Maritimegistplus

As the federal government sets a ₦48 trillion expenditure target for 2025, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been commended for its pivotal role in boosting Nigeria's economic recovery,  This was highlighted by the Minister of Finance, Mr Olawale Edun, during the 61st quarterly board meeting of the agency held on Wednesday, 18 December, at the Customs House, Maitama, Abuja. The meeting followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's presentation of the 2025 budget to the National Assembly, tagged "A Budget of Restoration". The budget projects ₦35 trillion in revenue, with the NCS expected to play a critical role. Speaking further on the NCS’s performance, the minister disclosed that the agency had generated over ₦5 trillion by November 2024. “The NCS and other revenue bodies have performed remarkably well,” he said, linking the success to reforms introduced by President Tinubu. The Honourable Minister further revealed that the government plans to secure concessionary loans...

I n recognition of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety A’grncy NIMASA's commitment to enhancing service standards, improving transparency, and ensuring efficiency in its operations, the agency  recently received the SERVICOM Award for excellent service delivery. The award, which was presented at the annual end-of-year awards/meeting of the National Council of Nodal Officers with the SERVICOM Office, held in Abuja, is typically given to government agencies that demonstrate outstanding public service, acknowledges NIMASA's strides in providing quality services to the maritime industry, including the facilitation of maritime safety, regulation, and the promotion of Nigeria's maritime sector. Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director General of the Agency, who was represented by the Head, SERVICOM Unit of the Agency Hajia Rakiya Lamai, according to a press statement issued by Edward Osagie, Head Public Relations unit of the agency expressed gratitude to the Presidency through t...

The Ogun I Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in a renewed effort  has continued to crack down on Smugglers of illicit drugs and prohibited items, as the command in its anti-smuggling efforts, intercepting and seized 1,128 parcels of Cannabis Sativa weighing 1,109.3kg,  2,169 bags 50kg each of foreign perboiled rice and other goods. These seizures, which has a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N229,112,424.00 as announced by the Acting Customs Area Controller of the command,  DC Mohammed Shuaibu during a press briefing held at the Command’s Headquarters in Idiroko recently were effected in its latest operations. While speaking with newsmen, the acting Controller emphasized his commitment to professionalism, integrity, and a renewed focus on curbing smuggling activities and economic sabotage. He attributed the Command’s successes to strategic intelligence gathering, surveillance, and collaboration with patriotic Nigerians, underscoring the support and leadership ...

The  esteemed editor of Hybrid News,  Hyacinth Nwafor,  was on Thursday, 19th December recognized for his outstanding contribution to journalism by clinching the second prize in the category of Best Story on Youth Empowerment at the prestigious 2024 Nestlé Nigeria Media Awards.  The award, presented during a grand ceremony, celebrates journalists and media professionals who have demonstrated exceptional storytelling skills and highlighted critical issues that align with Nestlé’s core values of sustainability, nutrition, and community development.  Nwafor's award-winning story delved into the transformative impact of youth empowerment initiatives in Nigeria, shedding light on programs that equip young people with skills, resources, and opportunities to achieve their potential. The piece resonated deeply with readers and judges alike for its depth, balance, and commitment to promoting sustainable development.  Speaking after receiving the award,, Nwafor de...

The Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP) recently hosted its highly anticipated workshop, themed "Port Community Engagement: Building Partnerships for Sustainable Development". The event, which took place at Rockview Hotels Apapa, Lagos, had in attendance notable port operators, key government  agencies operating within the Nigerian Ports system and traditional ruler from the Port Community area. Delivering his high standard speech, the guest speaker, Barrister Abdullai Tony Dania Esq, highlighted government policies, programs, and projects within the Nigerian maritime space and port communities emphasizing on the need for CONMMEP, as a media advocacy group, to be bold in its pursuit of accountability and transparency. He urged the Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega to recognize CONMMEP as a worthy partner in achieving the ministry's goals. He equally encouraged CONMMEP to follow up on the Nigerian Upstream P...

The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB), at its 61st regular meeting which was chaired by the Honorable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edu on 18 December 2024, has confirmed the appointment of one Deputy Comptroller General (DCG), seven Assistant Comptrollers General (ACGs) and  promotion of 4,291 senior officers. The newly confirmed Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Management Team members include DCG S Chiroma (North-East) and ACGs ZM Gaji (North-East), OA Adebakin (South-West), GM Omale (North-Central), MS Yusuf (North-Central), DA Nnadi (South-East), HK Ejibunu (North-Central), and D Hassan (North-East).  According to a press release from the National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada who was also promoted to the rank of Assistant Comptroller, these appointments are to fill the vacancies created based on the retirement of some management team members from the affected geopolitical zones of the federation. The action further ali...

. .. Promises To Align With ACG Nnadi's Unique Transformational Qualities. The newly promoted energetic and workaholic Comptroller Frank O. Onyeka has taken over the helms of affairs of the TinCan Island Customs command  from the newly elevated Assistant Comptroller General of Customs ACG Dera Nnadi and promised to follow the transformational and innovative steps already established by ACG Nnadi. The event, which  took place on Friday at the administrative office of the command saw a mamont crowd of Officers, sister government and security agencies, stakeholders and friends of both the incoming and outgoing comptrollers. In his inaugural address, Comptroller FO Onyeka expressed his commitment to the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General of Customs and his management team also he aligned himself to the exemplary leadership qualities of the out-gone Comptroller, DA Nnadi mni in areas of revenue generation, anti-smuggling activities and most importantly the infrastructural ...

  ...Seizes 1,021 Loaves of Cannabis Sativa In furtherance of its anti-smuggling mandate, the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of Comptroller Paul Bamishaiye on the 16th of December, 2024, effected another seizure of 15 sacks containing 1,021 loaves Cannabis Sativa. The illicit substances which weighted a total of 538kg with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N107,205,000.00 was intercepted by officers of the command  along the Ajido waterways in the Yekeme axis of the Command when the suspected smugglers had grounded their boat in an attempt to offload the illicit substances on land. According to a release signed on behalf of the Customs Area Controller of the command by the command's Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs Magaji Mailafiya, the suspected smugglers had upon sighting our vigilant Marine officers, the suspects abandoned the items and fled the scene. Despite the hostile environment, the Patrol Team successfully...

, .. As Apapa Command Honours Outstanding Stakeholders Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR has commended the Area Controller of Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, fsi for the command's outstanding revenue collection of over N2.2tr and urged him to sustain the tempo. The CGC who said this in Apapa on Friday December 13, 2024  at the command's end of the year party and award ceremony according to a press release by the Command's Public Relations Officer, CSC Abubarka Usman also harped on the need for compliance and synergies as necessary strategies to greater productivity at the port. According to him, compliance is a competitive advantage. The CGC, who was represented by DCG Tariff and Trade, Deputy Comptroller General Caroline Niagwan, congratulated the Customs Area Controller and all the officers and men of Apapa Area Command for the milestone achieved in revenue collection to the tune of N2.2tr and still counting wh...

  The Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has alerted the public on the oil spill at the Shell Petroleum Development Company, Bonny terminal SMI, Rivers State In a statement from the Head of Public Relations Unit of the agency said the incident occured on Saturday, December 14, 2024,. an oil spill occurred at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) loading terminal, SMI, in Bonny, Rivers State. The statement further stated that the incident resulted from a ruptured pipeline and SPDC has promptly shut down the affected pipeline and deployed containment booms to protect the neighboring communities. Although the spill has reached the shoreline, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is actively monitoring the situation from an emergency operations center. The agency is collaborating with SPDC and other relevant stakeholders to access the extent of the spill and determine necessary follow-up actions. Members of the public are advise...

By Mcanthony Onuoha Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria- ASIMPIN, has congratulated the Director, General of World Trade Organization- (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, on her reappointment. In a congratulatory message personally signed by the President General of ASIMPIN, HRH, Eze Amb. Damian Emeka Obianigwe KSM, JP, Ezeoha Obi of Isi Ihiteowerri, and made available to The Prestige Blended Magazine, he eulogized Dr. Okonjo Iweala for her visionary leadership and immense contributions to humanity. Extolling the virtues of Dr. Okonjo Iweala, the President General of ASIMPIN said that Ndigbo have never expected anything less from their illustrious daughter but always the best, which has become her trademark as a public officer. Part of the statement reads, "on behalf of the Association of Igbo Maritime Practitioners in Nigeria-(ASIMPIN),  l hereby wish to extend our warmest congratulations to you, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on your well deserved reappointment as th...

The Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners- CONMMEP has concluded every arrangement to hold a one day workshop programme with theme; "Port Community Engagement: Building Partnerships for Sustainable Development." CONMMEP, a media advocacy group committed to fair, unbiased, and balanced reportage on Nigeria's maritime sector will at the event, provide a platform for Maritime stakeholders, Port Communities, agencies of government and corporate establishments within the maritime sector to review Port community engagement and chart a new course for development and more gainful partnerships  The workshop, which is aimed at  promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and showcase people oriented projects and services benefitting port Communities will also seeks to address challenges resulting from neglecting the host Communities.  The workshop, which was initially planned to hold at Marriott Hotel Ikeja on 28th of November, 2024, has now been rescheduled to hold...

Local content development in the Nigeria maritime industry has been observed to be handicapped by challenges of limited financial capacity and expertised knowledge associated with the Indigenous companies. This observation was made by a former minister of Interior and Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Worldwide Shipping, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho at the PortNews Summit themed, "Port Reforms and Local Content: Has Nigeria fared Well? held in Lagos recently. Capt. Iheanacho, who was the chairman of the summit in his opening remarks noted that the situation was further hindered by high costs, limited access to finance, and difficulties encountered through established foreign companies. His words: “In terms of local content, Nigeria has made significant progress. The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has been specifically established to promote local content development more specifically in the oil and gas sector; this initiative has had a positive impact ...

. ..As Compt. Daniyan Assured on Tackling Challenges  The new customs trading platform, B'Odogwu has recorded success at the Ports Terminal Multi services Limited PTML since it was rolled out in the area as it's pilot stage with increased revenue. The Customs Area Controller of PTML Command, Comptroller Tenny Daniyan revealed this on Wednesday while addressing a news conference at the command's headquarters in TinCan, Lagos.  He stated that the command's revenue has increased with the collection of N44.9b  in November 2024 which is the highest monthly collection ever made by the command. Compt. Daniyan added that in addition to over 5 banks already hooked up to the system, the NCS ICT/Modernisation Department has concluded arrangement for the (17) banks that are on interswitch payment platform coming onboard, informing that the Customs headquarters have started interactions with the banks and this would be addressed. On alleged allegation of leaving four vessels una...

Following a recent viral video where some customs officers attached to the Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service were seen maltreating some members of the public, the Area Controller in charge of the command, Comptroller Kayode Kolade has directed that investigation into the incident be commenced immediately. He also directed that those officers involved be withdrawn and  interrogated to facilitate decisive disciplinary measures against whoever is found culpable. He further assured the general public that the outcome of the investigative panel would be made public when concluded. The command, according to a press statement issued on behalf of the Controller by the public relations officer of the command, Superintendent of Customs SC Hussaini Abdullahi pjsc expressed its deepest empathy for the affected public members and wishes to equally condemn in strong terms such unethical conduct,  stating that the action of these officers contradicts the value and operational ...

The Oyo/Osun command of the Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of Dr Ben Oramalugo,  has announced the tragic demise of one of it's officer, his beloved wife and four of their children through a fire outbreak that engulfed their residence in Ede, Osun state in the early hours of Monday, 2nd of December, 2024. The officer, Superintendent of Customs (SC) Kabiru Tijani according to release by the image maker of the command, SC Kayode Wey, before the tragic incident served as the Officer in Charge of Operations at the Command, was a dedicated officer. His unwavering commitment to duty, particularly in coordinating and executing successful anti-smuggling operations, greatly contributed to the success of the Command. His wife, an active member of the Customs Officers' Wives Association (COWA) Oyo/Osun Chapter, was equally admired for her contributions to the welfare of the Customs community. Addressing speculative reports regarding the inferno,the Oyo/Osun Area Command urge...

In an efforts to promote professionalism and recognise exceptional service, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi mfr on Friday, 29th November 2024, hosted the CGC Excellence Awards Night in Abuja.  The annual event celebrated Customs officers who excelled in their duties, ranging from revenue generation and trade facilitation to anti-smuggling operations. The ceremony, which brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the National Assembly, and sister law enforcement agencies. According to statement from Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer, among dignitaries that graced the ceremony were representative of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy who doubles as the Chairman Nigeria Customs Service Board, Mr Olawale Edun; Senator Isah Jibril, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs; Hon Leke Abejide, Chairman House Committee on Customs and Excise; and the Inspector-Gen...

L-R: Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative at the IMO, William Bwala; Director-General, NIMASA Dr Dayo Mobereola; Director Maritime Safety and Security, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Babatunde Bombata; and SA-DG (Administration and Operations) NIMASA, Olatunji Ahmed at the occasion.   The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has declared that innovative financing models will serve as a catalyst for achieving sustainable development in the African Maritime industry.  L-R: SA-DG (Administration and Operations) NIMASA, Olatunji Ahmed;  Secretary General, Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA)  Paul Adalikwu; DG NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola;  Director Maritime Safety and Security, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Babatunde Bombata;  Secretary General, Abuja MoU, Captain Sunday Umoren; Head, Africa Section, IMO William Azu and Nigeria’s Alternat...