Harboursandport.com: Lagos, Nigeria – November 6, 2025: Veteran maritime journalist and publisher of the first specialized maritime publication, PortNews, Wale Oni, has called for decisive action to revive Nigeria's maritime sector, urging stakeholders to confront long-standing challenges and unlock the industry’s full potential.
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| Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, PortNews News Paper, Wale Oni. |
Speaking at the 30th anniversary celebration of PortNews, held in Lagos, Oni delivered a stirring welcome address that blending personal reflection with a passionate appeal for reform.
Describing the occasion as “epochal,” Oni recounted the humble beginnings of PortNews, which debuted on November 6, 1995, amid financial uncertainty. He credited early support from Bashir Adewale Adeniyi—then Public Relations Officer at Tin-can Customs Command and now Comptroller-General of Customs—for helping the publication survive its infancy.
“That singular help created the genre of maritime journalism that has given jobs to hundreds of Nigerians today,” Oni said.
He paid tribute to industry icons who supported his journey, including the late Sanni Shittu, Taiwo Afolabi, Emmanuel Ihenacho, and Boniface Anienonam, among others.
Oni praised the resilience of Nigeria’s maritime sector, noting its consistent performance even during national economic downturns.
He highlighted the historical significance of the Nigerian National Shipping Line, NNSL which once operated over 30 ocean-going vessels, and lamented its decline.
“Despite the survival stamina of our industry, where are the hundreds of super-trained staff of NNSL today?” he asked.
Turning his focus to the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, CVFF, established under the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act of 2003 to support indigenous shipowners, Oni questioned the opacity surrounding the fund’s balance—rumored to be between $800 million and $1 billion—and criticized the prolonged delay in disbursement.
“Why would a nation save such a humongous volume of public money for so long without using it to empower its people?” he asked.
He acknowledged NIMASA’s fidelity in safeguarding the funds but urged the agency to expedite access through commercial banks, as previously proposed.
The PortNews publisher warned against Nigeria’s continued marginalization in West African maritime trade, citing missed opportunities and foreign dominance.
He emphasized the need for a vibrant cabotage regime that could generate billions in revenue and create jobs for Nigeria’s youth.
“We cannot continue to feign nonchalance to the plight of our seamen, especially the new generation trained by NIMASA,” he said.
The event featured a keynote lecture by Captain Ladi Olubowale, President of the African Ship Owners Association (Nigeria), whom Oni described as “Africa talking to Nigeria.”
“Let us listen and learn,” Oni concluded, urging stakeholders to confront the maritime sector’s burdens and chart a path toward sustainable growth.
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