Maritime Agencies
STARZS 40TH ANNIVERSARY: ‘We are Faith-based, And Doing Well’- CEO Iroghama …Thanks Founder For Laying Solid Foundation
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer CEO, STARZS Investments Company Ltd. (SICL), Iroghama Ogbeifun on Saturday strongly commended her father for laying a solid faith-based foundation for the Company, stressing that the important gesture had not only paid off, it has also become a credible guiding beacon.
”We’re a faith-based company. I am unapologetic about it”, Iroghama stressed. She pointed out that without such a strong and solid guiding light and principle, the management could have wavered or blended with the world along the line, particularly under market pressure.
Speaking of the Chairman, her greatest idol and unique inspiration, Iroghama Ogbeifun emphasized that she would always be guided by his principles, vision and legacies.
”I’m so proud as a child to stand on your shoulders today, because your shoulders are so big and strong.
”And also to stand on your name, particularly, the innovative platform that is your name!
”Thank you. God bless you. I pray that you will continue just like what we just prayed.
”And that I will continue to benefit from your wisdom, from your guidance and your counsel. Your counsel that is so irreplaceable”, Iroghama stated emotionally.
She called attention to several pastors and men of God who proudly testified to being beneficiaries of the Company’s payment of tithes, which according to Iroghama is the one thing that has kept Starzs focused, unique and outstanding in a world that is constantly turning upside down.
”At most times, when you’re in the marketplace, which is where we operate, you might feel the need to want to blend, you know, or to hide but our founder has placed us on a solid foundation. We do not apologize for being faith-based as a company.
”We hold devotions every Monday. We don’t care if you’re Muslim, Atheist, Traditionalist, Herbalist; once you work at the Starzs, we let you understand that we come for Monday devotions.
”We inform you of this when you come for interview. And when you join us, we again let you know that we’re not going to hide who we are. We know that we’ve come this far because of God!”, she indicated further, saying that the Company praises God as its enduring culture.
The CEO acknowledged that the founder actually sowed that seed and culture and the same they intend to sustain, if anyone comes to join them.
This is the only thing we know: Praise God and Praise God!
She stressed that her management prioritises the attitude of sacrificial giving, via honest payment of tithes.
She also expressed satisfaction that though the management began tithing with about $1000, they have scaled up.
”But, it has always come from a sacrificial heart. It has never been from a place of plenty. I don’t want to say how much we tithe today…. But, it is true that we also give in dollars and it is in double digits,
”But we were not always giving like that. I remember when I joined (the company)12 years ago and I saw that was the culture. But then, God is so good. God is so great”, the SICL boss noted, stressing that the initiative however, had never been in vain!
”It is the one thing that was untouchable. Don’t pay salaries. But, you must pay the tithe. We pay it religiously. We don’t joke with tithing. It’s as if the Chairman is watching us.
”We have also seen our tithes speak on our behalf. Even without us realizing it. It is later that we would realize that, oh my God, this tithing must go on even when I’m no longer there, say in the next 40 years!
“Of course, by then, I would be over 80 years; and would sincerely be glad, being the one, passing the oil to the next successor.
She thanked the multitude of churches who have benefited from the initiative for their prayers , highlighting that tithing is a testament to their obedience to divine directive.
”That’s what I call it. It was an obedience to what God said to him (the founder). And we have to obey that.
”I also want to thank every single member of my team- the Starzs team. I want to say thank you for your sacrifice. You know, like the Pastor said, it takes people to build an organization. To be a remarkable organization, it takes people”, she said, highlighting that the few in the huge audience, indeed represented the over 200 staff members, arduously putting in their best in the office.
”So, for us here, we are just a representation of our colleagues. Some of them are on board different vessels now. Some of them are not here because we have a vessel docked”.
The CEO thanked the Ministers of God, stressing that their exhortation were like ‘fresh fires’ for her, smoothly and timely rejuvenating her for the greater tasks ahead, especially the several tenders that the SICL must work on.
”We are growing bigger every day. We are getting stronger. We are taking over. And there is no limitation in the mighty name of Jesus. All of us claim it in the mighty name of Jesus.
Speaking earlier, the Senior Pastor of the House on Rock in Port Harcourt, Rev. Lanre Oluseye while commending the Chairman, made a glowing differentiation between a leader and a boss.
”There is a difference between honor that is due and honor that is deserved. Because honor that is due and honor that is deserved are two different things.
”We juxtapose them and we use them interchangeably. But I have lived long enough to realize that honor might be due and not deserved. Because honor that is due is a function of position and honor that is deserved is a function of performance.
”And at times, someone is in a position who is not performing. So we honor him for the position but not because he’s performing. And at no time you can find someone who is performing who doesn’t have the position.
”And so you honor them for the performance but not because of the position. But Professors across Nigeria. You have no choice. Every time and again you come across people, very few of them, who are in positions and who are also performing. One of them is Engr. Greg Ogbeifun!
”I would like you to please help me and celebrate this incredible man!”, Rev. Oluseye stressed, calling for a direct ovation, over his spirit of perseverance, dedication, commitment and discipline. He got a standing ovation.
The man of God stressed that the Starzs couldn’t have gone so far without troubles.
”So whilst we are thanking God for the successes, we must also be thanking God for his pain, because it is pain that makes, it is pain that shapes!
”I tell people often that, you know, we celebrate our friends, but we also should celebrate our enemies more. Because our enemies have more ministry in our lives than our friends. Our friends are there to pick us up, but our enemies are the reason we left the ghetto”, he indicated, thanking the Chairman for his resilience.
”When you look back, see, it is easy to hope when you can find light at the end of the tunnel; but at times, the tunnel is very long. I wonder if there is anybody here who has been in a tunnel where you can look back and all you have is hope. That somewhere, if I continue and stay the course, light will show up somewhere. You are the true survivors!”
The Reverend emphasized the need to understand that the Chairman went so far because God is with him. He also admonished the huge audience, to emulate Engr. Ogbeifun, especially in his inspired view of putting God first, arguing that anyone who works so hard, while putting God first, will ultimately succeed immensely.
”One of my favorite sayings in the whole Bible is, if it had not been the Lord who was on our side, we would not have been struggling. I wonder if there is anybody in this room who understands that if it had not been the Lord, you would not be who you are, you would not be standing where you’re standing.
”What you survived is what made you a hero. Because you see, what you survived, others did not survive. What you survived killed others.
”So, if you’ve never met a miracle before, this is what a walking, talking miracle looks like. And this is the doing of the Lord”, he further explained, before buttressing his exhortation with the story of one Shamar.
”This guy, I found him very interesting, you know, because in many ways, he reminds me of many of us. And that’s one of the thoughts that I wanted to share with us today. Shamar I knew about was one of the mighty men of valour.
He tells us that the Philistines, would always swoop on the Dan. And they usually will come during harvest time, when the Israelites were about to harvest their fruits. And then they will come and they will chase them away and they will reap the harvest.They will reap where they have not sown.
”Let me tell you, nobody does 40 years without fighting. You know, I was telling you of someone, you know, and the Lord is just on my side.
”Anyway, what I’m saying to you is this story as told of Shamar. And then they came and they chased everybody away, but the Bible tells us that Shamar stood. And he fought. And in that day, one man killed a thousand men.
”And the Bible says that God brought a great victory that day. My question is, did God want Shamar to have the field? In fact, it was the field of lentils. Did God want him to have that field? The answer is yes.
”But do you know that if Shamar had run away with the rest of them, he wouldn’t have that field and God would still be God. I’m clearly saying this because yes, you’ve done 40 years, but that does not mean you are still not still going to fight. But the same God who kept you in the previous fight has not changed.
”Whether Shama fought or he ran, God will still have been God. So what I’m saying is your decision to stand and fight, at times is not up to God, it’s up to you. And whatever that decision is, God will back you up.
”That’s why I’m glad we are doing what we are doing today. You know why? Because we don’t fight like the world fights. You know how we fight? What’s that song? First it was fragrance, then it turned to fire.
”My worship is my weapon. That’s how we fight. It starts as fragrance”, the Rev. concluded, intimating the management that the coast and uncharted fields now lay ahead of them, and God is waiting for them, to do beyond whatever either the Chairman or the company had achieved in the past 40 years, telling them that in God’s mathematics, 2 times 5 can be 100!
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) is set to confer the prestigious title of Patron on the President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of Nigeria’s maritime industry and his commitment to humanitarian causes.
The investiture will take place at the MARAN Maritime Annual Lecture (MAMAL), the flagship programme of the association, scheduled to hold at the Nigerian Air Force Event Centre, No. 1 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
High Chief Ezisi is a seasoned and accomplished freight forwarder whose decades of experience and contributions to the freight forwarding profession have earned him respect within and beyond the maritime community. He is also widely recognised for his philanthropic activities and commitment to supporting individuals and communities.
MARAN President, Mr. Oluyinka Onigbinde, said the decision to honour High Chief Ezisi reflects the association’s appreciation of individuals who have distinguished themselves through professionalism, service and contributions to the growth of the maritime sector.
According to him, High Chief Ezisi’s elevation as Patron is also expected to further strengthen the relationship between MARAN and stakeholders across the freight forwarding and broader maritime community.
The MARAN President noted that MAMAL has, over the years, provided a credible platform for critical discussions on issues affecting Nigeria’s maritime industry, bringing together policymakers, government officials, regulators, industry leaders, academics, journalists and other key stakeholders.
The annual lecture is expected to attract top government officials, bureaucrats, maritime industry regulators, members of the academia and major stakeholders across the Nigerian maritime sector.
MARAN said the investiture of High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi will be one of the highlights of this year’s MAMAL and will underscore the association’s commitment to recognising individuals whose contributions continue to advance professionalism, collaboration and sustainable development in Nigeria’s maritime industry.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is ever committed to sustain and even surpass the current zeal with which it is prosecuting enhanced revenue generation, trade facilitation, professionalism and stakeholder collaboration because every legitimate revenue collected strengthens government’s capacity to deliver on its development priorities and improve the lives of Nigerians.
The Command’s image maker, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isa Suleiman Ibrahim disclosed this in a press release on behalf of the Customs Area Command Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba.
The release disclosed a historic revenue collection of Twenty-Eight Billion,One Hundred and Two Million, Nine Hundred and Fourteen Naira, Sixty-One Kobo (₦28,102,000,914.61k) on Tuesday, 18th August, 2026, the highest single-day revenue collection ever recorded by the Command.
The feat, the release indicated, surpasses the previous daily record of ₦20.1 billion, achieved in September 2025, shortly after the assumption of office of the present Customs Area Controller, CAC, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba.
The new record is achieved weeks after the Command recorded an unprecedented ₦323 billion monthly revenue collection in July 2026, thus demonstrating the sustained impact of reforms, improved compliance, enhanced trade facilitation, intelligence-driven interventions and the increasing efficiency of digital Customs processes.
Commenting on the feat, Comptroller Oshoba stressed that the achievement is not simply about figures or records. It is about what the Nigeria Customs Service is contributing to the economic wellbeing of Nigerians.
Revenue generated by the Service, he explained, forms part of government resources used to fund public priorities including infrastructure, security, education, healthcare and other services that ultimately impact the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
He therefore dedicated the milestone to the Government and people of Nigeria, while commending the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management team of the Service for their continued support for modernisation, automation and reforms aimed at making Customs operations more efficient, transparent and business-friendly.
The CAC also acknowledged the cooperation of compliant importers, exporters, licensed Customs agents and other stakeholders, as well as patriotic Nigerians who have provided actionable intelligence in achieving this feat.
He stressed that every compliant transaction contributes to national development and urged stakeholders to continue supporting legitimate trade since a stronger revenue base gives the government greater capacity to respond to the needs of the people and create an environment where businesses can thrive.
Comptroller Oshoba charged officers and men of the Command to see the record as a clarion call to do more.
He emphasised that revenue collection must be achieved alongside trade facilitation, professionalism, transparency and respect for stakeholders, directing personnel to resolve legitimate disputes promptly and ensure that Customs procedures do not unnecessarily hinder lawful businesses.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
As the political space is heating up and preparations underway for the 2027 general elections, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has restated her firm determination to tighten the noose against the illegal entry of arms and ammunition which could promote violence in Nigeria.
DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (rtd).
Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Adewale Adeniyi made the vow in Lagos, Monday, while handing over seized weapons to the Office of the National Security Adviser through the Director-General, National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, (NCCSALW), Deputy Inspector-General of Police Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (rtd).
Identifying Robert Eze and Ejiogu Godson as the alleged importers of a consignment containing 399 fully assembled JoJeF pump-action rifles and other firearm components intercepted at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, the Custom boss said surveillance and enforcement operations are being intensified to prevent criminal networks from exploiting Nigeria’s land borders, seaports and airports to import dangerous arms to further their evil intentions.
The two persons arrested.
Additional rifle parts intercepted by the Customs include 89 frames, 16 heat shields, 10 trigger pins, three pistons, 25 locking lugs, 80 charging handles and 39 pistol-grip screws. Others are 34 springs, 57 trigger groups, 66 foregrip latches, 45 foregrips/handguards, four pistol grips and five barrels.
“We are about entering a major election cycle, and we know that by this period, men of the underworld will want to use our borders, our ports, our airports to bring in items like this,” CGC Adeniyi warned.
”We are going to redouble our efforts to ensure that we do not allow them to do so,” he added.
He explained that since Customs cannot physically open every container entering the country, applying technology-driven risk profiling in operations has become a tool to identify suspicious consignments. Risk management system enables the Service to determine which containers require physical examination. This particular interception, he explained, demonstrates the effectiveness of the system.
Having completed the inventory and assessment of the illicit shipment, the CGC handed over the seized armaments to the Director General of the NCCSALW. This underscores a unified inter-agency commitment to taking dangerous weapons entirely off the streets and ensuring that cabals behind the trafficking network are tracked down and brought to justice.
The CGC described the development as more than a seizure, noting that the interception, investigation, arrest of suspects, prosecution and handover of the firearms represented a complete enforcement chain.
He added that Robert Eze and Godson Ejiogu, the two suspects arrested during the preliminary investigation, had been remanded by the Federal High Court in Lagos, awaiting arraignment for August 25.
The Service, he pledged, would continue to strengthen intelligence – gathering, risk management and collaboration with sister security agencies to identify and disrupt attempts to smuggle firearms into Nigeria.
Accepting the arms and ammunition for further action, the NCCSALW Director-General, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (rtd) described the handing-over as a decisive step in strengthening the collective security of the people.
”This is more than a ceremonial handing/taking over of seized intercepted illicit weapons. It is a statement of intent, a commitment to protect lives, uphold justice and preserve the stability of our communities.”
The proliferation of illegal small arms and light weapons, he explained, remains a primary catalyst for terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and insurgency and other violent crimes.
”Armed violence fuelled by uncontrolled weapons through illegal importation or smuggling exerts a devastating toll on civilian lives, disrupts communities and undermines the foundation of governance and development. Nigeria cannot be indifferent to this reality. Our own assessment has shown with discomforting clarity that a significant proportion of illegal arms in circulation may have at some point passed through official channels.”
DIG Kokumo reiterated that illicit weapons taken out of the hands of nonstate actors is a direct blow to criminal networks and a vital step towards safeguarding innocent citizens.
”So far, over 21000 arms and light weapons have been retrieved while over 19000 have been destroyed since the establishment of NCCSALW.”
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Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoSeme Customs Arrests 2, Intercepts Explosives, Expired Noodles As Command’s Revenue Hits N19.8bn.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoTopfield College Clinches Overall Position as Customs’ WASA Sports Event ends in Lagos.
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Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoCGC Restates Position on Illicit Arms, Unveils Intercepted Weapons and Drugs Worth N373m
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Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoNAGAFF Tasks Bonded Terminals To Suspend All Illegal Fees Collections, Refund N178m.
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