seat in Category ‘C’ of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council.

Similarly, Mr Fubara Anga, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), stressed the need for the NMLA to present a national strategy document to the government outlining a framework for the disbursement and implementation of the Cabotage Fund.

According to him, this would ensure the fund achieves its intended goals.

Mr Anga added that building local capacity would not only strengthen the domestic shipping sector but also increase government revenue.

In his remarks, former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr Hassan Bello, described a well-structured Cabotage regime as a potential game changer for the local shipping industry.

He expressed optimism that, if properly managed, the CVFF disbursement could enable Nigerian shipowners to compete effectively with their foreign counterparts.

Recall that NIMASA has announced plans to commence the disbursement of the $700 million CVFF in August.

The CVFF, established under the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act of 2003, was designed to empower Nigerian shipping companies through access to structured financing for vessel acquisition. However, successive administrations failed to operationalize the fund—until now.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the implementation of the Nigeria First Policy.

Speaking at the signing in Abuja on Monday, the Director-General of BPP, Mr Adebowale Adedokun, said the partnership would promote local manufacturing, technology, innovation and economic growth in Nigeria, noting that the Nigeria First Policy promotes the use of local content and indigenous solutions to address national challenges.

Mr Adedokun said the deal aimed to create a structured bridge between production and procurement, prioritising locally made solutions in public service delivery, which would promote value for money in public procurement.

“Today, we are not just signing an agreement. We are building a pipeline from Nigerian innovation to national transformation.

“The MoU we sign today aims to align our policies with our priorities. It gives practical force to the Nigeria First Policy.

“NASENI’s innovations, from tractors to tablets, from surveillance drones to solar backup systems, will now be actively prioritised in the procurement plans of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

“We are institutionalising a framework that makes local options not just preferable, but the default option before all others.”

He emphasised that the partnership was not an act of protectionism but an act of patriotism grounded in performance, as NASENI had invested in quality assurance with its products certified by Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and NAFDAC.

The DG said the role of BPP was to ensure that standards were rewarded with access and that MDAs no longer needed to look outside when the best was being made in Nigeria.

He said the bureau was backing its commitment with NASENI with reform actions.

Mr Adedokun said the BPP would integrate NASENI’s catalogue into the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO), making NASENI’s offerings visible, verifiable, and measurable across all MDAs.

“Between January and June 2025 alone, NOCOPO’s enhanced price intelligence helped Nigeria save over N173 billion equivalent to $155 million and €1.7 million.

“These are not just savings on paper. They are savings that free up resources for more schools, hospitals, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.”

He added that the BPP and NASENI had set up a Technical Working Committee to synchronise production timelines with procurement cycles, which would track outcomes, identify bottlenecks, and ensure continuous improvement.

Adedokun commended NASENI for its efforts in putting Nigerian-made innovation on the map while calling on other MDAs to prioritise their products.

“I call on other sectors beyond NASENI to also come up with their own strategy for implementing Nigeria First. NASENI has led. I expect others to follow.

“To citizens, I invite you to track these procurements on NOCOPO. Your vigilance ensures our accountability.

“We have to really realise that today’s event is such that it can change our local industries, the small and medium-scale enterprises. It can change how women and youths are viewed in terms of industrialisation.”

On his part, Mr Khalil Halilu, Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO of NASENI, said the MoU was expected to attract more investments into the country and promote local manufacturing.

He said the agreement would provide priority patronage to companies that partner with NASENI.

“The MoU further strengthens our efforts, pushing the Nigerian First Policy, and we look forward to assembling more locally made items as well as promoting more industrialisation in the country.”

He noted that NASENI had received no fewer than 900 applications from companies to partner with them in the past one and a half years, because of its rebranding and new partnerships.

“This has resulted in the development of no fewer than 50 market-ready products, and we have a showroom on the Kubwa Expressway which will be showcased at our unveiling event soon.”

Mr Halilu also emphasised the importance of protecting local industries and promoting local manufacturing to prevent Nigeria from becoming a dumping ground for imported goods.

He said the agency was working on building the biggest renewable park in the region in Keffi, and had taken a portion of Abuja Industrial Park, and Abuja Technology Village to build electronics and electronic vehicles, adding that the agency had successfully attracted technology transfer and investment into the country.

He added that the agency’s policies were gender-friendly and inclusive, with women and youth forming part of its workforce.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The race for the 2025 Junior Chamber International (JCI) Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Nigeria (TOYP) programme has commenced with the opening of voting at 6.30 pm WAT on Monday, July 28, 2025.

A statement from the organisers disclosed that voting is expected to close at 11.59 pm WAT on August 6, 2025, with the unveiling of the nominees slated for Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, in commemoration of the United Nations International Youth Day.

The top 10 persons will be chosen from the 30 nominees shortlisted by KPMG Nigeria, the official audit partner for the 2025 JCI TOYP Program, from the top 50 nominees earlier evaluated by an independent panel of judges between March and April 2025.

These nominees had been selected by the jury from a total of 638 entries received nationwide during the nomination period, which ran between January and February 2025.

This programme is hosted annually by JCI Nigeria to celebrate young people (between the ages of 18 and 40) who have demonstrated remarkable leadership and significant contributions in their respective fields and communities.

For this year’s edition, its 41st, the top 10 will be at the 2025 JCI World Congress scheduled for Tunis in November.

Seven notable Nigerians have been honoured at the global stage – namely Ray Ekpu (1988), Dr. Modupe Osho (1996), Dr. Ola Orekunrin (2013), Imrana Buba (2017), Adepeju Opeyemi Jaiyeoba (2017), Jacinta Uramah (2018), and Temie Giwa-Tubosun (2021) –

The chairperson of the 2025 JCI TOYP Committee, Ms Yetunde Oyeyipo, encouraged members of the public to participate as the public voting phase plays a critical role in determining the final honourees because 40 per cent will be allocated to them and 60 per cent to the judges.

Speaking on the significance of this programme, the 2025 President of JCI Nigeria, Ms Oluwatoyin Atanda, said, “These exceptional individuals are pioneering change, pushing boundaries, and championing innovation across various sectors in Nigeria. They truly embody leadership, service, and commitment to national development. This year’s Nominees are not just dreamers, they are doers making tangible impact.”

The 2025 Top 30 Nominees are: Aramide Kayode, Motunrayo Sanyaolu, Chuks Ekwueme, Ifedayo Durosimi-Etti, Phoebe Dami-Asolo, Tosin Olaseinde, Prada Uzodinma, Aisha Abdullahi Adamu, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, Morenike Olusanya, Emmanuel Oyeleke, Tolani Ali, Tobilola Ajayi, David Obianyor, Emokiniovo Dave-Akpedeye and Praise Akobo. Others are Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson, Bukola Bolarinwa, Jumoke Dada, Toyeeb Ajayi, Adaeze Akpagbula, David Onilude, Elizabeth Oshoba, Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin, Oyinkansola Fawehinmi, Joseph Onele, Tomilola Majekodunmi, Oluwatobi Ajayi, Chinwe Okoli and Fisayo Fosudo.

These 30 nominees are in 10 categories, namely: Academic Leadership and/or Accomplishment; Business, Economic and/or Entrepreneurship Accomplishment; Contribution to Children, World Peace and/or Human Rights; Cultural Achievements; Humanitarian and/or Voluntary Leadership; Medical Innovation; Moral and/or Environmental Leadership; Personal Improvement and/or Accomplishment; Political, Legal and/or Government Affairs; and Scientific and/or Technological Development. Hence, 1 Nominee will emerge as the most outstanding person in each of these categories.