General
NIMASA Lauds Navy as Nigeria Exits Piracy Red List
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Navy has been commended by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for the delisting of the country from the red list of the International Maritime Bureau.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Bashir Jamoh, gave the commendation during a panel session at the ongoing 2022 Navy Week, marking the 66th-anniversary celebration of the security agency.
Mr Jamoh also advocated an enabling triangle which, according to him, signifies infrastructure, good governance and maritime security, as the enabler of the blue economy.
“Now I do take what I call in my book, harnessing the Nigerian Maritime Asset which in other words is called the blue economy. One of the recommendations was the enabling triangle; and the triangle signifies, infrastructure, good governance and maritime security.
“Now without these three things there cannot be an enabled blue economy.
“Good governance means administrative function of managing the sea and ocean. How do we ensure effective administration of the maritime domain in the Gulf of Guinea?
“Because if you cannot administer the waters in the Gulf of Guinea, it means that the issue of harnessing the blue economy in terms of fishing and other economic benefits in the Gulf of Guinea is going to be difficult,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy in collaboration with the Naval Officers Wives Association has carried out free medical outreach for the Onne community in Rivers State as part of activities for its 66th-anniversary celebration.
The Director of Medical Services, Nigerian Navy, Surgeon Captain Mohammed Salihu, said free medical rhapsody include free checkup for malaria, blood sugar, and blood pressure; free malaria treatment, hypertension, diabetes, and free eyeglasses, amongst others.
He was represented at the event by Surgeon Captain Ugochi Nzeribe-Abangwu, said the dental department is also on ground to offer thorough dental care to patients.
“We brought this free medical service to Onne as part of the 66th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy. We are here today as part of our corporate social responsibility, particularly to the communities where we operate. We are here today to offer free consultations, and free laboratory investigations, in areas of hepatitis, malaria, HIV testing, and blood glucose.
“We also offer free COVID vaccination to the community for those that are yet to be vaccinated. We also have over 500 eyeglasses to give out today. The eye department is fully on the ground to assist them in that area. We also have the dental department checking the all-around needs of the community. We have tubes of toothpaste, toothbrushes and many procedures,” he stated.
Also speaking, the President of NOWA and wife of the Chief of Naval Staff, Mrs Aisha Nana Gambo, said the medical rhapsody was targeted at reaching about 2,000 patients in Onne, as the community hosting Naval facilities.
“The event we are witnessing today which seeks to further strengthen the relationship between the Nigerian Navy and our host communities is one in the series of civil-military relations, usually embarked upon by the Nigerian Navy as part of its constitutional responsibility of securing Nigeria’s maritime environment.
“Let me use this opportunity to remind you all that security is the collective responsibility to every one of us. At this community level and grassroots, so much is expected of you in passing relevant information to the Naval Base and other security agencies close to you. By so doing, we can work together to ensure that our society is safe, secured and free from criminal elements,” she said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) recently hosted a high-level delegation from Newryton International Industrial Development Company Limited, a leading Chinese investment and industrial development consortium, to advance discussions on deepening bilateral trade, industrial cooperation, and development financing between both countries.
The Newryton delegation, led by Mr David Chen, Assistant Secretary-General of the China Hainan Investment Council, had earlier engaged with the Nigerian Association of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). They were accompanied to the NCSP by Mr Joe Onyuike, Vice-Chairman of NACCIMA’s Agriculture and Livestock Trade Group, who conveyed NACCIMA’s support for the delegation’s engagements.
Discussions centered on the establishment of a Nigeria–China Trade and Investment Platform, including a proposed Promotion Centre in China to support Nigerian products, investors, and state governments.
The consortium also presented opportunities within Hainan Province’s Free Trade Port (FTP), which offers preferential policies that Nigerian businesses can leverage to expand exports and attract new investments.
In his address on behalf of Newryton, Mr Pong outlined plans to collaborate with NCSP in accessing FOCAC-supported financing for strategic investments in agriculture, energy, mining, solid minerals processing, and related sectors. The delegation identified aquaculture as a key area of interest and referenced the forthcoming Global Aquaculture Conference in Hainan Province, encouraging Nigerian stakeholders to participate.
They also expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation in vocational training and employment under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of the Director-General, Martins Olajide, NCSP’s Head of Internal Operations, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.
He highlighted NCSP’s strong interest in the proposed Nigeria–China Trade and Investment Platform and the development of the Nigerian Oil Palm Industrial Park as a flagship demonstration project.
Also speaking at the meeting, Ms Judy Melifonwu, NCSP’s Head of International Relations, underscored the opportunities presented by China’s zero-tariff policy and the forthcoming NAQS–GACC protocol on the export of Nigerian aquaculture products. She noted that these frameworks would significantly enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in emerging global markets.
Both parties expressed commitment to advancing discussions toward a structured cooperation framework covering all priority areas.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom–Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), established in 2019 as part of a 16-year legacy of UK-funded infrastructure support to Nigeria, convened over 100 senior stakeholders on Tuesday, December 2, to review its progress and formally close out its current phase of operations.
The event brought together representatives from federal and state governments, development partners, development finance institutions, and the private sector to reflect on UKNIAF’s work across the power, infrastructure finance, and roads sectors. Discussions focused on institutional reforms, capacity development, and the sustainability of tools and processes introduced over the past six years.
Since inception, UKNIAF has delivered targeted technical assistance designed to embed evidence-based reforms, data-driven decision-making, and improved institutional performance. Its interventions have mobilised significant financing, strengthened regulatory and planning systems, and enhanced investor readiness across multiple infrastructure markets.
In the power sector, participants highlighted landmark achievements including the development of Nigeria’s first Integrated Resource Plan, which outlines a least-cost and low-carbon pathway for expanding electricity supply. UKNIAF also supported the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in building advanced real-time data capabilities for tariff monitoring, grid management, and outage tracking. The programme enabled pioneering states to establish their own electricity markets following constitutional reforms.
In infrastructure finance, UKNIAF was recognised for strengthening project preparation systems and enabling access to capital. Notable accomplishments include supporting the mobilisation of $75 million from the African Development Bank to the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme in two states, and accelerating mini-grid and solar deployment through improved technical standards at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
UKNIAF also designed a national project preparation facility, for which N21 billion was allocated in both the 2024 and 2025 budgets to build a pipeline of bankable projects.
Speaking on this, Mr Frank Edozie, UKNIAF Team Lead, described the programme’s close-out as a “handover for sustained delivery,” emphasising that strengthened institutions now hold tools that make Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape more transparent, climate-smart, and investor-ready.
On his part, the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, commended the programme, noting that its technical assistance and advisory services had helped lay the foundation for a sustainable and inclusive electricity supply industry.
Mrs Cynthia Rowe, Head of Development Corporation at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Nigeria, praised the partnership, highlighting achievements ranging from state-level electricity market reforms to unlocking major financing and designing Nigeria’s Climate Change Fund.
Enugu State Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, underscored the lasting influence of the programme, stating that UKNIAF’s impact continues through the expertise and leadership transferred to national and sub-national institutions.
The close-out event reaffirmed stakeholders’ commitment to sustaining tools, reforms, and knowledge products developed under UKNIAF, while strengthening collaboration among public, private, and development actors in the infrastructure ecosystem.
Participants included federal and state agencies such as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Federal Ministry of Power, Ministry of Finance, NERC, REA, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria, alongside development partners including the African Development Bank, World Bank, and IFC, as well as private sector and civil society stakeholders.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, has been slashed by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The Lagos-based oil facility brought down the ex-depot price of the petroleum product by 15.58 per cent or N129 per litre to N828 per litre.
Though the company had yet to release an official statement on this development, real-time market data on Petroleumprice.ng on Friday showed the new price.
Punch reports that data from the platform also showed fresh reductions across several private depots following the refinery’s latest review.
Sigmund Depot cut its ex-depot price by N4 to N824 per litre, Bulk Strategic dropped its price by N3, and TechnoOil slashed its by N15.
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