Maritime Agencies
Customs Unveils Automation of Licenses and Permits, Seeks Full Cooperation from Stakeholders.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Automation of licenses and permits in operations has been described as necessary because it will facilitate the ease of doing business in the maritime sector while encouraging an eventual increase in Customs revenue and the national economy.
Comptroller Ngozi Anosike, Controller, License and Permits stated this in Lagos, Monday, while delivering a welcome address at a stakeholders’ engagement on Automation of License and Permits at the Customs Training College, Ikeja.
According to her, automation and permits will enable importers, clearing and forwarding agents initiate and complete the processes of acquisition and renewal of licenses from anywhere including their offices and homes without physically visiting the Customs Headquarters in Abuja. Officers and men of the License and Permit Unit, the bond seat unit of various Commands, she explained, would be saved some stress too as they would simply click on their systems to get results instead of carrying loads of files from one table to another and from one office to the other.
”Automation will cut the cost of doing business and minimize movement risks for our stakeholders.”
”Automation will minimize, if not eradicate fraudulent practices in the system, as every single document that is uploaded in the course of this process will be automatically rejected by default, if it is fake and accepted if it is genuine. L&P can now view assessments through the B’Odogwu to be sure that any company applying for fresh or renewal of licences or permits is not having unpaid assessments hanging on it. The CGC is poised to sanitize the system and we at L&P Unit are very passionate about this to ensure that the objective is achieved.”
Automation, she added, saves time as stakeholders will have the luxury of using the time they would have expended running from Commands or the Customs Headquarters in Abuja, to achieve other equally useful objectives in their business value chain.
The application of automation will enable an increase in the Custom’s statutory revenue generation as every single license and permit processed results to an increase in fees paid into the coffers of government. Importation is made with the permits, clearing processes are stamped with the licences given and obviously, revenue is generated. So, the more licences and permits are issued or renewed, the more revenue Customs generates to the advantage of the Nigerian economy.
”Automation elicits more efficiency and productivity from the officers as they leverage on the seamlessness of the process to work on more documents in minutes with greater output. The advantages of automation are just endless”.
She appealed to Customs officers especially those in the Licences and Permits Unit to embrace automation in order to achieve the desired objectives. The success of this programme, she explained, adds to the many success stories of the CGC and his management team.
”Their success is our collective success, as officers and men of the Service. I also appeal to our esteemed stakeholders to embrace this automation with both hands because the Service has their interest at heart for this innovative process.”
In the same vein, Anozie appealed to the press to assist in disseminating the information so that the general public and stakeholders would be aware of this stress-free, efficient, money and time saving process.
In his keynote address, the Zone A Coordinator, Assistant Comptroller-General, B. Babandede, said
the event marks the beginning of a new chapter in how the Nigeria Customs Service delivers its licences and permits services to stakeholders.
He said the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR DSM FNIPR FNIIA psc(+) PhD, has approved the full automation of the Licences and Permits processes of the Service as a direct response to the long-standing need to make processes faster, more transparent, and easier for the people.. For many years, he recalled, stakeholders have had to deal with paperwork, long queues, and the uncertainty that comes with manual processing.
”This sensitization exercise is being held across all Zones from today. The goal is simple: to make sure that every Stakeholder understands the new automated system before it is implemented.”
He explained that automation means that stakeholders will no longer go to a Customs office simply to apply for or renew a licence or permit.
” You will be able to do this from your office or even from your phone.
It means your applications will be processed faster. It means you will be able to track the status of your application in real time. And it means that the process will be the same for everyone — fair, consistent, and without the risk of error that comes with manual records.”
For the Customs, automation means better record- keeping, easier supervision, and the ability to serve more stakeholders at once without increasing the burden on officers.
Stakeholders in attendance were requested to take the information back to their colleagues and respective associations.
”The more people understand the new process, the smoother the transition will be.
”Zone ‘A’ is the most active and economically significant Zone in Nigeria. Lagos is the commercial heartbeat of this country which means the volume of trade that passes through this Zone is enormous. That is precisely why it matters so much that we get it right here,” ACG Babandede emphasized.
He cautioned that since a programme of this nature cannot succeed on its own, it is important that everybody collaborate to make it work.
”Your feedback, questions, and honest engagement will help us make it even better. We are not here to lecture; we are here to listen and to work together.”
Clearly stating the objective of the Nigeria Customs Service in this regard, the Zone A Coordinator said “we are not just automating a process; we are transforming the way we serve Nigeria’s trade community. This is a step forward in that direction.”
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Captain Warredi Enisuoh, Executive Director, Operations and Technical at the Tantita Security Services Ltd, will deliver the keynote speech at the 10th Annual Maritime Students and Youth Conference (AMSAY) billed for June 10, 2026. Venue is the Conference Hall of the Mission To Seafarers, 29 Marine Road, Apapa GRA, Lagos.
As stated in a release, Enisuoh will speak on the lead paper entitled, “The Youth and the Future of Nigerian Maritime Sector: Understanding How Nations Develop Their Maritime Industry.”
Organised by Platforms Communications annually, the arrowhead, Sylvanus Obasi, says the AMSAY Conference has over the past decade evolved into a critical platform for youth advocacy, mentorship and stakeholders’-students engagement to discuss and proffer solutions to contemporary issues affecting the future of Nigeria’s maritime sector, having consistently driven conversations around industry reforms, capacity growth, innovation and sustainable development.
With over two decades of global experience spanning maritime operations, aviation, and national security, Captain Enisuoh is widely regarded as a leading authority in maritime safety, shipping development, and infrastructure protection in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
He holds a Master Mariner Class 1 Unlimited Foreign Going License, an Aircraft Pilot’s License, and a Diploma in Aviation. His academic journey includes training at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron; Arab Maritime Transport Academy, Egypt; Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania; Tasmanian Aviation College; and the Swiss Air Training Centre in Zurich.
Over the years, he has held strategic roles across continents, including eight years with Pacific International Lines in Singapore and six years with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). He also served as a lecturer, instructor, course developer, and examiner at the Australian Maritime College.
In Nigeria, he contributed significantly to sectoral development during his tenure at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), where he served as Director of Maritime Safety and Director of Shipping Development.
Capt Warredi”s Keynote Speech will also feature a high-level panel discussion moderated by Captain Dr. Fola Ojutalayo, Marine Surveyor and Senior Lecturer at the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology.
Panelists are drawn from diverse segments of the maritime industry, including regulators, shipowners, local content experts, technical professionals, legal practitioners, operators, and the academia as representatives from NIMASA, Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited, and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, are expected to discuss the lead paper .
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Ports Authority Police (Western) Command has called for deeper collaboration with maritime journalists as part of efforts to strengthen security within Nigeria’s port environment and support the growth of the nation’s maritime economy.
Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police (Western) Command, CP Oluwatoyin Iyabode Agbaminoja, made the call on Tuesday while receiving the newly elected executives of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) during a courtesy visit to the Command Headquarters in Apapa, Lagos.
The visit, led by MARAN President, Mr. Oluyinka Onigbinde, provided an opportunity for both parties to reaffirm their commitment to promoting safety, security, and operational efficiency across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Speaking during the engagement, Onigbinde commended the Command for its efforts in safeguarding the nation’s ports and other critical maritime assets, noting that security remains a key pillar for sustainable trade and economic development.
He pledged MARAN’s continued support through responsible journalism, accurate reporting, and constructive engagement with stakeholders in the maritime sector.
According to him, the media has a crucial role to play in creating public awareness, promoting transparency, and highlighting issues that impact the efficiency and competitiveness of Nigerian ports.
In her remarks, CP Agbaminoja congratulated the newly elected MARAN leadership and acknowledged the association’s longstanding contribution to the dissemination of credible information on developments within the maritime industry.
She emphasized that stronger cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the media would enhance public trust, improve security consciousness, and contribute to national economic growth.
The Commissioner noted that effective communication and timely information sharing are essential in addressing security challenges within the port ecosystem, stressing that the media remains a strategic partner in achieving those objectives.
She further assured the association of the Command’s readiness to maintain open channels of communication and foster productive partnerships aimed at advancing port security, maritime safety, and trade facilitation.
Nigeria’s ports serve as critical gateways for international trade and revenue generation, making security within the maritime sector a matter of national economic importance. Stakeholders have consistently advocated greater collaboration among security agencies, regulators, operators, and the media to strengthen surveillance, curb criminal activities, and improve operational efficiency.
The meeting concluded with both the Ports Authority Police Command and MARAN reaffirming their commitment to sustained engagement and cooperation in support of a safer and more efficient maritime industry.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Nigeria’s pioneer maritime journalists’ body, the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) will inaugurate her brand new Executive Council on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.
The high-profile event which is planned to bring together key stakeholders from the maritime, shipping, logistics, security, and media sectors will also feature discussions on strengthening ethical standards in maritime journalism.
The theme of the inauguration is “Upholding Ethical Journalism for Maritime Development.”
The Chairman of the occasion is Emmanuel Maiguwa Gankino, President, Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN), while the keynote address will be delivered by Mr. Bolaji Abimbola, a leading public relations and event management expert.
Special Guests of Honour expected at the event include the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola; the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima; and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR. Also expected are chief executives of maritime agencies, captains of industry, leaders of maritime associations, terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, and other critical stakeholders across the maritime value chain.
Speaking ahead of the inauguration, MARAN President, Comrade. Oluyinka Onigbinde, described the event as a defining moment in the association’s journey towards deepening professionalism, credibility, and responsible maritime reportage.
The new executive council, he stated, will focus on repositioning MARAN as a stronger voice within the maritime sector through capacity building, constructive engagement, and adherence to ethical journalism standards.
He noted that the theme of the event underscores the indispensable role of the media in promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainable development within Nigeria’s maritime industry.
“The maritime industry is central to Nigeria’s economic growth, and ethical journalism remains a vital instrument for ensuring that developments within the sector are accurately reported and constructively engaged,” he added.
Onigbinde further called on government agencies, industry operators, and media practitioners to continue supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening maritime journalism and advancing the nation’s blue economy aspirations.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoTantita Donates 15 Gun Boats to Nigerian Army, Navy.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoTincan Customs, NDLEA Promise Hard Times for Drug Peddlers, Seize N16,694bn worth of Cannabis Indica .
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoANLCA Harps on Responsible Reportage, Pledges Support for New MARAN Exco,
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoREPORTER’S DIARY: How Lagos State Task Force Made Me ‘Igbobi Landlord’ For Filming Operatives Extorting Suspected ‘Okada’ Operators In Apapa*
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