Apapa GRA was brought to a delightful standstill on Tuesday, August 5, as management, staff, and maritime stakeholders gathered for a grand celebration in honour of the outgoing Director of the Strategic Planning and Research Department (SPRD) at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Olarotimi Babatunde Anifowoshe, widely and fondly known as OBA. Mr. Anifowoshe is officially set to retire on August 9, 2026. However, following formal approval from the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer,Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, MON, FCILT. Mr. Anifowoshe requested to hand over on Monday 24 August…
Category: Maritime
Echoes of the Iran War: The Unprecedented Threat Stalking Mideast Oil Tankers
Geopolitical analysts warn that maritime risks for Middle East oil tankers have escalated to heights unseen since the outbreak of the Iran War, following a barrage of attacks targeting an alternative regional trade corridor. The security crisis intensified after a series of hostile strikes disrupted vessels navigating the Red Sea. Tankers had increasingly relied on this alternative waterway after Iran choked off transit through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Tehran has flatly rejected claims by Donald Trump regarding active bilateral negotiations over the maritime blockage. While dismissing assertions that…
34 Years, Zero Regrets: Director Anifowoshe Bows Out of Shippers’ Council with Pride and Ultimate Charge to Staff
After 34 years of unbroken public service, Director Rotimi Anifowoshe has officially stepped down from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), bowing out with zero regrets and an ultimate charge to the workforce [2026-08-03]. In an industry exclusive, Sooth News has obtained a copy of the open letter fired off by Anifowoshe to both current and former staff. The dispatch confirms the outgoing Director of Strategic Planning and Research strategically fast-tracked his exit with the green light from CEO Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyinma, abruptly capping off a stellar career days ahead…
Black Sea Defiance: Ukraine Sinks Russian Containership
Ukraine neutralized a Rosatom-operated container vessel in a daring Black Sea strike while it was en route to Novorossiysk, Russia. Though the crew was successfully rescued, the state nuclear corporation’s chief executive swiftly condemned the operation, blasting the ambush as “piracy” and “maritime robbery”. The 13,000-dwt containership Yanina sank after taking two direct hits from naval drones roughly 130 miles off the coast of Novorossiysk. Tracking data tracked the 2005-built ship back to India, where it was running a standard FESCO liner service. FESCO originally brought the 142-meter (465-foot), 962-TEU…
Tsamiya Dry Port: Shippers’ Council, Kebbi Partner to Drive Border Trade
…Strategic hub set to catalyze regional trade, generate employment, and streamline transit logistics The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Kebbi State Government have solidified their alliance to develop the Tsamiya Inland Dry Port and Vehicle Transit Park. Driven by the NSC’s core mandate to streamline shipping logistics nationwide, this strategic infrastructure is specifically designed to eliminate trade bottlenecks and remove delays for Shippers. Located in the critical Bagudo local government area bordering Benin Republic, the dual project will serve as a massive economic catalyst. Officials confirm it is uniquely…
Strait of Hormuz Crisis: India Tracks 6 Ships, 166 Crew Amid Houthi Saudi Blockade
India has placed its maritime surveillance on high alert, closely monitoring six domestic vessels and tracking the safety of 166 Indian seafarers navigating the volatile Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. The emergency watch comes amid mounting regional tensions following the Houthi blockade of Saudi shipping lanes. Providing a breakdown of the personnel at risk, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that six Indian-flagged ships are currently operating west of the strategic bottleneck, carrying a crew of 125 citizens. An additional 41 Indian national seafarers are deployed…
FDI Magnet: Akutah Hails Oyetola’s Game-Changing Marine Reforms
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq, MON, FCIL, has lauded the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for his unwavering commitment to rebranding the sector into a powerhouse for national economic development. According to Akutah, the Minister’s top reform priority centers on steering the blue economy along a development trajectory that yields immediate, positive impacts on the nation’s wealth. The Shippers’ Council boss disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the League of Maritime Editors (LOME)…
Rainy Season Peak: NIWA Storms Abaji with Waterway Safety Campaign
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has intensified its marine safety and environmental protection campaign in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), storming waterfront communities in the Abaji Area Council with a high-impact public sensitisation drive. This strategic deployment comes at a critical time, as the peak of the rainy season triggers heightened risks of flash flooding, rapidly rising water levels, and severe water pollution across the region. Organised by the NIWA Abuja Area/Liaison Office on Wednesday, the aggressive awareness campaign is part of the Authority’s proactive framework to enforce safe…
Shielding the Seas: Saudi Arabia Backed by 14-Country Coalition Amid Hormuz Crisis
The blueprint for a new global naval shield is officially underway. On Thursday, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense announced that 14 nations have united under a proposed “Maritime Defense Alliance,” a multinational coalition aimed at locking down vulnerable shipping routes and insulating global trade. The formidable 14-nation bloc unites Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia. Momentum for the naval shield is rapidly swelling; the defense ministry confirmed that military chiefs and high-level envoys from 43 countries swarmed the summit—convening both…
Mideast Escalation: Saudi Arabia Joins Forces With US to Strike Militias in Iraq
In a sharp and historic escalation of the Middle East conflict, joint forces from Saudi Arabia and the United States executed a series of precision airstrikes targeting Iran-backed militias across eastern Iraq. Riyadh’s direct military intervention marks a significant shift in regional strategy, turning the tide against Tehran-backed network assets that have repeatedly endangered global trade corridors and energy infrastructure. According to a briefing from US Central Command (CENTCOM), the coordinated air campaign focused heavily on dismantling specialized logistics and weapons depots. US officials explicitly blamed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard…