The Nigerian maritime industry had its own share of grief in 2023 with the death of some key personalities.
In April, maritime stakeholders woke up to the news of the shocking death of a former Chairman of the Nigerian Fishing Trawlers Owners Association (NIFTOA), Barrister Margaret Onyema-Orakwusi.
Onyema-Orakwusi died at the age of 68 years on Friday April 28, 2023 in Lagos after a brief illness.
In her lifetime, she served as Chairman, Nigeria Maritime Exhibition and Conference (NIMAREX), Board Member, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and Chairman, Shipowners Forum.
Her remains were buried in Lagos on June 14, 2023.
On June 30, SHIPS & PORTS reported the death of Mr. Subaru Anataku, a former head of security at the Lagos Port Complex Apapa.
Sources close to the family of the deceased said Anataku died in a hospital in Surulere, Lagos, on Tuesday 27th June after a prolonged illness. He was aged 66.
He was buried the same day according to Islamic rites.
Anataku was the Port Security Officer (PSO) at the Lagos Port Complex Apapa. He also served as the pioneer Chairman of the Port Facility Security Officers Forum of Nigeria (PFSOFN).
A former Director at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Hajia Aisha Jumai Musa died in Lagos on Saturday 4th November.
A.J. Musa, a 1982 law graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, joined the defunct National Maritime Authority (NMA) in 1996 as Chief Legal Officer. She served as Acting Secretary to the NMA Board of Directors from 1999 – 2000 and as Registrar of Ships for five years from 2005 – 2010. She was Registrar of Ships when the defunct Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council (JOMALIC) was merged with NMA to form the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in 2006.
In the early hours of Thursday August 24, two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kebbi State Command also lost their lives in the line of duty.
The deceased, Abdullahi Mohammed, Customs Assistant II, and A. K. Shehu, an Inspector, were killed while on patrol at Dakingari-Koko road area of the state.
Their killers also went away with one of the deceased’s AK-47.
The spokesman of the command, Mustapha Mubarak, said eight of their officers were on patrol duty along Dakingari-Koko road when they were attacked.
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