Economy
Shippers Council: FG To Begin Manufacturing Boats, Phase Out Rickety Vessels
Shippers Council: FG To Begin Manufacturing Boats, Phase Out Rickety Vessels
Shippers Council: FG to begin manufacturing boats, phase out rickety vessels. He said, “We have not properly professionalised boat making in Nigeria, that is why today we are still using wooden boats.”
The federal government says plans are ongoing to begin manufacturing boats in the country to phase out rickety vessels and curb the incidence of mishaps.
Pius Akutah, the executive secretary of the Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), said this in an interview with journalists in Abuja.
Mr Akutah said the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) were working to minimise accidents on the inland waterways.
He said, “We have not properly professionalised boat making in Nigeria, that is why today we are still using wooden boats.
“Other countries, even smaller neighbouring countries, have gone ahead to start fabricating boats and professionalising the act of fabricating boats.
“But all of these are in the master plan, the blueprint that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy has just inaugurated recently, and plans are there to fabricate proper boats with the right specifications.”
Mr Akutah said the minister, Adegboyega Oyetola, was leveraging the ministry’s staff’s knowledge, experience and expertise to brainstorm ideas to transform the marine sector and enhance safety.
He said that with the inauguration of the marine and blue economy policy, measurable development would be recorded within the next year, especially regarding boat accident control.
Mr Akutah lauded the government for distributing life jackets across states to save lives and urged boat users to ensure the usage of the jackets for their own safety.
He also called for the establishment of a coastal guard to support boat users with proper water navigation, especially at night.
Mr Akutah said that aside from shipping safety, the council was working as a critical agency to promote and ensure safe and clear vehicle transit parks in the hinterlands.
He noted that vehicle transit parks were part of the council’s mandates, promoting the development of critical infrastructure in the hinterlands for vehicles.
“The Nigerian Shippers Council undertook a study, which showed that most of the accidents we have on our roads today are a result of fatigued drivers.
“Drivers driving for several hours without stopping to rest because of the non-availability of parks along the way, and there’s an African Charter on the movement of vehicles on roads.
“It limits the time within which a driver can continuously be on the road, which is seven hours, but unfortunately, you will see that that has not been implemented over the years,” Mr Akutah said.
He said the development of transit paths was to create critical transport infrastructure, avoid accidents, and create an environment for the security of cargoes.

Shippers Council
Mr Akutah said the vehicle transit parks would allow drivers to stop and rest in a more secure environment with other economic activities.
Mr Akutah said the council was also supporting the government’s economic policies to make an impact in the port sector.
He added that the council was in synergy with public and private stakeholders across the ports to improve and sustain development in the sector.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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