…Describes ship as a marvel of modern engineering

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) under the leadership of its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has congratulated the Managing Director of Grimaldi Shipping Company, Mr. Ascanio Ruso, and his management for acquiring “MV GREAT LAGOS”, noting that it is the first of its kind in Nigeria.

The ship is described as a marvel of modern engineering with functions of environmental consciousness built to meet the challenges of modern-day technology in the maritime industry.

“This suffices to say that Ascanio Ruso is one of the best maritime administrators in Nigeria, who treats workers in his employ with humane and dignity for labour,” Adeyanju, a Prince of Ibaan further stated.

“I wish to categorically state here again that Mr. Ascanio is a wonderful Managing Director with a human face and one of the foremost employers of labour in the industry. Your blood flows with genuine intentions of fair treatment to workers’ welfare in the maritime space.

“We in the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria Congratulate you on this laudable milestone achievement. Once again, we say congratulations to Mr. Ascanio Ruso and your management team,” Prince Adeyanju said.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Tuesday in Ikeja received nine repatriated Nigerians who attempted to stow away to Europe through The Gambia.

Comptroller of the NIS at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Mrs Adesola Adesokan, advised Nigerians against stowing away to Europe.

Speaking with newsmen on the development, she described stowing away as a death trap into which many Nigerians had fallen and had lost their lives.

Adesokan said the nine stowaways received on Tuesday were handed over to immigration officials by officials of the Gambian Immigration Service.

She noted that two of the stowaways almost drowned in their bid to evade arrest, but were rescued and taken to the Nigeria High Commission in The Gambia.

She added that the High Commission processed emergency travel documents for the nine stowaways to be repatriated to Nigeria, but were reluctant to return home.

“Nine Nigerians were sent back by The Gambian Immigration Service after attempting to stow away through the sea.

“Two of them almost lost their lives because they could not swim after jumping into the sea to evade arrest.

“Security officers were able to rescue them; put them in the boat and took them to a hotel where they were given food but, they vehemently resisted plans to return them to Nigeria,’’ she said.

Adesokan added that the stowaways demanded money from the Gambian immigration service as a condition to return to Nigeria.

“They were eventually taken to the Nigeria High Commission in Banjul, which persuaded them and issued them emergency travel documents so they could return to Nigeria,’’ she said.

She advised those planning to engage in irregular migration to desist and follow the right channel and also called for value reorientation.

She stressed that irregular migrants eventually got caught and deported, adding that some ended up doing odd jobs.

Adesokan noted that the stowaways were young Nigerians between the ages of 21 years to 30 years.

Also speaking with newsmen, the returnee stowaways expressed regret at their action and claimed that they were lured into the voyage by friends who luckily made it to Europe through the same route.

One of the stowaways, Abdul Yakubu, said that he was selling noodles and fried eggs on Lagos Island before he was cajoled to embark on the trip.

Yakubu said he lost N70,000 which he paid to the man who introduced and boarded him on the ship.

Another stowaway, Daniel Vincent, said they did not take any food or water when they boarded the ship at Tin Can Port in Lagos because they thought Europe was a three-day journey by sea.

Vincent said he was shocked to realise that he had not left the shores of Africa when they were detected by the ship’s crew members and handed over to the Gambian immigration service.

The Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd, a foremost networking and capacity-building institution in the maritime industry has announced its Maritime Business Roundtable Breakfast Meeting on Maximizing Gas Utilization.

The event is scheduled for Thursday 14th December 2023 at 9 am at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island. 

The theme of the Maritime Business Roundtable Breakfast Meeting  [MBRBM]  is “Maximizing Gas Utilization in  Nigeria’s Blue Economy“.

According to the press release signed by the conference convener, Oritsematosan Edodo-Emore stated that the aim of the Maritime Business Roundtable Breakfast Meeting [MBRBM] is to develop the use of Gas as the driving energy for the maritime industry in Nigeria and to bring providers, users and suppliers of Liquified Petroleum (GAS), LPG together to share ideas and explore opportunities in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.

Zoe confirmed that the following panelists will bring to bear their practical knowledge and industry experience into the arena. They are Dr. Ubani  Nkaginieme, MD – Total Support Energy Ltd; President Virtual Gas Integrated Association of Nigeria, VGIAN, Wilson E A Opuwei- CEO Dateline Energy; Rear Admiral Abolaji Oredru -Admiral Superintendent -Naval Dockyard Ltd; Rear Admiral Hamza Ibrahim, , Managing Director-Admiralty Maritime Services Ltd,  Hannah Omeje -Chairperson, WEOG Committee On Gas.

The Roundtable will deal with *The relevance of gas in powering Nigeria’s Blue Economy: *The challenges and opportunities of the use of Liquified Petroleum Gas in Coastal Communities.*

The development of gas infrastructure for maritime use, Consequences of lack of optimal utilization of gas, Way forward: What the Federal and state governments must do to drive the gas agenda.

The Maritime First learnt that the proposed participants include: Maritime Stakeholders, Downstream and Midstream Oil and gas Value Chain, Government Agencies, Banks (with maritime desk), Insurance companies, Ship-owners, Boat operators, Logistics companies, Freight Forwarders, Foreign entities *

The benefits of the Maritime Business Roundtable Breakfast Meeting include:  *Visibility, Growth, Networking, Impartation, and exchange of knowledge Solutions 

The  event comprises of lead lecture, panel discussion, interactive  session, and networking  accompanied by a full breakfast,