The National President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, has called for competitive tariff regime and urgent modernisation of Nigerian ports, stressing that automation, digitalisation and smart infrastructure are essential to making the country a competitive maritime hub in West and Central Africa. Ezisi made the call in his…
By Sylva OBASI LAGOS – The Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN) is pushing for wider use of arbitration to resolve maritime disputes faster, saying prolonged disagreements are costing shipowners up to $50,000 daily and damaging Nigeria’s port competitiveness. Speaking at an event held by MAAN in Lagos yesterday with the theme, _“Maritime Arbitration as…
By Sylva OBASI Nigeria’s ambition to emerge as the leading maritime and trade gateway in West and Central Africa can only be achieved through an end-to-end modernisation of its ports, including infrastructure, digitalisation, regulation, security and efficient connections to the hinterland, stakeholders in the maritime sector have said. They spoke against the backdrop of growing…
SIFAX Shipping Bonded Terminal has commissioned a new office building at one of its operational bases in Lagos.The new complex, which would house the staff, and officials of government agencies like the Nigerian Customs Service and Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, among others, was commissioned officially by Mrs. Wunmi Eniola-Jegede, Group Coordinating Director on behalf of Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Executive Chairman of SIFAX Group. The commissioning ceremony, held at its terminal premises on…
Stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime sector have said the country’s ports still lag behind neighbouring ports such as Cotonou and Lome in terms of competitiveness, despite Nigeria’s advantage in market size, cargo volume and traffic. The stakeholders spoke ahead of the upcoming Annual Maritime Lecture (MAMAL) 2026 organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria…
By Sylva OBASI Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Barrister Temisan Omatseye, is set to chair the 2026 Annual Lecture and Awards of Primetime Reporters, a leading maritime-focused online newspaper. Omatseye, who served as Director-General of NIMASA from 2006 to 2010, is expected to bring his wealth of experience and…
By Sylva OBASI The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has announced enhanced enforcement of the statutory requirements for indigenous participation in Nigeria’s Cabotage trade and maritime activities. This disclosure was contained in a marine notice issued pursuant to the Agency’s statutory mandate of implementing applicable laws including the NIMASA Act 2007 and the…
By Joshua Yousouph Nigeria is losing between $20,000 and $70,000 daily to foreign-owned vessels operating in the country’s maritime trade, even as the country struggles to develop an indigenous fleet capable of carrying its growing cargo volumes. Captain Ladi Olubowale, a maritime industry expert and shipowner, disclosed this at the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria…
By Sylva OBASI In a major blow to illegal arms proliferation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has on Sunday 9 August, 2026 finalised the coupling and detailed examination of a massive arms haul seized at the Tin Can Island Port Command, uncovering 399 fully assembled Jojef firearms alongside a critical assortment of supplementary rifle parts….
By Sylva OBASI In a decisive show of resolve to defend Nigeria’s economic frontiers, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ (FOU ‘A’), Ikeja-Lagos, has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods valued at N3,237,132,640.00 in Duty Paid Value, while clawing back N728,976,725.03. The operation, anchored on sharpened risk profiling, rigorous…
