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Malta rescues 216 migrants from 2 boats in Mediterranean Sea

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Maltese authorities say they have rescued 216 migrants aboard two dinghies in distress in the Mediterranean Sea near Malta.

The migrants were rescued Friday night by the Armed Forces of Malta and are being taken to Malta where they will be examined by doctors and given the chance to seek asylum.

The Times of Malta newspaper reports that men, women and children were aboard the rubber boats. Maltese officials were not immediately available for comment Saturday morning.

Maltese officials say good weather prompted at least 12 migrant boats to cross the Mediterranean in the past two days. They say the boats left from Libya, Tunisia and Algeria.

Some 390 other migrants had arrived this year in Malta, according to the International Organization for Migration, an agency that tracks migrants. The agency says 1,445 migrants arrived in Malta last year.

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NAMTOP: LASTMA Urges Maritime Truck Drivers To Tackle Breakdowns

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More Trouble for Sanwo-Olu: Election Tribunal orders substituted service over Petition

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has urged the Nexus Association of Maritime Truck Operators (NAMTOP) to acquire private tow trucks to tackle breakdowns swiftly.

The General Manager, LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said this when NAMTOP officials paid the agency’s management a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Lagos.

Bakare-Oki said the aim was to foster synergy and cooperation between the two agencies.

The LASTMA GM, represented by the Director of Logistics and Engineering, Mr Jubril Oshodi, assured the association of a harmonious relationship.

“This will enable the association to liaise with all zonal heads to ensure swift evacuation of trucks whenever breakdowns occur,” he said.

The LASTMA boss said his tenure would centre on repositioning and reorganising the agency for professional service delivery to the motoring public with empathy.

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Oyetola Inaugurates 4.8km Road, Mooring Boats At Onne

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…Says the road symbolizes the Ministry’s commitment to make the port more viable

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola on Tuesday, inaugurated a 4.8km road “D” project and six mooring boats at the Onne Port Complex, Port Harcourt, stressing that the road, constructed by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), was a demonstration of the ministry’s commitment to make the port more viable.

He said that the project was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to maximize opportunities within the maritime sector.

”This is part of the measures we are taking to enhance the ease of doing business in Onne Port

”The ministry is committed to leverage Nigeria’s maritime resources under the directives of the president,” he said.

The minister said that the mooring boats would enhance boat safety and general security within the maritime space.

Oyetola said that the Federal Government was committed towards deepening the efficiencies and full capacity utilisation of the ports in the eastern axis.

‘We are now poised more than ever to give the NPA all the support to address factors responsible for the under-utilisation of these national assets,” he said.

The minister stated that by providing port infrastructure, investor confidence would be deepened for more patronage of the eastern ports.

”I was delighted to learn that the Onne and Calabar Port complexes have met the requirements of the International Organisation for Standardisation and are now certified.

Bello-Koko Lauds MWUN for Ensuring NPA Staff's Salary Increase

The NPA Managing Director, Muhammed Bello-Koko

”This shows they we are doing something right but we cannot rest on this determination until all other ports are certified.

”I have been briefed on the growth in numbers especially for exports emanating from Onne Port Complex, and I am impressed.

”I am poised to provide the facilitation and advocacy required to grow the vessel traffic to this important nucleus of growth,” he said.

Oyetola stated that more economic growth would be achieved if more investments were done in port infrastructure.

The minister commended the management of NPA for being prudent with the application of resources that financed the project.

Oyetola reiterated his commitment to grant prompt approvals to initiatives that would enable continuous improvement in the performance of the ports.

In his speech, the Managing Director, NPA, Mohammed BelIo-Koko, thanked the minister for his support to the authority.

He said that the road and mooring-boat projects could only be completed because of the support from the ministry.

Bello-Koko said that the completion of the Road “D” project which linked Berths 9, 10, 11 and 12 at Federal Ocean Terminal would help to grow new business opportunities and increase revenue for the nation.

”This road stretches over a total of 4.8km, covering two container terminals. It will cater for no fewer than 1,000 trucks daily.

”This is a testimony that as an authority, we are repositioning for growth, competitiveness and, future-readiness.

”The road has a 250mm thickness concrete reinforcement provided for a median and side drain with high mast tower Lighting of dual carriageway.

”We are aware that a good road infrastructure requires sound marine craft and equipment, so we added six modern mooring boats to enhance habour operations efficiency,” he said.

Bello-Koko solicited the ministry’s support for concrete fencing of the stretch of land in the port to guard against any unauthorised access.

”This will also enhance the security of the investments that will spring up with the opening of this road.

The managing director commended the concessionaires for their huge investments, describing it as indicative of their confidence in the system.

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Environmental Stewardship: Maritime Experts Appraise Industry, Deep Blue Project

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…As OAF Boss, Olaitan Williams harps on the need to further protect the Planet 

She has a vision: refocusing the youths, particularly the Nigerian girl into the nation’s maritime industry. Her modus operandi is simple: encouraging, motivating and redirecting every pupil and student’s interest towards productive pursuits in marine terrain.

She is probably today, Nigeria’s most consistent and committed promoter of youths’ education in the marine and blue economy.

The Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Ambassadors Foundation OAF, Mrs. Violet Olaitan Williams does not need much introduction in terms of her relevance and mindset for creating the desired conditions for mental and attitudinal development of the Nigerian child, particularly in Lagos State.

Lieutenant Commodore A.A Makinwa

Several times, she has ‘dragged’ students of several secondary schools in Lagos, for a day-out at Sea. 

OAF, redirecting students’ interest into the maritime terrain, at an early age…

During such periods, the lucky beneficiaries were sufficiently exposed, to jobs in the marine and blue economy sector; as well as the vital courses to pursue, in order to realise such dreams.

Only recently, she selflessly embarked on a costly documentary to meaningfully draw attention to EHINGBETI, the nucleus of the Lagos relevance as Nigeria’s most celebrated litoral state, stressing the need to regenerate Nigeria, from the symbolic lessons of its origin.

Though finally depleted and sapped at the end of the costly project, Olaitan Williams remained undaunted in her commitment to the promotion of a cause she truly believed in.

It is like, having lived her childhood days beside the shores of Lagos, she had prudently identified areas she is convinced, early and right exposures of the youths, could transform many of them, tomorrow, into job creators.

Only last week, the OAF Boss again assembled some experts to a ‘Blue Talents Career Talk’ in Lagos, to educate, impact and, enlighten students of several secondary schools, on the importance of the Ocean, the Marine and the Blue economy; the current Government’s efforts at harnessing it’s economic endowment, as well as the need to more properly, protect it.

Students learn better, by seeing it as it is…

Speaking at the occasion, a top naval officer, Lieutenant Commodore A.A Makinwa stressed the need for maritime industry Stakeholders to commend the Federal Government for initiating the Integrated National Security and Waterways Infrastructure, otherwise known as ‘the Deep Blue Project’. 

Lieutenant Commodore A.A Makinwa of the Nigerian Navy who made the call at the Blue Talents Career Talk in Lagos said the Deep Blue Project is such that accommodates almost every maritime security architecture such as NIMASA, NPA, DSS and, even the Marine Police. 

The Ocean Ambassadors Foundation CEO, Violet Olaitan Williams

According to him, “it is whole of the nation’s business and not just limited to the Nigeria Army, Navy or Airforce alone”. 

He mentioned different security agencies, identified their relevance in the security and safety web; and lauded them for the safety of the communities.

In his remark, the Guest Speaker, Engr. Jamiu Badmos while admonishing maritime security personnel not to rest on their oars also said: “You play a lot of roles in the saving of lives of the people and that is why security and safety have links.

“In security, you protect the vessel from any external aggression and the people inside the vessel but in safety, you look more on the people inside the vessel and how to protect them” Badmos stressed. 

Earlier in her speech, Violet Olaitan Williams while welcoming participants at the well-attended event, stated that “by embracing a culture of Safety, Responsibility and Environmental stewardship, you can also ensure a brighter future for the planet and all who call it home!”. 

ALSO READ: BLUE Economy: Synergise With FME, Create Future for Girl Child, Informed Delegates urge Oyetola

The topic for this year’s Blue Talents Career Talk organized by Ocean Ambassadors Foundation was “An Overview of Safety and Security in the Maritime and Blue Economy” with a special focus on goals 3, 8, 14; and 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

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