Shipping Position
AFRICAN SHIPPERS’ DAY: Abuja MoU Pledges No Room For Substandard Vessels Under AfCFTA.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Shippers and vessel owners participating in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) should insist that before any vessel lifts their cargo, the physical state must conform to strict international operational standards among other requirements.
Captain Sunday Umoren, Secretary-General, Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Ports State Control for West and Central Africa stated this in Lagos at the 9th African Shippers’ Day organized by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in collaboration with the Union of African Shippers’ Council.
About 11billion tons of goods, he said, are transported by ships each year which represents an impressive 1.5 tons per person based on the current global population, thus, underlining the ability of shipping to offer economic and efficient long-distance transportation which is at the centre of world economy.
The capacity of shipping to haul goods and raw materials from point of production to processing and consumption, he disclosed, underpins modern life. The total value of the annual world shipping trade as at 2019 was more than $14 trillion.
Capt Umoren said there are identifiable products in trade and industry whose shipment run into billions of tons and are transported from one country to the other, sometimes, within the same country. Such goods and raw materials allow countries to create industries, construct cities and transform resources into refined products for consumption and export.
“This ability to add value drives prosperity and enables countries to scale up.”
Shipping helps to ensure that the benefits of trade and commerce are evenly spread as no country is entirely self-sufficient due to spatial disparity but rely on maritime trade to sell what it has and buy what it needs.
On African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), he said that the creation provides a unique opportunity to boost growth, cut poverty and improve trading within Africa.
“A World Bank 2020 report estimates that AfCFTA has the potential to raise income in the continent to 70% by 2035 and lift N40 million people out of extreme poverty mainly by spurring intra-regional trade.
“We have severally heard and most of us are proponents of the positivity of AfCFTA and it’s high points which tends to make it easier for African businesses to become integrated into regional and global supply chains.”
Abuja MoU, therefore, implores African industrial policy makers to be bold in developing and implementing the extensive range of reforms and trade facilitation measures needed to realize the substantial rewards and dividends the regime offers in view of the propensity to increase employment opportunities and wages for unskilled workers.
“We should also be working to improve the many existing shortcomings including the many supply-side constraints to Africa’s industrialization and poor infrastructure and limited capacity for technological development and innovation.”
Specific focus areas, according to Capt Umoren, include regional specialization and African value chain enhancement, promotion, a clean energy transition and the development of African technologies.
He cautioned that despite the great benefits AfCFTA brings, it may suffer setbacks without the active engagement of the private sector and willingness of development partners to support successful implementation.
It is necessary to acknowledge the big role vessels and their owners play in delivering AfCFTA.
“This is where Abuja MoU comes in as part of due diligence before engaging a carrier. We are ready to partner with you to ensure the safe carriage and delivery of goods with minimal issues relating to safe and responsible maritime transportation. While acknowledging the fact that a greater proportion of our exports and imports are carried onboard foreign-owned vessels, the MoU, with its clear mandate by the 1MO and its 22-member states will continue to ensure that the objective of ridding this region of substandard ships is religiously maintained.”
Abuja MoU, says a substandard ship is defective in design and construction; the owners do not maintain or repair. There is prolonged work life beyond its scrapping age, manned by untrained personnel who lack full compliments of crew as per the ship’s Safe Manning Certificate. There is questionable safety standards including unacceptable operational safety and environmental protection ability which is substantially below the standard prescribed by relevant conventions.
“An efficient port state regime will eliminate the risks associated with substandard shipping. These include threats to human life, risks to the marine environment, threat and exposure of marine assets and related interfaces, risks to cargo, financial risks, knock-on effects (disruption of supplies) and undermining IMO’s initiative of ‘Safer Seas and Cleaner Oceans’.
Nothing stops the African region from having a strong ship-owning capacity, thus eliminating the burden and impact of high freight rate from foreign ships, Umoren stated.
“A transformed and growing Africa with a safer, more robust, attractive and predictable market is certainly in the interest of all parties within and outside the continent.”
Maritime Agencies
NAGAFF Pledges Watertight Enforcement, Unveils A More Formidable 100% Compliance Team.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The 100% Compliance Team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) which appeared inactive for over six months is now reformed and better focused to perform her duties strictly in line with her mandate.
The Team Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, disclosed this in Lagos, Friday, during the official unveiling of a new office complex at Eleganza Plaza, Apapa.
“Today, we commission the new secretariat of the 100% Compliance Team and we are ready to take this Team to a higher pedestal”.
He said that for over six months, the interventionist outfit went into some kind of hibernation to take a comprehensive review of internal issues especially concerning her operations and the overall conduct of her operatives with a view to performing better.
”From today”, he pledged, “you will start seeing the effects of a new Compliance
Team”.
On stakeholder concerns that some operatives of the Team do not live above board in their conduct even as it is said that he who goes for equity must come with clean hands, Tanko said among every twelve, there must be a Judas.
On the question of discipline, every society is made up of the good, the bad and the ugly, he posited
”We are doing everything possible to sanitise the system and to continue to maintain discipline”.
Tanko who promised that the Team is now ready to build into the training programme of the NAGAFF Academy said as part of the rebirth now unveiled, Customs Area Commands are now to support regular refresher courses for freight forwarders especially in the aspect of classification. He assured that going forward, the Team’s programmes and activities are to benefit from full digitalization.
He announced that the Team is set to acquire a new office in Port Harcourt which it plans to open come February. “We are working hand- in-hand with the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Anti-Corruption Practices Commission (ICPC) to make Nigeria stronger. We shall also expand this new place to accommodate the TDI that will also hopefully open in February.”
Dr Boniface Aniebomam, NAGAFF Founder
Earlier in his post-inauguration remarks, NAGAFF Founder, Dr Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam extolled the willingness of NAGAFF leaders to add value, describing it as the driving force behind the association. Those running the Compliance Team, he cautioned, must understand the limit of their position. “The saying ‘See something, say something’ is very observatory.”
” Do note that the Port is a Customs Port. If Customs has not released your cargo, do not make trouble until it is done; if it is released on the ground of expediency, also remember that other sister agencies are also there to intervene. The NAGAFF approach is centred on dialogue, communication, diplomacy and discussion.
Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, NAGAFF National President
NAGAFF President, Chief Tochukwu Ezisi recalled that when the NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team was inaugurated four years ago, the industry was at crossroads. There were compliance gaps, procedural inconsistencies even as operational shortcuts worked against efficiency and operational trust.
”Many wondered whether a single team could truly shift the culture of an entire industry.”
He said with the birth of the Compliance Team, the level of regulatory compliance among freight forwarders nationwide went up while infractions, delays, penalties and operational setbacks took the back seat.
He explained that strengthened collaboration with key government agencies, especially the
Nigeria Customs Service, promoted ethical conduct and professionalism and has contributed significantly to improved revenue assurance for the Federal
Government.
The Compliance Team has equally enhanced the reputation of NAGAFF as a responsible, forward-thinking, and compliance-driven organization.
Chief Ezisi set ambitious targets for the repositioned NAGAFF 100% Compliance Team to include full Digital Compliance Integration as the goal is to become the most digitally-compliant freight forwarding body in Nigeria.
The group is also out to reduce compliance infractions by 60% within two years through training, monitoring and proactive engagement even as institutional collaboration is enhanced.
”We must deepen our partnership with Customs, NPA, SON, NAFDAC, and other regulators to promote transparency, fairness, and predictability in port operations.
NAGAFF will also establish a National Compliance Intelligence Network to help detect detect risks early, identify patterns of malpractice, and protect members from avoidable pitfalls.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
In a renewed effort to add more bite and ensure strict compliance to laws and regulations guiding Nigeria’s freight forwarding industry, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) will, come January 30, relaunch and recommission her Compliance Team at its new office location at Eleganza Plaza, Apapa.
Mr Bartholomew Okeke, Chief of Staff to the NAGAFF Compliance Team, disclosed this in Apapa, Tuesday.
Mr. Okeke explained that the Compliance Team, inaugurated in February 2021, serves as NAGAFF’s enforcement and intervention arm.
The interventionist body executes legitimate directives of the National President to ensure that freight forwarders and relevant government agencies comply with extant rules and regulations.
“Where there is infringement from either practitioners or government agencies, we intervene. That is why it is called the Compliance Team. We are not confrontational by default; we are interventionist,” he said.
Following the takeover of the former office by the plaza management for other uses, he explained, it became necessary to relocate to another block within the same complex. So, the exercise goes beyond reopening an office.
“We are not just recommissioning an office; we are relaunching ourselves more forcefully. We want people to know that we are not just back—we are forward-looking and fully committed to ensuring that all extant laws guiding the freight forwarding industry are strictly observed,” Okeke stated.
On challenges faced by the Compliance Team in the past, Okeke identified non-compliance by both operators and some government agency personnel, often driven by personal interests.
“There are people among government agencies who are out for their own pockets. When we confront such issues head-on with facts and institutional backing, they comply. We are connected to relevant authorities and we escalate issues of non-compliance appropriately,” he said. He assured that going forward, the Compliance Team plans to adopt a more engagement-driven approach rather than confrontation.
“The next phase is deeper engagement with agencies and stakeholders. It’s not all about fighting; it’s about facilitating trade. We want practical engagement, dialogue, and a think-tank approach to address challenges head-on,” he explained.
On the level of compliance in the industry, Okeke said automation and reduced human interference have improved adherence to procedures, placing compliance at about 60 percent.
“It’s not satisfactory yet, but we are moving forward. Our target is at least 90 percent compliance. There is no foolproof system, but our job is to educate, re-educate, and ensure reasonable compliance,” he added.
Being the umbrella body of freight forwarders in Nigeria, NAGAFF boasts of the largest membership in the sector, he reaffirmed.
“When NAGAFF speaks, the industry listens. We represent the industry optimally,” he said, adding that continuous training remains central to the association’s philosophy of operating strictly on the side of the law.
Okeke recalled NAGAFF’s opposition to arbitrary increases in terminal and shipping line charges, including protests and engagements with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council that led to stakeholder meetings and moderated outcomes.
“We do not shy away from defending our members and the economy. Whenever there are arbitrary charges, we are at the front line,” he explained.
NAGAFF has over 1,000 members across various chapters nationwide, with the Compliance Team present in all major ports.
Following the recommissioning, the Compliance Team plans to embark on advocacy visits to the Eastern Ports and Port Harcourt to reinforce its message of compliance and alliance-building.
“There must always be room for discipline. We are the mirror of NAGAFF, and we must uphold its image,” Okeke said.
Friday’s recommissioning ceremony will be graced by top dignitaries including the NAGAFF National President, Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, the Founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, the Board of Trustees Chairman, Customs representatives, and other key stakeholders.
Maritime Agencies
WAR AGAINST KILLER DRUGS: Apapa Customs, NDLEA Collaborate To Nab Huge Quantity of ‘Canadian Loud’.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
In her unwavering efforts to ensure that killer – drugs do not find entry into Nigeria, the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has, in liaison with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), intercepted a 347.5 kilograms of ‘Canadian Loud’ concealed in an imported Toyota Sienna car. The highly – valued substance is a potent strain of cannabis, ordinarily known as marijuana.
As stated in a press release by CSC Isah Suleiman, the Apapa Customs Command Public Relations Officer, the contraband hidden in 13 bags within one of four vehicles contained in a single consignment was discovered following a painstaking weighing exercise. A breakdown shows ten bags at 25kg each, one at 29kg, and two at 34.5kg and 34kg respectively, totaling 347.5kg.
This interception marks the fourth major joint drug bust by the Nigeria Customs, Apapa Command and the NDLEA in less than two months.
In his remarks, the Apapa Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba re-enacted his warning to criminal elements and their networks to keep off the Command as the Command is always ahead of them to exploit whatever antics they deploy to undermine national security via the ports.
“Any attempt by criminal elements to traffic prohibited items through Apapa Port will be detected and thwarted. We remain vigilant and resolute in the discharge of our duty to protect our society and national security.”
He emphasized that under his watch, no cargo, whether import or export will pass through Apapa Port without thorough examination.
The operation also reflects the exemplary cooperation between Customs and NDLEA, championed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, PhD. Intelligence sharing and joint tactical efforts have consistently outmaneuvered smuggling networks in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Oshoba credited this strengthened partnership for the success, noting that the upcoming deployment of a high-capacity drive-through scanner capable of processing 200 containers per hour will further revolutionize anti-smuggling operations.
Both agencies continue to operate under strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that foster zero tolerance, professionalism, and seamless cooperation. In line with established protocols, the seized cannabis has been formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution of suspects linked to the consignment.
This latest success builds on the recognition accorded to Comptroller Oshoba and NDLEA Apapa Special Area Commander Mohammed Tukur, who were both awarded the WCO Certificate of Merit on January 26, 2026, in Abuja during the International Customs Day celebrations.
Oshoba further explained that the interception aligns with the 2026 ICD theme: “Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment.”
While Customs remains committed to facilitating legitimate trade, the CAC reaffirmed, it will intensify efforts to disrupt illicit activities and safeguard society.
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Maritime Agencies6 days agoWAR AGAINST KILLER DRUGS: Apapa Customs, NDLEA Collaborate To Nab Huge Quantity of ‘Canadian Loud’.
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