General
Deep Blue Project Has Massively Reduced Piracy Attacks—NIMASA
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has disclosed that the country has recorded a massive reduction of piracy attacks on the Nigerian waters.
This was disclosed by the Director-General of the agency, Mr Bashir Jamoh, through his Special Assistant on Communication Strategies, Mr Ubong Essien.
He explained that the low piracy attacks were achieved following the unveiling of the Deep Blue Project, a security architecture in the waters.
He said the security achievement was in collaboration with the Navy, Air Force, the Army and NIMASA as the major drivers.
He said Nigeria has been pressing for the lifting of the War Risk Insurance (WRI) imposed on vessels delivering goods and merchandise to the country due to fears of insecurity.
Mr Jamoh explained that goods coming to Nigeria carry very high and discriminatory fees that fuel inflation in Nigeria, revealing how NIMASA has gone to key maritime stations around the world to make case for the WRI removal.
The NIMASA DG said it was sad that this has persisted despite huge improvements in security on Nigeria’s waters.
“We are all paying the price for it. When goods enter the country, the higher cost in shipping and insurance will drive the cost up.
“The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has admitted that the attacks have drastically dropped as never before in decades. What baffles the NIMASA management is why that though this reduction in attacks has been admitted by the IMB but the WRI is still in place. It’s a punitive insurance measure.
“The DG has gone to three international meetings where he has been making demand and appeal for removal of War Risk Insurance,” the statement added.
Speaking further, he said: “It is a collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Transportation. NIMASA is driving it as the realising agency in terms of funding for the acquisition of the assets.
“You have three categories of assets, air, sea and land: In the air asset category, we have two special mission helicopters and two aircraft. The helicopters handle surveillance but in the event of an emergency, they can serve as intervention assets. NIMASA bears the responsibility of the safety of sea operations and thus uses the air assets to ensure this.
“In sea assets, we have two special mission vessels that go to sea and can stay at one spot from time to time and watch out. There are fast-moving interception boats that can take about 16 armed agents each.
“They serve as MSU (Maritime Security Unit). They can be deployed in the event of an attack on any vessel at the nation’s territorial waters or anywhere within its jurisdiction or permit.”
The agency noted that the Deep Blue Project as a specialised security strategy was yielding huge dividends, not only in reducing pirates’ attacks but in the many arrests and recent convictions secured.
He disclosed the latest convictions put at 10 and fines of N200, 000 each by a federal high court sitting in Ikoyi for hijacking a merchant’s vessel, FV Hailufeng II, on May 15, 2020, saying the total number of convictions had risen to 20. This was being achieved under the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act of 2019.
“This is the first time such feat has been recorded in Nigeria’s waters. Before now, there were no strong legal instruments to hold the criminals or pirates. Now, Nigeria is becoming a model in the Gulf of Guinea in terms of security the nation’s security architecture and model,” Mr Jamoh said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s cocoa output is projected to fall by 11 per cent to 305,000 tons in the 2025-2026 harvest season, Bloomberg reported on Monday.
Cocoa is one of Nigeria’s agricultural products, with the country ranked among the top five producers in the world.
The country’s output could be down by a difference of 39,000 tons from a projected 344,000 tons in the current season, which ends in September.
According to the publication, this development is part of a wider problem among West African producers which will see the region head into another disappointing harvest.
Bloomberg said despite favourable weather in previous seasons, structural constraints including aging cocoa trees and crop diseases may continue to limit output and keep prices high.
According to Mr Mufutau Abolarinwa, the head of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, changing weather patterns have delayed key rainfall and strong winds have damaged fresh flowers and young cherelles.
He added that these have reduced the number of pods that could have contributed to output.
According to Bloomberg, while the situation is bleaker for Nigeria, it is comparatively better for bigger producers like Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.
In Cote d’Ivoire, the biggest producer, is projected to collect 1.4 million tons during the main crop harvest between October and March, which is about in line with the expected total for this season’s main crop.
In neighboring Ghana, where the harvest begins this month, the output is projected at 620,000 tons, well below the country’s historical peak.
Cameroon is an anomaly with production expected to rise 12 per cent to 300,000 tons, according to the country’s Cocoa and Coffee Interprofessional Council.
The result means global cocoa supply will likely stay tight and prices will rise, even as weaker demand offers some relief following an estimated 40,000-ton shortfall this year.
According to analysts, JPMorgan forecasts prices staying above $6,000 a ton, while Citi expects $7,000 in the next year , which more than double the long-term norm.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Lagos State Government has listed 176 estate developments spread across the state as illegal, giving them 21 days to process their layout approvals.
In a document published by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development on Monday, owners and developers of these estates described as illegal failed to register with the appropriate agencies before embarking on the projects.
In the notice signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of Physical Planning, Mr Oluwole Sotire, the importance of all developers and real estate practitioners registering with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA), which is responsible for regulating, coordinating, and monitoring real estate practitioners in the sector, was emphasised.
The notice listed the illegal estates, mostly located in the Eti-Osa, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki, and Epe axis of the state, as Adron Homes, Elerangbe; Aina Gold Estate, Okun-Folu; Diamond Estate, Eputu; Prime Water View Garden, Ikate Elegushi; Lekki Palms Estate, Olomowewe; Living Spring Estate, Lafiaji; Atlantic View Estate, Lekki; Yomade Heritage, Epe Road; and Royal View Estate, Ikota, among others.
The developers have been asked to submit the necessary documents to Mr Sotire within 21 days at the Ministry of Planning and Urban Development in Alausa, Ikeja, for the necessary layout approvals.
Below are all the affect estates;
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have separately condemned the recent order for the closure of Badeggi Radio by Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State.
Business Post reports that the Niger State Governor had stripped Badeggi FM radio station of its license and allegedly threatened to demolish the station’s premises over its allegations of inciting violence in the state.
On its part, NGE, which is the apex body of editors in Nigeria, said in a statement that the governor’s action was a “blatant attack on press freedom and democracy.”
Speaking on behalf of the organisation, the guild‘s President, Mr Eze Anaba, and its General Secretary, Mr Onuoha Ukeh said, “This act of censorship and intimidation undermines the fundamental principles of a democratic society where free press is essential for holding those in power accountable,” adding that the governor acted outside his powers to order the closure of a radio station.
“The power to sanction television and radio stations only lies with the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) after a thorough investigation of any alleged breach of the code.
“We are happy that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, has pointed this out.
“This should go beyond observing the anomaly. The Federal Government should order the unsealing of the premises of the radio station, while investigation is carried out.”
The statement said arbitrary closure of media houses was a reminder of the dark days of military rule.
It, however, noted that Mr Bago’s allegation of incitement of violence by the radio station was a serious issue which had to be investigated and proven before any action could be taken.
“We urge the media to operate under strict adherence to the code of ethics of journalism, with responsible conduct at the back of the minds of the professionals,” it said.
The statement called on the authorities to take measures to respect the rights of citizens to access information and express themselves freely.
On its part, SERAP urged Governor Bago to “immediately reverse the arbitrary and unlawful decision to strip Badeggi FM radio station of its licence, reinstate the station’s licence, and withdraw your threat to demolish the station’s premises”
The organisation said: “Your vague, unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations of ‘inciting violence’ against Badeggi FM and its owner are apparently made to silence the radio station and its owner.”
SERAP said, “Silencing critical or dissenting voices under the guise of vague and unsubstantiated national security concerns is a fundamental breach of your constitutional oath of office and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.”
“Silencing Badeggi FM and its owner would have a chilling effect on the protection of freedom of expression and media freedom across several states.”
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