Esther Komolafe

The hall buzzed with purpose as business leaders, policymakers, and innovators took their seats for the 9th CEOs National Roundtable Discussion. At the podium stood Adisa Y. Olamilekan, founder and convener of NEGF-Initiatives Concepts, with a simple story to tell: Nigeria’s future will be written by the people who dare to invest in it. “It is both an honor and a privilege to welcome you to this gathering at a time when Nigeria’s economy demands bold thinking, strategic collaboration, and decisive action.” The theme for 2026 was not chosen lightly: _“Sustaining Indigenous Investment and Protecting Private Enterprise Opportunities in National…

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders has set up a Special Technical Assessment Team to inspect all licensed Customs-bonded warehouses and terminals nationwide, following repeated complaints from freight forwarders and shippers over poor service and infrastructure. The inspection will  begin on the 15 June 2026, and it is designed to assess operational standards, service delivery, and compliance across seaports, airports, inland container depots, and other approved logistics facilities in all six geopolitical zones. *What NAGAFF Will Check* The Technical Team’s Terms of Reference require bonded facilities to meet minimum standards in these areas: 1. *Equipment*: Availability and functionality…

Women in Maritime Africa, WIMA Nigeria, traded boardroom talk for beach boots on Saturday as they marked 2026 World Oceans Day with a full-contact cleanup at Tarkwa Bay, proving that saving the ocean sometimes means getting your hands dirty. Ditching the usual ribbon-cutting ceremonies, maritime professionals, WIMA ambassadors, environmental advocates, and even private sector bigwigs showed up with gloves, trash bags, and determination to match this year’s theme: “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us.” WIMA Nigeria President Mrs. Theodora Nwaeze led the charge, reminding volunteers that oceans do the heavy lifting for us daily. “Our oceans are the lifeblood of our…

The newly appointed Customs Area Controller, Tincan Island Port, Comptroller Joe Anani, on Thursday paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police Command, CP Oluwatoyin Iyabode Agbaminoja, at the Command Headquarters in Apapa, Lagos, to strengthen inter-agency collaboration. The visit focused on deepening synergy between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Police Force to secure Nigeria’s maritime domain and facilitate legitimate trade within the ports. Comptroller Anani commended the Ports Authority Police, Western Command, for its consistent commitment to maintaining security and public order in the port environment. He stressed that sustained cooperation among security…

The Nigeria Shipowners Association is mobilising stakeholders to make this year’s Nigerian Maritime Expo, NIMAREX, bigger than last year’s relaunch, with plans to attract more foreign investors and showcase Nigeria’s maritime potential. In an interview, NSA President and NIMAREX Chairman Otunba Shola Adewunmi said the biennial exhibition returned in November 2024 after years of dormancy, and preparations for the 2026 edition are already underway. “NIMAREX is an industry event. Although the initiative came from Nigeria Shipowners Association, it contains everything about maritime. It’s an exhibition where we showcase the opportunities we have in Nigeria for people to see and to…

The Ports Authority Police, Western Command, has called for stronger collaboration with maritime journalists to enhance security across Nigeria’s ports and support the growth of the maritime economy. Commissioner of Police CP Oluwatoyin Iyabode Agbaminoja made the appeal on Tuesday while receiving the newly elected executives of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria at the Command Headquarters in Apapa. The MARAN delegation, led by President Oluyinka Onigbinde, said the visit was aimed at reaffirming commitment to safety, security, and operational efficiency within Nigeria’s maritime domain. Onigbinde commended the Command for safeguarding ports and critical maritime assets, noting that security remains…

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has commended the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria for its professionalism and pledged stronger collaboration on media training to drive awareness of Nigeria’s blue economy opportunities. NIMASA made the call on Monday while receiving the newly elected MARAN executives on their first official visit to the agency’s headquarters in Lagos. The delegation was received by Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mr. Osagie Edward, and senior officials of the department. The meeting opened with MARAN President conveying the association’s condolences to NIMASA over the death of staff member Ifenyinwa Okonkwo, who passed away over the…

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,…