Esther Komolafe

The Nigeria Customs Service, (NCS) Seme Area Command, has reported a sharp rise in revenue and major anti-smuggling gains since March 2026, with ₦9.8 billion collected and prohibited goods worth ₦501.8 million intercepted along the Seme-Badagry corridor. Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, disclosed this on Monday during a media briefing at the command headquarters. He said revenue for the period from March to May 2026 hit ₦9.798 billion, a 448% increase from the ₦2.188 billion recorded in the same period last year. Kaila attributed the growth to stronger compliance mechanisms, improved stakeholder cooperation, anti-revenue leakage measures, and the deployment…

The Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service recorded ₦1.61 trillion in revenue for 2025, surpassing its target by ₦85.2 billion, outgoing Customs Area Controller and newly promoted Assistant Comptroller-General Frank Onyeka has said. Speaking at his handover ceremony on Friday, Onyeka said the achievement was driven by discipline, intelligence-led operations, improved compliance strategies, and stronger stakeholder engagement.  For the first quarter of 2026, the command has already collected ₦401.01 billion. “This achievement was not accidental; it was the product of discipline, intelligence-driven operations, improved compliance strategies, robust stakeholder engagement, and the deployment of modern trade facilitation mechanisms…

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has opened a full investigation into the collision between a container vessel and an oil tanker at the Bonny Inner Anchorage near Onne, Rivers State, and has activated a situation monitoring room to track the response. The incident occurred on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, at about 11:30 a.m., involving the Singapore-flagged container vessel MV Maersk Valparaiso and the Nigerian-flagged oil products tanker MT Lady Martina. The collision resulted in an oil spill in the area and left five crew members injured. According to NIMASA Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations Osagie Edward,…

The Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit Zone A says it is moving from reactive raids to predictive enforcement through the adoption of geospatial intelligence technology, a shift aimed at improving border security and curbing smuggling nationwide. Comptroller Gambo disclosed the new approach on Wednesday while receiving the newly elected executives of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria at the command headquarters in Lagos. He said the transition aligns with broader reforms introduced by the Comptroller-General of Customs to strengthen intelligence-driven operations and boost interdiction success rates. “We are at the point of transiting from reactive enforcement to predictive enforcement.…

Nigeria showcased the growing strength of its maritime security architecture on Thursday as 492 personnel graduated from 33 specialized training programmes under the Deep Blue Project, marking a major milestone in the country’s fight against piracy and sea robbery. The graduation and capability presentation ceremony, held at the 5th Battalion Army Barracks in Elele, Rivers State, was presided over by Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Dayo Mobereola. Describing the event as “a demonstration of operational readiness, institutional resilience, and Nigeria’s determination to maintain a safe, secure, and economically viable maritime environment,” Mobereola said the…

The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, has intercepted and handed over 822 loaves of cannabis and 532 bottles of controlled pharmaceutical products to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control following intelligence-led operations along Nigeria’s waterways. Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Patrick Ntadi, disclosed this during a briefing at the command headquarters on Wednesday. He said operatives acted on credible intelligence to uncover the narcotics concealed in sacks of second-hand clothing along the creeks and maritime routes. “About 320 loaves of cannabis sativa were discovered inside 10 sacks of second-hand…

Nigeria is scaling up port capacity and pushing ahead with major maritime reforms to position itself as West and Central Africa’s leading trade and logistics hub, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola has said. Speaking at the opening of the Mid-Year Session of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa Board of Directors in Lagos on Monday, Oyetola said federal approvals had been granted for new deep seaports to complement existing facilities and strengthen supply chain resilience. “Approvals have therefore been granted for the development of additional deep seaports across the country to complement existing…

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the National Hydrographic Agency are stepping up collaboration to boost the adoption of locally produced nautical charts and hydrographic tools, in a bid to strengthen maritime safety and navigation across Nigerian waters. The pledge was made during a working visit by the Hydrographer of the Nation, Rear Admiral Olumide Fadahunsi, to NIMASA management in Lagos on May 17, 2026. Rear Admiral Fadahunsi commended NIMASA for its ongoing commitment to maritime safety and development, and assured the agency of continued support in delivering hydrographic services. He said wider use of locally generated hydrographic…

Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has handed over 15 newly procured gun boats to the Nigerian Armed Forces in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s maritime defense and curbing criminal activity in the Niger Delta and coastal waters. The handover ceremony took place at the Nigerian Navy Boatyard in Port Harcourt on Thursday, with seven vessels presented to the Nigerian Army and eight to the Nigerian Navy. The company, headquartered in Effurun, Delta State, specializes in protecting Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure through pipeline protection, paramilitary escort, and advanced surveillance operations. Officials said the new gun boats will enhance…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has formally taken custody of 4,173.5kg of Cannabis Indica intercepted at Tin Can Seaport, in a joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service described as a major blow to transnational drug traffickers. Speaking during the handover on 13 May 2026, ACG Archieabia Ibinabo Ogboba FSI said the seizure, valued at over ₦10.4bn in street value, reflects the effectiveness of intelligence-led collaboration between Nigerian and international security agencies. “This is an auspicious event where Nigeria is being defended from the daring and wicked activities of criminal merchants who are more concerned with profiteering than with…