Mentees on a ferry safety development and mentoring programme in Lagos have completed a month-long training module focused on marine engine systems and onboard operations.

The fourth module of the programme, held throughout August 2026, combined self-paced learning, expert discussions and practical onboard training to strengthen participants’ understanding of marine engineering and ferry operations.

The programme is being delivered with the involvement of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Interferry and FerrySafe, with support from the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders.

From classroom learning to onboard experience

The first two weeks of the module were devoted to self-paced learning facilitated by Engr Jeremiah Akwemioh, a Nigerian Navy veteran with experience in marine engineering and engine systems.

In the third week, the mentees participated in a virtual “Ask the Expert” session with Joep Bollerman, Vice President of Passenger Ships and Director of the Cruise Ship Center of Expertise at Lloyd’s Register, and Francesco Ruisi, Global Passenger Ship Segment Director at Lloyd’s Register.

The programme then moved from theory to practical training in its fourth week, with participants visiting the MV ONONEZE, an American Bureau of Shipping-classed vessel owned by Fymak Marine & Oil Services Nigeria Ltd.

According to LASWA, the vessel has four Cummins main engines, four propellers and a bow thruster, with a combined output of 5,368 kilowatts, equivalent to about 7,200 brake horsepower.

The practical session allowed the mentees to observe the operation of the vessel’s engines and auxiliary systems, including generators, purifiers, sewage treatment plants, air compressors and piping systems

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Why engine systems matter for ferry safety

Understanding propulsion and auxiliary systems is an important part of safe vessel operation.

Engine-room failures or poor maintenance can affect a vessel’s ability to manoeuvre and operate safely, making technical knowledge an important component of wider ferry safety management.

The practical component of the programme also gives trainees an opportunity to connect classroom instruction with the systems they may encounter during real-world marine operations.

Industry professionals provide practical insight

LASWA credited the management and crew of Fymak Marine & Oil Services for supporting the onboard training.

Those involved included Captain Aniekan Udo, Chief Officer Abiodun Erewa, Chief Engineer Emmanuel Ezekudo and Engr Paul Etarijakpere.

The authority also acknowledged Akwemioh, Bollerman and Ruisi for their roles as facilitator and mentors.

The programme’s organisers said the support of Interferry, including its Director of Conferences and Finance and Executive Sponsor Shari Corrigan, as well as FerrySafe, LASWA, the Lagos State Government and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, had contributed to the capacity-building effort.

What comes next

The programme will move to its fifth module in September, with a focus on Safety Management Systems.

LASWA said the module will be led by Mike Corrigan, Chief Executive Officer of Interferry, giving participants the opportunity to learn about ferry safety management directly from the organisation’s leader.

The latest training comes as Lagos continues to develop its waterways as part of the state’s wider blue economy strategy, making professional training and safety standards increasingly important to the future of water transportation.

For more information, LASWA said members of the public can contact its communication channels on 0700 CALL LASWA or 08090129777, or through its social media handle, @talktolaswa.

APM Terminals has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the development of the proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport in Lagos, in what the Federal Government says could expand Nigeria’s deepwater port capacity and strengthen its position in West African trade.

The agreement was signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, 7 September 2026, during a visit by Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, who led a Federal Government delegation to the country.

The MoU commits the parties to exclusive negotiations over the proposed greenfield port, with APM Terminals expressing its commitment to taking the project forward.

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Why the Badagry port matters

The proposed port is expected to provide additional deepwater capacity for Nigeria and accommodate larger container vessels than some existing facilities can handle.

It could also create new opportunities for transshipment, allowing cargo destined for other West and Central African markets to be handled through Nigeria.

The government says the project would complement existing port infrastructure and support increased cargo volumes while improving the resilience of supply chains.

APM Terminals said developing Badagry could also help ease congestion associated with ports located within the city.

“Developing Badagry as a greenfield project will further ease congestions in city ports and further open new opportunities.

— Igor van den Essen, APM Terminals

*CAPTION*
L–R: Group Chief Executive Officer, A.P. Moller–Maersk, Vincent Clerc; Managing Director, Badagry Port Development Limited, Didi Ndiomu; Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; and Managing Director, Africa & Europe, APM Terminals, Igor van den Essen, at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of the Badagry Deep-Seaport in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, September 7, 2026.

APM Terminals explores further Nigerian investment

The Badagry discussions formed part of wider maritime and investment engagements between Nigeria and Denmark.

Oyetola and his delegation held meetings with senior Danish government officials and representatives of the country’s maritime industry as Nigeria seeks to attract more private-sector investment into port infrastructure.

The minister said the government was focused on modernising maritime infrastructure and creating conditions for long-term investment.

“Our engagement in Denmark underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to modernizing Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and unlocking the full potential of our blue economy. Partnering with global terminal operators like APM Terminals to explore strategic greenfield developments such as the Badagry Port is central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of positioning Nigeria as West Africa’s premier trade and logistics hub,” Oyetola said.

The parties also discussed possible extensions to APM Terminals’ existing port concessions at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) in Onne.

What APM Terminals says

APM Terminals’ Managing Director for Africa and Europe, Igor van den Essen, said the company saw long-term investment in Nigeria’s port infrastructure as part of efforts to support the country’s economic growth.

“APM Terminals is keen to contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and position as a trade hub in West Africa. We believe further investing long-term in our concessions in Apapa and Onne helps doing that, and we were pleased to have a constructive dialogue about this today. Additionally, developing Badagry as a greenfield project will further ease congestions in city ports and further open new opportunities,” he said.

Van den Essen also welcomed the Federal Government’s plans to expand trade and attract investment.

“APM Terminals is encouraged by the Nigerian government’s ambition to expand trade, attract investment, and strengthen the country’s position as a leading maritime gateway in West Africa, and we are proud to play a part in that ambition. We strongly believe that public-private partnerships help us deliver results that support growth because they drive long-term investment, a better business environment and, thereby, competitiveness in a rapidly developing market,” he said.

Badagry project enters a new phase

Didi Ndiomu, Managing Director of Badagry Port Development Limited, described the agreement with APM Terminals as the start of a new phase for the proposed project.

“Investing in maritime infrastructure and especially in Badagry as a greenfield port project together with APM Terminals is the beginning of Nigeria becoming the true maritime capital of sub-Saharan Africa in full alignment with the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambitious maritime growth strategy,” Ndiomu said.

The proposed deep-seaport is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s wider port network by providing facilities for larger container vessels and supporting higher cargo volumes.

It is also projected to increase Nigeria’s ability to serve as a regional transshipment hub, potentially allowing the country to handle cargo moving to markets across West and Central Africa.

What happens next?

The MoU does not by itself amount to the completion of the port project. Instead, it provides a framework for exclusive negotiations between the parties to explore its development.

The next stages will determine the project’s commercial, technical and investment arrangements before construction and operations can proceed.

For Nigeria’s maritime sector, the proposed Badagry development comes as the government seeks to expand port capacity, attract private investment and improve the country’s role in regional trade.

Nigeria’s maritime regulator has begun a review of its priorities for the next three years, with its director-general warning senior officials that recent gains in maritime security and international recognition will count for little unless they translate into measurable improvements.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) held a two-day senior management strategy session in Lagos to review its Medium-Term Strategic Plan covering September 2025 to August 2028.

Director-General Dayo Mobereola told management staff that the agency must focus on measurable results, clear responsibilities and deadlines rather than simply recording new initiatives.

The session comes as Nigeria seeks to strengthen its position as a major maritime hub in the Gulf of Guinea, a region where security, port efficiency and shipping costs have direct consequences for trade.

Security gains

NIMASA said Nigeria has recorded four consecutive years without a reported piracy incident in its territorial waters.

The agency also pointed to Nigeria’s election into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) after 14 years and the lifting of a 12-year Condition of Entry imposed by the United States Coast Guard on vessels originating from Nigerian ports and bound for the US.

These developments have strengthened Nigeria’s standing in international shipping, although the absence of reported piracy incidents does not by itself resolve wider maritime-security risks.

Mobereola urged staff to consolidate the progress rather than assume it will continue automatically.

“Sustaining and building on these gains requires a more disciplined, performance-driven approach, and the decisions we take here will not only shape our internal processes but also impact the broader trajectory of Nigeria’s maritime sector.”

NIMASA also said Nigeria accounts for more than 47% of all port calls in the Gulf of Guinea, a figure it used to underline the country’s importance to regional maritime trade.

The agency did not provide a breakdown of the port-call figure in the statement, so the basis and timeframe for the statistic require further verification.

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What is changing at NIMASA?

The strategy session will focus on how the agency implements reforms already under way, including the automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry and its workflow systems.

NIMASA also listed the review of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) framework and the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) among its reforms.

The CVFF has attracted particular attention over the years because Nigerian operators have long called for access to the fund to improve their ability to acquire and operate vessels.

The agency’s latest strategy therefore matters beyond its internal administration. Decisions on maritime regulation, financing, certification and safety can affect Nigerian shipowners, seafarers, port users and businesses that depend on sea freight.

Mobereola told managers that the strategy session should produce practical commitments rather than broad policy statements.

“We must be sincere in discussing our current realities, focused in prioritizing the areas that truly move the needle and what we need to do to make progress in those areas as well as being accountable to ensure that every outcome from this session must translate into clear ownership, timelines, and measurable results.”

He added:

“This is a good place for constructive engagement where ideas can be challenged, refined, and transformed into actionable strategies. The strength of this Agency lies in our collective expertise, and we must leverage that fully.”

Why the three-year plan matters

Nigeria relies heavily on maritime transport for international trade, making the efficiency and security of its ports important to importers, exporters and consumers.

Persistent concerns around port congestion, shipping costs, regulatory delays and the competitiveness of Nigerian shipping operators have made maritime reform a recurring government priority.

The federal government established the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2023 under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with the sector positioned as an area for economic diversification and increased investment.

NIMASA operates within that broader policy framework and is responsible for maritime safety and administration, shipping development and the implementation of key aspects of Nigeria’s maritime laws.

The agency’s challenge now is to demonstrate that institutional reforms can produce improvements that users of the maritime sector can actually see.

From reform announcements to measurable results

Mobereola described the current period as a major transformation for NIMASA and listed several reforms that he said would alter how the agency operates.

“We are not merely improving processes; we are building a new foundation for efficiency, transparency, innovation and international recognition. The automation of the Ship Registry, the review of STCW, the disbursement of the CVFF, the automation of our workflow system, and several other reforms are initiatives that will fundamentally change the way we operate and how Nigeria is perceived globally.”

Those claims will ultimately need to be measured against outcomes.

For example, automation should reduce processing delays and improve transparency if implemented effectively. Greater access to maritime financing should also translate into tangible benefits for qualified Nigerian operators rather than remain a policy commitment.

Similarly, maintaining a piracy-free operating environment will require continued cooperation among NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, other security agencies and regional partners.

What happens next?

NIMASA says its senior management strategy session is held periodically to review the agency’s direction, reaffirm priorities and align its work with its statutory mandate and federal government’s ministerial deliverables.

The next test will be implementation.

For the shipping industry and other maritime stakeholders, the key question is whether the 2025-2028 strategy will produce clearly published targets, timelines and performance indicators that allow the public to judge progress.

For NIMASA, the task is not only to preserve the gains it has highlighted but to show how those gains improve the safety, efficiency and competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime economy.

The agency’s strategy may set the direction, but its impact will ultimately be judged by what changes on the water, at the ports and for the people and businesses that depend on Nigeria’s maritime trade.