Esther Komolafe

  The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have implemented measures to enhance export trade, resulting in a notable increase in cargo movement. According to Apapa Port Manager, Barr. Charles Okaga, the creation of a dedicated export processing terminal and command has streamlined document processing, reducing the time from two weeks to just two hours. In the first half of 2024, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) recorded the movement of 10,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) of cargo, a significant improvement from the previous year. Okaga attributed the 15% increase in export trade to the synergy between NPA…

At the Maritime Reporters' Association of Nigeria (MARAN) breakfast meeting, Moses Olayemi Fadipe, founder of Skynet Trueway International Limited, revealed that Nigeria has the best vessel boarding and rummaging procedures globally. This achievement earned the country an award in Switzerland in 2022. Fadipe emphasized the importance of trade facilitation, citing four pillars: transparency, simplification of processes, harmonization, and standardization. He questioned the level of compliance with these tenets and the efficiency of port processes. The MARAN president, Godfrey Bivbere, expressed concern over Nigeria's port efficiency rating, citing neighboring ports' advantages. Fadipe countered, highlighting Nigeria's progress in automation and vessel boarding…

  At a breakfast meeting organized by the Maritime Reporters Association Of Nigeria (MARAN) a distinguished speaker , the CEO of Centre For The Promotion Of Private Enterprises (CPPE) , Dr Muda Yusuf has highlighted the significance of the maritime sector in Nigeria's economic transformation. The CEO affirmed that despite contributing 16% to the country's GDP in 2023, the sector's full potential remains untapped. Dr Muda emphasized the need to capture the entire international trade ecosystem in GDP data, beyond just domestic trade. According to him, “The maritime sector handles over 95% of international merchandise trade, with a value of…

The new Zonal Coordinator for Zone A, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Saidu Yusuf, visited the Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on July 24, 2024. The visit aligns with the Comptroller-General's policy thrust on engagement and consolidation. ACG Yusuf praised the command's impressive performance, including spectacular seizures and rising revenue, which has reached N669 billion as of July 24, 2024. He commended the Area Controller, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, for his diligence and hard work, particularly in seizures and revenue generation. The Zonal Coordinator announced that 18 officers, including the Command's spokesperson, Ngozi Okwara, will receive Commendation Letters…

  The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has issued a statement distancing itself from a planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1, 2024. The Union's President-General, Comrade (Prince) Adewale Adeyanju, emphasized that MWUN executives and officials are not involved with the individuals organizing the protest. As a responsible Union providing essential services in the maritime sector, MWUN has consistently demonstrated commitment and patriotism, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdown. As an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), MWUN will only participate in industrial actions directed by the NLC. While acknowledging the right to peaceful protest, Dr. Adeyanju advised Union…

Despite recent warnings from the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi , some individuals have continued to engage in unpatriotic acts aimed at undermining importation processes and guidelines. As such, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Area 2 Command Onne has announced a major breakthrough in its efforts to secure the nation's borders and ensure public safety. The Customs Area Controller(CAC) Comptroller Mohammed Babandede revealed that the Command has seized seven 40-foot containers containing various contraband items, including cough syrup codeine, chilly cutters, and pain relief tablets. The estimated value of the seizures is ₦11.2 billion. The CAC noted…

Barrister Pius Ukeyima Akutah, Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers' Council, addressed the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) breakfast meeting on the theme "Trade Facilitation and President Tinubu's Economic Agenda". The ES/CEO was represented at the event that took place  today being the 24th of July  at Rockview Hotels in Apapa,  by the Assistant Director in Consumer Affairs Department of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Ogbonnaya Austina. Akutah expressed appreciation for the invitation and highlighted the alignment of the theme with the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda to facilitate trade and bring prosperity to Nigerians. He outlined President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's…

The Murtala Muhammed Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has achieved a significant milestone in revenue generation, collecting a total of N80.4 billion in customs duty and other charges between January and June 2024. This represents a 107.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Under the leadership of Comptroller Michael Toyin Awe, the Command has implemented strategies in line with World Customs best practices, facilitating trade and reducing cargo clearance time. The Command also recorded an export value of N266.7 million from January to June 2024. Comptroller Awe expressed commitment to sustaining and improving revenue generation in…