Maritimegistplus

As part of a significant move to strengthen border security and improve regional capacity, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has launched the first-ever WCO Expert Master Trainer Programme on Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) in West Africa. The week-long programme commenced on 2 June 2025 in Abuja, drawing participants from Customs administrations across the region. The training aims to equip officers with the technical know-how to deploy geospatial technologies for mapping, analysing, and monitoring border activities. Declaring the programme open, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, emphasised the importance of leveraging cutting-edge technology to boost trade security and combat transnational crimes such as smuggling and trafficking. According to him, "What we are witnessing today is the fruition of nearly a decade of sustained collaboration, innov...

Following the resurfaced video trending on the social media which captured some operatives of the Nigeria Customs Services involving in the shooting incident, the service through a press statement issued by the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Controller Abdullahi Maiwada dated 3rd of June 2025 has clarified the situation. The statement reads in full, "the attention of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been drawn to a video currently circulating on social media, which captures a tragic shooting incident involving some operatives of the Service. The NCS wishes to categorically state that the incident in question occurred on Sunday, 17 February 2019, and not a recent development, as portrayed by some online platforms. Following the ugly occurrence at the Shagamu Interchange in Ogun State, the Service took immediate steps to address the situation in line with its internal procedures. A public statement was issued at the time, and a disciplinary panel was established t...

The National Compliance Joint Taskforce of Licensed Clearing Agents (NCJTFLCA) has called for partnership with the Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP) to help in its fight against corruption which has eaten deep into the Nigeria maritime sector. This called was made by the President of NCJTFLCA, High Chief Dr. Basil Chudi Nwolisa, when he featured at the maiden edition of the CONMMEP's Round Table held in Lagos on Wednesday, 28th May 2025, where he emphasized on the urgent need for industry reform. Dr. Nwolisa, in his keynote address, painted a stark picture of the current state of the maritime sector, likening it to a "crime scene" plagued by corruption and inefficiency. He highlighted the detrimental effects of corrupt practices on freight forwarding and logistics value chain, asserting that these issues, not only inflate costs but also jeopardize the future of the nation. "Corruption increases the prices of goods and services, and if we d...

...  Target 50% Export Price Reduction as Trade Under AfCFTA Advances Marking a  major milestone in regional trade facilitation and continental integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework, the Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, has commissioned the inaugural Nigeria–East/Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor. The historic flag-off event which was  held on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, drew key government stakeholders and aviation industry players also featured the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi mfr and Ms Adebola Agunbiade, Director of Commercial and Business Development, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), who represented the Managing Director/CEO, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku. In his keynote address, CGC Adeniyi described the flag-off as a strate...

The Federal Government has approved the maintenance dredging of the Lekki Deep seaport in Lagos at the cost of $1.5bn. With the approval, the channel will be deepened from its present 16.5metres to 17metres in the first instance as it targets 19meters depth. This was disclosed by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abubakar Dantsoho during a maiden visit to Lekki port over the weekend. Dantsoho who was accompanied to the visit by senior management staff of the Authority, urged Lekki Port management to consolidate transshipment volumes to landlocked neighboring countries. According to Abubakar Dantsoho, “The rise in throughput volume at Lekki Port is exciting to us.”Lekki’s capacity to berth super post-panamax vessels and deliver rapid cargo and vessel turnaround positions is a game-changer for Nigeria’s export competitiveness, particularly for agro-allied products, as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) gains traction. “The port’s efficiency is dri...

.. . As CGC Clinches Diamond Lifetime Honour Award for Exceptional Performance in Public Office In recognition of its steadfast commitment to professional communication standards and institutional transparency, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been conferred with the Excellence in Professional Compliance Award – Corporate Category by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). The award, which was presented at the just concluded 2025 Nigeria Public Relations Week (NPRW) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, reflects the Customs Service’s strategic drive toward effective public engagement, stakeholder inclusion and image repositioning under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR. In a significant show of institutional honour, the Governing Council of the NIPR also recognised CGC Adeniyi with two distinguished awards; the Diamond Lifetime Award for his sustained contributions to the advancement of public relations ideals and the betterment of hu...

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its anti-smuggling operations in Nigeria’s north-eastern corridors as it intercepted Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and vehicles with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over ₦63 million. This success was recorded through Operation Whirlwind, a targeted enforcement drive against the smuggling of PMS outside Nigeria. Announcing the seizure during a press briefing at the Customs House in Yola, the Adamawa State Capital, on Friday, 23 May 2025, the National Coordinator of the operation, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG), Hussein Ejibunu, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR according to a release from the National Public Relations Officer of the Service described the outcome as a clear result of intelligence-led and coordinated enforcement within Zone ‘D’. He disclosed that 1,959 jerry cans, amounting to nearly 49,000 litres of PMS, were intercepted along with five vehicles used as a means of...

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) International Special Services has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its unwavering commitment to safeguarding borders and disrupting transnational organised crime through strategic partnerships and intelligence-driven operations,  This recognition follows the recent recovery of 12 luxury vehicles by the RCMP Liaison Office in Lagos, adding to the 53 earlier recovered. This brings the total number of stolen Canadian vehicles intercepted in Nigeria to 65. These recoveries were made possible through the strong collaboration between the NCS, the RCMP, the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Interpol Nigeria. The commendation was formally made during an official ceremony held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, where the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, His Excellency Pasquale Salva...

As the Apapa command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) continues to intensify it's anti smuggling activities and dealing decisively with enemies of the state and economic saboteurs, the command has again intercepted six containers Laden with unregistered pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics, Used Clotthings and stolen exotic cars worth well over #3.2b and attrested 3 suspects in connection with the seizures. Addressing  the media at the command headquarters in Apapa on Thursday, of the command, the customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu PhD, informed that the six containers laden with prohibited items mostly unregistered pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, used clothing and the two cars which were stolen from Canada all with a total Duty Paid Value DPV of N3,247,427,969.00 (Three billion,Two hundred and forty-seven million, Four hundred and twenty-seven thousand Nine hundred and sixty-nine naira). Giving a break down of the seizures, Compt. Olomu disclosed that the se...