Maran rallies stakeholders

By Fidelis Ugbomeh.

MARAN Rallies Stakeholders On How To Tackle Maritime Crimes iIn Gulf Of Guinea

As part of efforts to enhance maritime security in Gulf of Guinea, Maritime Reporters' Association of Nigeria (MARAN) is dedicating maiden edition of MARAN Annual Lecture (MAMAL) 2023 to Maritime Security.

President of the association who made this known in a statement said the inaugural edition of MAMAL 2023 titled::"Maritime Security: Emerging Threats and Actionable Steps" .is expected to hold on October 24, this year.

According to him, the theme is targeted at proffering long-term, sustainable solutions that will effectively address maritime crimes in the GoG region and protect seafaring and fishing communities in the affected countries,.

Recall that the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) report of July 2023 confirmed that the GoG witnessed a surge in maritime incidents, with five incidents in the first quarter and nine in the second quarter.

Out of these, 12 were classified as armed robberies and two as piracy, predominantly targeting anchored vessels in the region adding that 14 crew were kidnapped, from vessels anchored within the GoG territorial waters.

Additionally, in two separate hijackings, 31 crew members were held hostage, communication and navigation equipment were destroyed, and partial cargoes were stolen. One of these incidents also involved the abduction of 6 crew members.

Bivere noted that the collaborative initiatives and efforts of Nigerian Navy.

Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), other regional navies and maritime administrations led to effective deployment of Naval assets, warships, Falcon Eye, the Deep Blue Project assets, establishment of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime-related Offences Act 2019, among others are worthwhile accomplishments attributable to the Nigerian Navy in recent years.

He said that to a large extent, the establishment of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum for the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (GOG-MCF/SHADE) had enabled stakeholders within and outside the region to connect and discuss frequently on how best to tackle piracy in the area and this yielded verifiable results.

The MAMAL 2023 had been scheduled to hold on 24th of October 2023.

Guests expected to attend the event nclude: Nigerian Navy, regional navies and other stakeholders in maritime sector including Shipowners, NIMASA, Shipping Lines, Terminal Operators, Nigerian Shippers Council, major seafarers organisations are all expected to attend this epoch-making event.

Comments

Omisande: CPS Pensioners in Lagos State assured of payment of their increase pension benefits as their Federal counterparts.

By Afolabi Oyekunle. Pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme(CPS) in Lagos State have been urged to be patient concerning their much awaited increases, as there are assurance that all what they are entitled to will be paid earlier next year. This assurance is coming from the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Contributory Pension Scheme, NUPCPS, Lagos State Council, Comrade Michael Omisande. Comrade Omisande who spoke to ForumNews at the sideline of the end of year get together of Agege Zone Pensioners said what is delaying is the Template which is being awaited Comrade Omisande said just as the Federal workers who have started receiving their own entitlements, all Pensioners under the scheme in other five states will receive their own as approved by the Federal government. According to him, the PFA'S have been given till 20th December to pay all Federal Pensioners. He said after the completion of the Payment, PenCom will ther...

PenCom urges Lagos State Governor to extend periodic pension increase to retirees under CPS, as Sanwoolu welcomes the idea.

By Afolabi Oyekunle. The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has called on the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to extend periodic pension increases currently enjoyed by Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) retirees to those under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to boost their monthly pensions. The Director General of PenCom, Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, made the request during a courtesy visit to Governor Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos State Government House on 7 May 2025. The visit was to present the report of PenCom’s 2024 routine inspection of the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) and to thank the Governor for confirming his participation as Special Guest at the Pension Industry Leadership Retreat starting 8 May 2025. PenCom DG pointed out that currently, only DBS retirees are paid pension increases in Lagos State, leaving out their counterparts under the CPS. DG PenCom Ms Oloworaran with Gov Sanwoolu who presented her with Lagos State plaq...

PENCOM pledges to see that Lagos State pays CPS retirees.

By Afolabi Oyekunle. Director General of National Pension Commission, Ms Omolola Oloworaran has pledged that the Commission will fast track and work towards Lagos State government paying retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme what is due to them like their federal counterparts. She made the pledge at a media workshop in Lagos for journalists. The Director General was surprised when she was asked why the Template for the payment was not released to Lagos State government for the payment of backlog of areas and allowances as approved by the Federal government, which Federal retirees are currently enjoying. PenCom DG, Omolola Oloworaran She thereby directed her staff to work on the Lagos State matter to settle the matter towards making the Lagos State government have all the necessary information needed to pay the retirees. The PenCom Director General noted that Lagos State government was one of the few states that keyed into the progra...

Search This Blog