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Tragedy struck on Tuesday night as Nigeria’s music legend, songwriter, actress, journalist and politician,  Onyeka Onwenu, slumped and died shortly after performing at a birthday party in Lagos. In a shocking turn of events, the music maestro affectionately known as the ‘Elegant Stallion,’ according to sources, died at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after collapsing at a private function. According to reports, the music icon was attending a friend’s birthday party when she took to the stage to perform. Immediately after her performance, she returned to her seat and suddenly slumped. Emergency services were quickly called, and she was rushed to the hospital, in Victoria Island, where she was later pronounced dead. The cause of death is yet to be confirmed. The source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “It is very sad. Onyeka Onwenu just performed at the birthday of Mrs. Stella Okoli of Emzor Pharmaceuticals this night and after performing, she slumped. She was taken to Redd

Following apprehensions about an impending nationwide protest, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu has reassured port users in Apapa that activities of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) would continue uninterrupted.  He gave this assurance during a meeting with stakeholders in Apapa on Tuesday, where he said it has become expedient to rebuild confidence in importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, haulage operators and other port users on the availability of Nigeria Customs Service officers in Apapa Port on all working days as usual. He reaffirmed that customs officers attached to the command at the port and all terminals under his watch shall be available to discharge their usual functions and support in facilitating all legitimate trade within their purview.  The CAC further advised that the office of the Customs Public Relations Officer and other offices assigned to function as help desks shall be available to

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in a press release said it made a remarkable performance within the first half of year (January 1st  -June 30th) 2024 by generating over N2.74 trillion into the government coffers. The figure, which represents a 127% increase over the Service’s revenue collection for half-year 2023 which stood at N1.39 trillion. With a half-year revenue target of N2.54 trillion for 2024, Customs has surpassed the target by 8%. The press release which was signed by Customs National Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, said key initiatives contributing to this success included the e-auction platform, which generated over N1.34 billion, and the 90-day duty payment window for uncustomed vehicles, adding N4.37 billion to the revenue. “These measures have significantly enhanced transparency, compliance, and efficiency in customs processes, underscoring the NCS’s commitment to excellence.  The  statement also stated that the Service in

The newly appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has identified the speedy rehabilitation of dilapidated port infrastructure across the nation as his topmost priority. Dantosho, who assumed the role of the managing director with  over 25 years operational experience in the Authority, kick stated his duties with unscheduled visit to the Apapa and TinCan Island Port Complex where he  pledged to collaborate with port stakeholders in a bid to deliver efficient services at the nation’s seaports. According to the NPA helmsman, adequate port infrastructure and robust collaboration with stakeholders will enable the nation’s seaports attain improved revenue generation through efficiency and productivity. Speaking to journalists during the visit,  the new managing director reiterated on the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the NPA to deliver efficient port services and improved industry outcomes, he added that his

i The Murtala Muhammed Area Command between January to June, 2024 has collected a total revenue of Eighty Billion, Three hundred and Fifty One Million, Two Hundred and Ninety Nine Thousand and Sixty Eight Naira Only (N80,351,299,068.00) on Customs duty and other charges.  This shows a progressive improvement  of Forty One Billion, Six Hundred and Forty Four Million, Two Hundred and Forty Six Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty One Naira, Fifty Six Kobo only (N41,644,246,851.56) depicting 107.5% increase when compared with revenue collected within the same period in 2023,  which stood at Thirty Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Seven Million, Fifty four Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixteen Naira, Forty Four Kobo only (N38,707,054,216.44)  The command, under the dynamic leadership of Comptroller Michael Toyin Awe, according to a press release from the command's Public Relations Officer, Victor Ogagbor said it has continued to build on the achievements of the previous year both in the area

The Customs Zonal Coordinator of Zone 'A'  ACG Saidu Yusuf on Wednesday visited the Tin Can Island customs command and expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Command’s officers. He commended  the high-level of seizures, ever-increasing revenue collection being witnessed in the command as well as the Command’s pilot status for Time Release Study (TRS) which, according to him, underscores the diligence of the officers and men of the command. The Zonal coordinator, who applauded the Command's Area Controller, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, urged the officers not to relent in their efforts which  according to him, are in tandem with the expectations of the Customs management In his words: “Nnadi has been up and doing on his game especially in seizures of arms and ammunition, drugs and also in revenue. Don’t relent in ensuring that you follow the laid down processes". The visiting Zonal Coordinator noted that 18 officers at TCIP Command, including the Command’s Pub

The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has revealed that 90% of port processes and operations at Nigerian ports are now automated, reducing human interface and it's attendant negative attributes considerably. This was revealed by the Executive Secretary / Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Barr Pius Ukeyima Akutah in his goodwill message at a breakfast meeting organized by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) themed; Trade Facilitation and President Tinubu’s Economic Agenda: Matters Arising” in Lagos on Wednesday. The Shippers Council boss who was represented at the meeting by Mrs Ogbonnaya Austina, an Assistant Director, Consumer Affairs of the Council assured that efforts are being made towards the development of Vehicle Transit Areas (VTAs) across the country to facilitate the safety and security of cargoes in transit. The executive Secretary also stated that, with the completion and operations of Inland Dry Ports of Dala, Funtua and Kaduna in Kano, Katsina an

Save Nigerian Freight Forwoarders' Importers and Exporters Coalition (SNFFIEC) has applauded the appointment of a seasoned Maritime Technocrat in person of Abubakar Dantsoho as the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority to continue from where his predecessor stopped. The president of SNIFFIEC, Chief Osita Chukwu in his reaction to the appointment congratulated the newly appointed NPA MD and urged him to use the wealth of experience which  he has garnered over the years in the  Nigeria Maritime sector to revitalize and reposition Nigerian Ports for seamless operation and economic advancement of the country. He went further to state that his group, as partners in progress in making Nigeria Maritime industry compete favourablely with other maritime Nations of the world also urged the new MD to do all it takes to enhance the electronic call-up system to make sure the years of gridlocks that plaqued the Western ports corridors of Apapa and TinCan Ports for more than 14 years whic

The Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders, Importers and Exporters Coalition (SNFFIEC) through it's National President, Chief sir Osita Chukwu has condemned the recent petition to the National Security Adviser by the National Co-ordinator of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwoarders' (NAGAFF) 100% Compliance Team, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko labeling such petition as misleading and baseless.  Chief Chukwu, in an interview emphasized that Alhaji Tanki who is a customs agent and freight forwarder, failed to understand the established protocols in place for managing government affairs, especially in the maritime sector. He accused Tanko of breaching protocol and undermining the efforts of the Nigerian maritime sector’s leadership. In his words, “This petition to the National Security Adviser is not just a breach of protocol; it’s an abuse and neglect of the systems we have put in place;  It gives a false impression to the world that there are problems in our port corridor

. ..As Agency Rescues Distressed Oil Drilling Platform The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola has set up an Incident Command Center (ICC) in the office of the Agency’s Executive Director Operations. This is coming just as the Director General disclosed that NIMASA successfully rescued all the nineteen crew members onboard an ill-fated Britania U, drilling platform, that engulfed in flames at Ajakpa Field, (OML 90), 10.77 nautical miles South of Forcadoes terminal in Delta State, Nigeria. According to Dr. Mobereola, the command centre is to prepare an effective situation-based response plan against oil spillage or other incidents that may affect the marine environment and safety of navigation. He stated that his agency on Thursday, 18th July, 2024 had received signals from the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordinating Center (RMRCC) Lagos that Britania U, a drilling platform was under distress According to him, the Agency