WAF Shipping Focus: Week 35
- Agwe Logistics Solutions
- Aug 31
- 4 min read
Investigations by Shipping Position Daily have revealed how a growing number of poorly- constructed, unregulated, unregistered and unclassified barges have flooded Nigerian waterways threatening maritime safety and port operations. This is even as industry stakeholders and experts have urged regulatory agencies to intensify its oversight role by ensuring that all barges meet the minimum safety requirements before being deployed for cargo or other operations. Shipping Position Daily recalls that recently, a barge loaded with what is suspected to be industrial chemicals sank near the Mile 2- Apapa waters as it attempted to berth at a bonded terminal. Even though the exact cause of the incident remains unclear, reliable sources suggest that a possible shift in the cargo’s positioning during manoeuvring may have led to the mishap. Our correspondent visited several jetties in Lagos.
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The Maritime Police Command and the National Single Window (NSW) Secretariat have strengthened their collaboration to enhance trade facilitation and streamline port operations in Nigeria. This development followed a strategic engagement on August 22, when a delegation from the NSW Secretariat visited the Maritime Police Command Headquarters in Obalende, Lagos. The visit formed part of the Secretariat’s ongoing efforts to engage critical stakeholders in line with the Federal Government’s vision for efficient port management and increased revenue mobilization. Speaking during the meeting, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Maritime Command, AIG Musa Yusuf Garba, commended the National Single Window initiative as a major step toward addressing operational bottlenecks in Nigeria’s maritime trade sector.
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The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has emphasized the critical role of professionalism in engineering practice as a foundation for Nigeria’s maritime and Blue Economy development. Dr. Mobereola made this remark while receiving the leadership of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), led by its President, Engineer Margaret Aina Oguntala, during a courtesy visit to NIMASA Management in Lagos. He underscored the importance of engineering expertise in advancing Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and assured the NSE of NIMASA’s commitment to closer collaboration in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Blue Economy mandate.
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The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has intensified efforts to boost activities at the nation’s Eastern ports in a bid to decongest Lagos and strengthen Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The Authority’s Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has introduced a series of reforms covering tariffs, infrastructure rehabilitation, security, and strategic partnerships to reposition the ports of Onne, Port Harcourt, Warri, and Calabar. For decades, Lagos ports handled more than 90 per cent of Nigeria’s maritime traffic, leaving the Eastern ports underutilised due to shallow drafts, poor infrastructure, and security concerns. NPA said current interventions are beginning to change the narrative.
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The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has been elected as the Vice-President of the International Association for Ports & Harbours, IAPH, for Africa, further cementing Nigeria’s growing influence in global maritime affairs. The election, held in Tokyo, marks another milestone for Dantsoho, who previously made history as the first Nigerian to lead the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa since its establishment in 1972. Confirming the victory in a statement, NPA spokesperson Ikechukwu Onyemekara said the appointment reflects international recognition of Nigeria’s renewed leadership in maritime development. IAPH Secretary-General Masahiko Furuichi also welcomed the development, noting: “I am delighted to work together with you in IAPH for the years to come.”.
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CARENA, a subsidiary of Africa Global Logistics (AGL) and SOFIA, has announced the acquisition of a 12,000-tonne floating dock to expand its ship repair capacity in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The dock, scheduled for delivery in October 2025, represents a 12.5 billion FCFA investment and marks a significant milestone in CARENA’s development strategy. The addition of this new infrastructure will allow CARENA to operate a fleet of three floating docks with lifting capacities of 2,000 tonnes, 10,000 tonnes, and now 12,000 tonnes. Measuring 144 meters in length and 48 meters in width, the floating dock is designed to host larger vessels and will enhance the company’s ability to serve the growing demands of shipowners operating along the African Atlantic coast. “With this state-of-the-art equipment, CARENA is strengthening its ability to meet the technical requirements of shipowners across the African Atlantic coast,” said Jean-François Arhant, Managing Director of CARENA. “The possibility of handling several vessels simultaneously positions us as a player capable of delivering fast, reliable, and competitive solutions.”
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