Travel/Tourism
IMO, MOWCA Agree on Joint Action Plan for Maritime Sector
By Adedapo Adesanya
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) have agreed on a Joint Action Plan (JAP) to promote maritime security, safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly shipping.
The JAP, which was agreed upon at IMO headquarters in London last Thursday, had the IMO Secretary-General, Mr Kitack Lim, the MOWCA Secretary-General, Mr Paul Adalikwu, and transportation ministers from West and Central African countries in attendance.
Both bodies agreed that the JAP be operational from 2022 to 2032 in the first phase and implemented to align towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), African Maritime Transport Charter, African Integrated Maritime Strategy 2050, and African Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development.
Mr Adalikwu described the JAP as a bold step towards ensuring improved safety of ships, crew members, and cargoes on African waters, especially in the West and Central African regions.
He added that the move would engender more technical cooperation between IMO and MOWCA for strategic human capital development that will leverage technology.
He said African countries’ commitment to new technologies for greener shipping, which is the IMO’s 2022 theme, requires short, medium, and long-term approaches to environmental sustainability.
Mr Adalikwu disclosed that the JAP would aim at enhancing the implementation, at the regional level, of the extant MOWCA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of the Sub-Regional Integrated Coast Guard Function Network for West and Central Africa signed in Dakar 2008.
Other features of the JAP include “Organising workshops and implementing appropriate steps to harmonize legal measures across West and Central Africa while ensuring that pirates and persons committing maritime crimes do not evade prosecution.
“Implementing appropriate actions to advance the delivery of the MOWCA Information and Communication Centre (CINFOCOM).
“Developing and executing a long-term road map for the creation of an African maritime organization like the European Maritime Safety Agency – endorsed by the African Union Commission (AUC) – carrying out functions in support of the AUC maritime charters and strategies while also supporting and complementing the work of the IMO in Africa when fully operational.
“Implementing appropriate actions to close any gaps in providing technical assistance in building institutional and human capacity to MOWCA Member States in areas such as: “implementing Corrective Actions Plans (CAP) to address audit findings and observations from the IMO Member States Audit Scheme (IMSAS)
“Energy efficiency management and reducing emissions from international ships including mitigating the financial implications of implementing the IMO Greenhouse Gas Strategy.
“Enhancing gender diversity and safety of women in the maritime sector.
“Creating a governments and industry technical cooperation forum – like the IMO Global Initiative for West, Central and Southern Africa (GI WACAF) – that provides a platform for governments and industry to work together in strengthening safety and environmental standards/performance, as well as capacity building, in West and Central Africa.”
Some Ministers of Transport from MOWCA member countries in attendance included Nigeria’s Mr Muazu Jaji Sambo; represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, Ghana’s Transport Minister, and MOWCA Chairman Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah.
Other countries represented at the meeting included Togo, Cote D’Ivoire, Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Guinea, the Gambia, Chad, Burkina Faso and Gabon.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced plans to introduce V-Pass, a biometric facial recognition system designed to make passenger processing faster, safer and more seamless across its domestic airports.
According to FAAN, the new technology will allow passengers to verify their identities through facial recognition after a one-time enrolment, reducing reliance on physical identification documents and shortening queues through automated electronic gates.
The authority said the system is expected to enhance airport security while improving the overall travel experience for domestic passengers.
FAAN added that V-Pass has been developed with data privacy at its core and is compliant with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
The agency described the initiative as part of its commitment to delivering smarter, technology-driven airport services and said nationwide sensitisation and rollout updates would be announced in due course.
Airports in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates already deploy facial recognition technology for processes such as check-in, security screening, immigration and boarding, so the move also aligns Nigeria’s aviation sector with a growing global trend towards contactless travel.
These systems have been adopted to improve operational efficiency, strengthen security and enhance the overall passenger experience.
For FAAN, the deployment of V-Pass forms part of its broader digital transformation agenda aimed at modernising airport operations and accommodating rising passenger traffic.
Experts say that beyond improving convenience, the authority expects the biometric platform to strengthen identity verification, reduce the risk of impersonation and support more efficient airport security, while maintaining compliance with data protection.
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.
