Year: 2026

By Reno Omokri

In view of recent political events, it has become necessary and expedient for us, Ambassadors Designate Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Mr. Bemigho Reno Omokri, to state categorically that we believe it is in the best interest of the stability, unity, and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and in keeping with the Gentleman’s Agreement, which ushered in our Fourth Republic in 1999, after sixteen years of turbulence and political instability, for there to be a balanced and orderly rotation of power in Nigeria, between the North and the South.

We further affirm that, having completed and made full and unfettered use of two terms of four years, under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, Northern Nigeria, with the support of patriots from Southern Nigeria, had its full, uninterrupted, and undisturbed tenure in this power rotation arrangement.

And that, after that tenure, it is the turn of Southern Nigeria to take and retain the baton of power for a commensurate period of time, to wit, two terms of four years each.

As such, we view it as unpatriotic and inimical to the unity, equilibrium, and progress of Nigeria for anyone to even conceive of power returning to Northern Nigeria after only one term of four years, during which it was domiciled in Southern Nigeria. And not just in Southern Nigeria, but in the specific hands of the man who was the chief architect for the return of power to the North in 2015.

We are of the opinion that one good turn deserves another and that one good term deserves another.

Therefore, we make bold to state that our candidate and choice for the 2027 Presidential Elections is His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, who has, in the last three years, delivered 12 cycles of GDP growth and trade surpluses, while adding $67 billion to our economy and making Nigeria the sixth largest contributor to global GDP growth in 2025.

We urge the political class, to note that the reason Switzerland has been stable, peaceful, and prosperous for the last 211 years is because that Alpine nation wisely introduced power sharing amongst its multiethnic population and has not seen any conflict since 1815, and particularly since 1848 when its power-sharing policy took root.

Finally, we call on all Nigerians, irrespective of region, religion, and communion, to join us and queue behind the present Presidency and future candidacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda, which has seen infrastructural efforts to unite Nigeria, including the ₦15 trillion 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the ₦13 trillion 1068-kilometre Illela-Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, and bridging the gap between the Southeast and the entire North through the 465-kilometre Trans-Saharan Road being constructed at a cost of an estimated $750 million.

If we all extend the right hand of fellowship to President Bola Tinubu, we will, with the help of God, collectively see Nigeria become a $1 trillion economy by 2031.

To re-elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a task that must be done!

May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and may Nigeria prosper under President Bola Tinubu.

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Ambassador Designate to South Africa, Mr. Bemigho Reno Omokri, Ambassador-Designate to Mexico.

Nigeria-UK port upgrade to boost trade, efficiency, says Master Mariners

Lagos, May 5, 2026, The President of the Nigeria Association of Master Mariners, Captain Tajudeen Alao, has commended the Federal Government’s partnership with the United Kingdom to rehabilitate the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports.

Alao, spoke in an interview in Lagos, said the partnership would help toward modernising the maritime infrastructure.

He said the collaboration reflected the growing investor confidence in the port sector.

According to him, infrastructure upgrades are capital-intensive but essential for competitiveness.

“Having foreign investors come into this sector shows the confidence they have in return on their investment and the importance of the project to the global economy,” he said.

Alao explained that efficient port operations in Lagos are vital to the economy and the wider West African sub-region, adding that modernisation would improve turnaround time for vessels and attract more shipping traffic.

“With modernisation, port efficiency will increase. Ship turnaround time will improve, making Nigerian ports more attractive to major shipping lines and boosting trade,” he said.

Alao, however, cautioned that policy uncertainty and political activities in the coming months could affect project timelines, urging stakeholders to support the initiative to ensure continuity.

He added that global trends were shifting toward smart ports driven by technology, which Nigeria must adopt to remain competitive.

The Federal Government plans to commence rehabilitation works on the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports before the end of the second quarter of 2026, with completion expected within 48 months.

In March, Nigeria and the United Kingdom signed a 746 million pounds export finance agreement to support the redevelopment of the ports.

Under the deal, UK Export Finance will guarantee loans for the project, while British Steel will supply 120,000 tonnes of steel under a 70 million pound contract.

Also, General Manager, Corporate Communications and Strategy, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr Ikechukwu Onyemekara, said the rehabilitation would be executed in phases to ensure uninterrupted port operations.

“Rehabilitating our ports is a bold step by the Federal Government. We need to appreciate the Government and support the effort,” he said.

Onyemekara explained that the phased approach would allow continuous cargo handling, as sections under reconstruction would be completed before work begins on others.

“If Nigeria is to lead in maritime trade, it is critical that our ports are modernised and capable of receiving larger, modern vessels,” he said, adding that improved infrastructure would enhance efficiency and sustain revenue generation.

NIWA priorities safety, plans transition to modern boats

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has intensified efforts to promote safer water transportation and reduce boat mishaps across the country’s inland waterways as part of renewed safety campaign by the agency.

The Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Engr. Sarat Braimah, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by members of the 2026 Dockworkers’ Day Committee of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) to her office in Lagos on Thursday.

Braimah said the move aligns with the safety vision of the Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Alhaji Yusuf Girei, who has directed the authority to strengthen waterways safety campaigns nationwide.

According to her, safety remains the top priority of the management, stressing that the agency is committed to ensuring that passengers and operators comply with established safety measures.

“Safety is the keyword of the Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Alhaji Yusuf Girei. He wants all water users to be safe.

We have been directed to campaign massively this month so that people will be aware that we must not record any boat mishap,” she said.

She noted that sustained awareness campaigns by NIWA have contributed significantly to the improved level of sanity currently being witnessed on Lagos waterways.

Braimah explained that passengers have become more safety-conscious, with many now insisting that fellow commuters wear life jackets before boats depart jetties.

“People are now more aware. You even see passengers calling NIWA to report that someone sitting beside them is not wearing a life jacket.

Our awareness campaigns and constant engagement have gone a long way,” she stated.

The NIWA Area Manager noted that regular inspections of boats by the agency’s Marine Department have also contributed to improving safety standards on inland waterways.

“Every quarter, the Marine Department inspects boats. So, you hardly see boats on the waterways that are not in good condition,” she added.

Speaking on plans to eliminate wooden boats, Braimah disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is supporting efforts to replace them with safer alternatives.

According to her, the transition would be gradual to avoid disrupting the livelihoods of operators who depend on wooden boats for transportation and commercial activities.

“The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy wants us to phase out wooden boats.

We are working on this, but it is not something that can happen overnight. We have to meet operators halfway while safer boats are being introduced gradually,” she explained.

Braimah further revealed that the government plans to invest more in modern boats through the current budget, which would accelerate the transition process.

On revenue generation, she said NIWA has consistently surpassed its targets, revealing that the authority has doubled the revenue it generated three years ago.

“Three years ago, we doubled what we generated in that period.

We are always meeting and surpassing our revenue targets,” she said.