Maritimegistplus

As part of efforts to modernise ship registration services and enhance the competitiveness of the Nigerian flag,  the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will host a two-part stakeholder webinar on 6 and 8 October 2026 to showcase the ongoing automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry. The webinars, according to a press release issured by Edward Osagie FNIPR, the Deputy Director and Public Relations of NIMASA will provide shipowners, operators, maritime professionals, financial institutions, insurers and other stakeholders with insights into the new digital registration platform and its potential to significantly improve the speed, transparency and efficiency of ship registration and related services. The automated system is designed to enable 24/7 access to registration services, streamline application and approval processes, and facilitate faster issuance of electronic certificates, reducing administrative delays associated with conventional paper-based pr...

By Aderonke Oluwadare Nigeria’s micro, small and medium sized enterprises remain central to the country’s economic growth, employment and household incomes. According to the NBS and SMEDAN MSME 2021 survey, as cited in PwC Nigeria’s MSME Survey 2024, MSMEs account for 96.9 per cent of businesses, 87.9 per cent of employment, 46.32 per cent of gross domestic product and 6.21 per cent of exports. These figures underline the importance of Nigerian SMEs to job creation, innovation and inclusive economic development. They also explain why the health of the sector should command the attention of policymakers, financial institutions and investors. PwC’s report confirms the figures and identifies MSMEs as an important part of Nigeria’s economic fortunes. The operating environment nevertheless remains difficult. Entrepreneurs continue to contend with elevated input costs, exchange rate volatility, infrastructure constraints and pressure on consumer purchasing power. PwC’s MSME Survey 2024, whic...

With a renewed push to expand export channels, improve cargo processing and boost foreign exchange inflows into the economy, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has stepped up efforts to remove bottlenecks hampering Nigeria’s non-oil exports. The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this at the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) which is held under the theme, “Resilient Trade, Taxation, and the Economy”. He stated that the authority was strengthening port infrastructure and extending maritime logistics into the hinterland to enable exporters to access global markets more efficiently. Speaking at the NPA Special Day of the fair, Dantsoho said trade resilience required efficient infrastructure, predictable fiscal frameworks and seamless supply chains, according to him, Nigeria’s economic resilience could no longer depend largely on imports and oil revenues, stressing that expa...

The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency NPERA , has pledged its full cooperation with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission NSIWC , during the Commission’s monitoring exercise across Federal Government agencies. The Director-General/CEO of NPERA , Dr Akutah Pius, MON, gave the assurance when the newly constituted Governing Board of the NSIWC paid a familiarisation visit to the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos. Akutah said the visit was timely as NPERA undergoes restructuring following its transition from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to an economic regulatory agency with an expanded mandate. He welcomed the opportunity to brief the Commission on the Agency’s functions and said NPERA would provide the information needed for the exercise. Speaking during the visit, Chairman of the NSIWC Governing Board, Major General Junaid Bindawa (rtd.), said the exercise would help the Commission understand NPERA’s operations, the responsibilities attached to various positions,...

The Lagos Free Trade Zone Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday 30th September 2026, witnessed a leadership transition as Comptroller HKA Abubakar (Mrs) formally handed over the affairs of the Command after serving the Nigeria Customs Service meritoriously for 35 year to Deputy Comptroller Olufemi Kukoyi on an Acting capacity. In her valedictory speech, Comptroller Abubakar, according to a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Chief Superintendent of Customs CSC  Abdullahi-Lagos,  expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR and the Management of the Service for the opportunity given to her to serve, she also expressed her gratitude to officers, stakeholders and partner agencies for their support throughout her career. Reflecting on her tenure at the Command, Comptroller Abubakar disclosed that the Lagos Free Trade Zone Command generated ₦557,020,127,999.18 between January and August 2026....

Following the retirement of Comptroller Gambo Aliyu after a meritorious 35 years of service, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni has taken over the mantle of leadership of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service in an Acting capacity. According to a press statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Chief Superintendent of Customs, CSC Hussaini Abdullahi, the colourful handing-over ceremony, which was held at the Unit’s conference hall in Ikeja, was witnessed by colleagues, friends and well-wishers of both officers and other Senior Officers of the service including the Acting Customs Area Controllers of PTML Command, Ogun I Area Command and Enugu/Ebonyi/Anambra Area Command, senior officers and critical stakeholders. At the handover ceremony, Afeni pledged professional and accountable leadership anchored on intelligence-led enforcement, revenue protection and safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests, while emphasizing on...

Understanding what happens to your money after a payment is just as important as completing the transaction. Picture a professional preparing for a trip. The flight must be booked, the hotel needs to be paid for and regular household expenses have not stopped simply because travel is approaching. There are two cards in the wallet, a debit card and a credit card. Both cards can be used to make payments, but they affect the cardholder’s finances differently. A debit card draws money directly from the available balance in a linked bank account. A credit card allows the cardholder to borrow within an approved credit limit and repay the amount under agreed terms. Understanding the difference between a debit card and a credit card is the first step towards choosing the right payment option for every expense. What is the difference between a debit card and a credit card? The main difference lies in the source of the money used for a transaction. When you pay with a debit card, you are ...

In furtherance of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) commitment to digital innovation, trade facilitation and improved passenger clearance processes, Seme Area Command of the Service has commenced the full operationalisation of the Simplified Declaration for Passenger Baggage Import. The deployment is designed to simplify the declaration and assessment of passenger baggage, reduce clearance time, enhance transparency and facilitate the movement of legitimate travelers and cross-border traders through the Seme border corridor. The simplified system enables passengers to initiate baggage declarations through mobile devices or complete the process at designated digital kiosks at the Command. Standardized and pre-programmed assessment tables are applied to declared personal goods, enabling the system to calculate applicable duties and generate receipts upon payment automatically.  The deployment is aimed at reducing manual processes and discretionary assessment, while providing passenge...

Polaris Bank is set to join organisations around the world in celebrating the 2026 Customer Service Week, holding from October 5th to 9th, under the theme, “ The Extra Mile .” For Polaris Bank, the theme represents a continuation of its longstanding commitment to putting customers at the heart of its business and continually improving the quality of their banking experience. As part of this year’s celebration, Polaris Bank will engage customers and recognise service champions through a series of activities across its branches, digital channels and other customer touch-points. The Bank will also use the occasion to encourage customer feedback and strengthen the connection between customer insights and continuous service improvement. Over the years, the Bank has used Customer Service Week not only to appreciate its customers, but also to recognise employees who consistently demonstrate exceptional service and reinforce the importance of customer-centricity across the organisation. Th...