The bureaucratic and red tapism of government when it comes to due process, due diligence and eventual execution of projects and programs could be mentally and physically exhausting.

For those who are familiar with the processes and procedures of government, the things that get approved almost immediately are those projects/programs that the “big men” have interest in.

Therefore, the  disclosure by the former Management Director of the National Inland waterways Authority, NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji that the Federal Government approved the sum of N14.6 billion naira for the procurement of fiber boats to save lives which have been needlessly and ceaselessly lost on Nigeria Inland waterways throws up several issues on how serious Nigeria is on exploring and utilizing her waterborne resources which experts allege are been ruthlessly pillaged and exploited by foreign nationals under one guise or another.

These marauding foreign nationals operating under the cover of one MoU or another opaque collaboration pact, do more damage than good to the economy of Nigeria-we leave that story for another day.

According to the former NIWA Boss who served between 23 October 23, 2023 to November 14 2025, “I presented a paper to the Federal Government through the Honourable Minister, and about ₦14.6 billion was approved for the procurement of standard boats and ferries capable of carrying agricultural products and passengers safely on our inland waters”

From what we saw and learnt while he served at NIWA, maritime stakeholders will agree that Oyebamiji does not seek attention for publicity sake as he worked more and talked less. He does not relish photoshoots nor seek media engagements without cogent reasons.

Oyebamiji, we dare say, is a man who believes more in service to the people than personal attention under klieg lights and camera glare; if he says there was an approval for N14.6 billion to acquire fiber boats, we at Monday Mooring are convinced that the man knows what he is talking about.

Maritime stakeholders are asking:

1. What happened to the approval?
2. Where is the N14.6b as approved?
3. Have the fibre boats been procured ?
4. Where are the boats and if not procured yet why not?

Efforts to get clarification and insight into the approval at the FMM&BE are ongoing.

Wooden Boats

Minister Oyetola recently called on state governments in Nigeria to ban the use of wooden boats for transportation, urging them to invest in safer, modern fibre and aluminium boats instead.

The minister stated that “Wooden boats deteriorate quickly due to constant exposure to water, leading to cracks, leakages and eventual collapse. They lack stability, easily capsize and have no safety features”

The Minister’s position has also been lauded and supported by concerned stakeholders.

Considering the staggering number of lives lost to boat mishaps, it is our view that banning wooden Boats without providing options is  not the solution to recurring boat accidents in Nigeria.

For instance,with N14.6billion as a revolving loan for boat operators in Nigeria to acquire fiberglass or aluminum boats, with adequate training/capacity building, improvements in safety and security could become tangibly measurable.

The minister is urged to look into the approval and take steps to implement as intended.

CVFF Portal

The minister of the Marine and blue economy has been hailed for commissioning of the CVFF portal as we await the commencement of actual disbursement to qualified ship owners.

L-R: Chairman, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Governing Board, Hon. Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola; Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola; Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs Fatima Mahmood and Chairman, House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education, and Administration, Hon. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, during the launch of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) Application Portal in Lagos.

The accolades to the minister from Maritime stakeholders following the commissioning of the portal are well intentioned and appropriate as it is a milestone in Nigeria’s Maritime chequered history, notwithstanding, the need to meet the high expectations of stakeholders on disbursement of the CVFF cannot be over emphasized.

Air Nigeria, Did Nigeria Err?

Air Nigeria was commissioned or was it launched/unveiled/ at the Farnborough Air Show in England on 18 July 2018.

Seven years after with millions of dollars spent, it has never or do we say has not been seen flying anywhere; pray, let not the CVFF suffer the same tragedy moving forward.