Esther Komolafe

LAGOS — OCT 16, 2026— Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, says Nigeria must move from formulating fine maritime policies to delivering tangible economic benefits, efficiency and opportunities for Nigerians. Speaking at World Maritime Day 2026 themed “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence”on Friday, Mobereola said strength of a maritime nation is not in policies alone, but in ability to implement them for citizens. “Nigeria’s maritime sector is a critical pillar of growth — gateway to international trade, driver of investment and employment,” he told stakeholders. He said this year’s theme challenges government…

LAGOS — OCT 17, 2026— For the umpteenth time in 20 years, Nigerian shipowners have heard it again: the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, CVFF, will be disbursed. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, reaffirmed at the Third Quarter 2026 Citizens’ and Stakeholders’ Engagement in Victoria Island, Lagos, that Federal Government is determined to strengthen indigenous shipping and finally release the fund to qualified applicants. “To our indigenous shipowners, I wish to reaffirm this Administration’s commitment to the development of indigenous shipping capacity and the effective implementation of the Cabotage Act,” Oyetola said, directing NIMASA to collaborate with…

IKEJA, LAGOS — OCT 15, 2026— Acting Comptroller of Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, Oladapo Olukayode Afeni, has launched a strategic inter-agency tour to tighten synergy against smuggling and trans-border crimes. Afeni kicked off the familiarisation visits on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, with calls on Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Department of State Services, DSS, NDLEA Strategic Command, Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, and Nigerian Army 81 Division and 9 Brigade, Ikeja. According to Unit PRO, Hussaini Abdullahi, the engagements allowed Afeni to familiarise with heads of agencies, reaffirm institutional ties and explore practical cooperation in intelligence…

LEKKI DEEP SEA PORT — OCT 15, 2026— The Nigeria Customs Service, Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, has recorded another major drug bust, intercepting a 40ft container laden with 400kg of suspected Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as Loud, with a street value of *N2.26 billion*. The container marked PRSU1562064 was intercepted at Lekki Deep Sea Port and formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in a joint press briefing on Wednesday. Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi psc, said the seizure was intelligence-driven and demonstrates Customs’ resolve to ensure ports are not exploited as…

LAGOS — OCT 10, 2026— The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, MARAN, has raised the bar for maritime journalism in Nigeria, with 20 of its members completing an intensive professional shipping training at the Chartered Institute of Shipping of Nigeria, CISN. The Graduate Induction Training Programme, which ended Saturday, October 10, 2026, is aimed at bridging the gap between newsroom skills and the technical realities of shipping, port management and Nigeria’s vast blue economy opportunities. On successful completion, participants will bag a Postgraduate Diploma Certificate in Shipping. From Safety To Blue Economy — Full Technical Immersion The programme covered critical…

IKEJA, LAGOS — OCT 5, 2026— The Nigeria Customs Service has auctioned 22,175 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, intercepted by operatives of Operation Whirlwind along the Lagos-Ogun border corridors. The public auction, held Monday, October 5, 2026, at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, was conducted on the directive of Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. Addressing journalists, stakeholders and officers at the exercise, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind said the auction involved 887 jerry-cans of 25 litres each of PMS, plus five means of conveyance, with total Duty Paid Value of  N32,175,000. Intelligence-Led Burst At Flashpoint He said…

LAGOS — OCT 4, 2026— The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, is set to fully automate the Nigerian Ship Registry to modernise services, boost transparency and make the Nigerian flag globally competitive. The Agency will host a two-part stakeholder webinar on October 6 and 8, 2026, to showcase the new digital platform. According to NIMASA, the webinars will give shipowners, operators, maritime professionals, financial institutions, insurers and other stakeholders insight into the platform and its potential to drastically improve speed and efficiency of ship registration and related services. 24-Hour Access, Real-Time Mortgage Tracking The automated system is designed…

ABUJA — OCT 2026— The Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has unveiled a fresh push to dismantle bottlenecks choking Nigeria’s non-oil exports and unlock more foreign exchange for the economy. Managing Director/CEO of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this at the NPA Special Day at the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair organised by Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ACCI, themed “Resilient Trade, Taxation, and the Economy.” Dantsoho said Nigeria can no longer anchor economic resilience on imports and oil revenues, stressing that expanding non-oil exports and integrating businesses into global value chains is critical to sustainable growth. Dry Ports Now…

LAGOS — OCT 1, 2026*— The Nigeria Customs Service, Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, has a new Acting Controller. Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi on Wednesday, September 30, assumed duty, succeeding Comptroller Hauwa Abubakar who retired after 35 years of meritorious service. The formal handover was confirmed in a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Abdullahi-Lagos Abiola. Kukoyi: We Will Go Tech-Driven, Trade-Friendly In his maiden address, Kukoyi commended his predecessor for her record on revenue, enforcement, trade facilitation and stakeholder management, saying he would build on those foundations and align with the Comptroller-General’s policy thrust…

LAGOS, SEPT 30, 2026 — The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja-Lagos, has a new Acting Comptroller. Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, formally assumed office as the 30th Acting Comptroller of the Unit, taking over from Comptroller Gambo Aliyu who retired after a distinguished service. The handing-over ceremony, held at the Unit’s conference hall, was attended by friends, colleagues and well-wishers, including Acting Customs Area Controllers of PTML, Ogun 1, and Enugu/Ebonyi/Anambra Commands, senior officers and stakeholders. Afeni: Intelligence-Led, Firm But Humane Enforcement In his inaugural address, Acting Comptroller Afeni pledged…