Esther Komolafe

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched the Green Channel initiative, aimed at streamlining port operations and reducing the time and cost of doing business. The initiative allows containers to be moved directly from vessels to a dedicated examination area, eliminating delays and inefficiencies. Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, explained that the Green Channel is a result of trust and confidence built with stakeholders, enabling seamless trade facilitation. The initiative is expected to boost revenue, reduce costs, and create a more competitive economy. The Green Channel will operate in designated areas, with containers tracked and monitored online, ensuring transparency…

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) have joined forces to streamline port processes and reduce cargo dwell time to 7 days. The three-day high-level stakeholder engagement in Lagos aimed to identify and address operational inefficiencies, with officials observing real-time vessel berthing and cargo clearance operations. PEBEC Director General Zahrah Mustapha emphasized that the initiative will unlock Nigeria's economic potential, creating jobs and driving growth. The NPA's Managing Director, Abubakar Dantsoho, highlighted progress, including the deployment of the Port Community System (PCS) to eliminate manual bottlenecks. The NPA achieved a 100% success rate in…

A Niger Delta activist, Comrade Preye Tambou, has urged ethnic champions and pressure groups in Delta State to reconsider their opposition to the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, warning that ethnic agitation could undermine national security and oil sector gains. Tambou defended the contract, saying it was awarded based on merit and operational competence, not ethnic considerations. He noted that Nigeria's crude oil production has improved significantly since Tantita took over pipeline surveillance duties. The activist cautioned against turning the issue into an ethnic debate, stressing that it breeds division and weakens collective security. He…

The Media Anti-Corruption Initiative has expressed strong support for the Federal Government's announcement to launch Phase 1 of the National Single Window (NSW) Project on March 27, 2026, aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in trade. The initiative is set to revolutionize business interactions with government agencies, streamlining processes and reducing corruption opportunities. The NSW Project will create a centralized platform for managing trade-related transactions, integrating government services into a single digital interface. This will simplify documentation, expedite approvals, and foster a more accountable business environment, aligning with global best practices in governance and trade facilitation . The project is…

The Zonal Coordinator of Zone A, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG) Mohammed Babandede, has commended the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its exceptional performance in revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations, and trade facilitation in 2025. During a visit to the Command, Babandede acknowledged the operational challenges faced by the Command and appreciated its notable achievements, particularly in exceeding its annual revenue target. He also lauded the Command's significant seizures of narcotics and other illicit substances, describing them as critical contributions to national security, public health, and societal safety. The Zonal Coordinator emphasized the importance of integrity,…

In a press briefing organized on Wednesday the 4th of February 2026,by Airport Freight Forwarders the Deputy National President of  National  Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF),  Dr Segun Musa in charge of Air and Logistics,  Mr. Tope Akindele, Chairman of ANLCA Airport Chapter, African Professionals Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) and MAFFAC, They made their position known that if the decision enforced by the  Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is not reviewed through dialogue, it could lead to disrupt of cargo operations across airports nationwide and further depress government revenue. Speaking on behalf of the…

The Comptroller of Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, has revealed significant seizures made by the unit, including 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 77 bags of foreign sugar, and 21 units of assorted Tokunbo vehicles, with a total duty paid value of N3.3 billion. The seizures were made possible through intelligence-driven deployment and strengthened internal supervision. Aliyu also announced the interception of 3,029 parcels of synthetic cannabis indica, weighing 1,431kg, and four live pangolins, highlighting the unit's commitment to combating drug trafficking and protecting endangered species. The Comptroller expressed his condolences to the family of an…

The Founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has recommissioned the Compliance Team, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to laws and regulations governing Nigeria's freight forwarding industry. The move aims to ensure only qualified persons are involved in freight forwarding, aligning with President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. Dr. Aniebonam praised key NAGAFF members, including Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, Chief Tochukwu EZisi, and Dr. Segun Musa, for their contributions to the association's progress. The Compliance Team, inaugurated in February 2021, serves as NAGAFF's enforcement arm, ensuring freight forwarders and government agencies comply with regulations…

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), PTML Command, has handed over seized arms and ammunition to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in a bid to curb illicit arms proliferation. Comptroller Joe Anani, Customs Area Controller, PTML Command, revealed that the seized items include five pistols, one Crossman pump master rifle, 132 Remington live cartridges, 51 9mm Lugar live ammunition, and other related items. These seizures were made during examinations of imported vehicles between 2022 and 2025. Anani emphasized the command's commitment to implementing the Revised Kyoto Convention and utilizing technology to enhance trade…

The Federal Government has procured modern boats and ferries worth N14.6 billion to replace dilapidated and wooden watercraft in riverine areas, aiming to reduce boat mishaps. The boats, expected to arrive in the next few months, will be distributed to states like Niger, Kogi, Benue, Kwara, and Kebbi, which are prone to water accidents. Former NIWA MD, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, revealed that the purchase was made in response to his recommendations to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola. Oyebamiji noted that wooden and dilapidated boats account for 20-25% of mishaps, while human error contributes to 70% of…