CGC Adeniyi Advocates For Maritime Journalists to Unite for Greater Opportunities
Kathy Kyari
In order to improve their access to possibilities inside the industry, maritime journalists have been urged by Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale, MFR, to consolidate their several groups into a single, cohesive organisation.
Adeniyi made this plea at the Lagos Airport Hotel in Ikeja, on Thursday, during the Iconic Maritime Personality of the Year 2024 Award and Dinner.
Speaking at the event, the CGC emphasized that the fragmented nature of maritime journalism associations has been a major roadblock to accessing the benefits and support they deserve from industry stakeholders. He urged them to unite, as this would open doors to welfare packages, training programs, and financial support, including health insurance and mortgage schemes.
“We can have all these associations collapsed into one Maritime Association for a common interest,” Adeniyi stated. “Training programs can be organized where all maritime journalists will be trained, and various events can be planned collectively.”
He further stressed the need for journalists to enjoy better welfare, just like other players in the maritime sector.
“An insurance package should be put in place for maritime journalists, as well as a housing mortgage so they can have decent accommodations for themselves. If all other operators within the industry are prospering and the journalists who report them are not, there will be a problem,” he noted.
Adeniyi, known for his reserved stance on receiving awards, acknowledged that this particular honour was different because all maritime journalists came together to celebrate him.
“I had resisted receiving awards until I got the call that all the maritime journalists’ associations had come together to honor me, which is a very symbolic gesture,” he said.
He challenged journalists to take proactive steps toward securing their future.
“There is a lot that Customs can do for journalists, but there is more that they can do for themselves. Let us begin to work on initiatives that improve your welfare. Journalists should be able to access health insurance schemes and mortgage schemes for their own homes. These can be achieved—seed money can be raised, and then these schemes can start.”
"A Well-Deserved Honor"
The chairman of the event, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, a past president of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), praised Adeniyi for his remarkable leadership.
“The country has had many Comptroller-Generals of Customs, but CGC Adeniyi is a unique kind of person who truly deserves this award,” he said.
He also commended the CGC for his role in advising the federal government to suspend the controversial 4% increase in the Free on Board (FOB) levy, a move that was widely celebrated in the industry.
"Maritime Media Associations Unite"
The event was a rare moment of unity among maritime journalists, as major associations came together to honor Adeniyi. These included:
Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN)
League of Maritime Editors (LOME)
Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON)
Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN)
Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN)
Online Maritime Media Association of Nigeria (OMMAN)
Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP)
"A Gathering of Industry Titans"
The event attracted some of the biggest names in the maritime industry, including:
Prince Olayiwola Shittu (former ANLCA President)
Dr. Eugene Nweke (National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF)
Otunba Frank Ogunojemite (President, Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria, APFFLON)
Chief Akeem Olanrewaju (Chairman, Customs Consultative Council)
Prince Segun Oduntan (Vice President, ANLCA)
Serving and retired Customs officers
"The Grand Finale"
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Iconic Maritime Personality of the Year 2024 Award to CGC Adeniyi, along with a life-sized photo image in his honour.
With maritime journalists now seriously considering forming a single umbrella body, Adeniyi’s call for unity could mark the beginning of a new era for maritime media in Nigeria.
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