Maritime Agencies
Information Minister Highlights President Tinubu’s Achievements, says 2025 Is A Year of Consolidation.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
For President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, 2025 is a pivotal year to consolidate and build upon the significant achievements recorded in the first 19 months of governance.
Information and National Orientation Minister, Muhammed Idris, made the declaration in Abuja during a ministerial briefing to highlight the President’s achievements so far.
According to a release by Henshaw Ogubike, Director, Public Communication and National Orientation, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the Minister emphasized the importance of reflecting on the accomplishments as the administration approaches its mid-term.
“This inaugural briefing for 2025 serves as a reminder of our progress and the context in which these gains are being realized,” the Minister stated.
Key areas of achievement under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, Minister Idris outlined include fiscal, macroeconomic, and legislative reforms. Others are fuel subsidy removal which he termed a strategic move which has plugged financial leakages amounting to hundreds of billions of Naira annually.
Others achievements are in the area of foreign exchange transparency and stability which has led to the introduction of the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS). This has resulted to unprecedented stability in the FX market, clearing billions of dollars in backlogs and boosting foreign investment. The Naira recently reached an eight-month high in the official market, the Minister recalled.
In oil and gas reforms, the Minister said that in 2024, Nigeria became the most attractive destination for oil and gas investments in Africa, securing over $5 billion in Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) even as the Electricity Act of 2024 provides a framework for state governments to establish regulated electricity markets, following a constitutional amendment.
On Local Government Autonomy, a landmark Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 empowered local governments with unprecedented financial autonomy, with an Inter-Ministerial Committee established to ensure compliance.
Speaking on Targeted Interventions, especially concerning Students’ Loan Fund, Minister Idris said over 169,000 students have benefited from NELFUND, receiving N32.8 billion for school fees and upkeep while new Development Commissions have been established for the North-Central, South-East, and North-West regions alongside the creation of a Federal University of Environmental Technology.
The Federal Executive Council, he disclosed, recently approved $1.07 billion from the World Bank for health programs including targeted subsidies for cancer patients.
While a backlog of over 200,000 international passports were cleared within three weeks in 2024,
an investment of over $450 million has been made to develop Nigeria’s CNG value chain.
He announced that in the area of infrastructure development, under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria has become a hub of construction activity. Recent approvals from the Federal Executive Council include over 2.5 trillion Naira for various road projects. These include N1.334 trillion for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, N470.9 billion for access roads to the Second Niger Bridge and N195 billion for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway reconstruction.
On Defence and Security, he announced that in 2024, security forces neutralized over 8,000 terrorists and bandits, rescued 8,000 kidnap victims, and established a Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell in collaboration with the UK’s National Crime Agency.
A Ministry of Livestock Development was established in 2024 to tap into a multi-billion-dollar agricultural opportunity, contributing to significant drops in grain prices.
On December 18, 2024, President Tinubu presented a proposed budget of N49.7 trillion, later increased to N54.2 trillion due to additional revenue projections. The budget, termed the “Budget of Restoration,” prioritizes Security (N4.91 trillion), Infrastructure (N4.06 trillion), Education (N3.52 trillion) and Health (N2.48 trillion).
Minister Idris reaffirmed that President Tinubu’s bold initiatives are fostering greater fiscal capacity, a reformed tax regime, and improved living standards for Nigerians through various support programmes.
“We are witnessing a transformative era where hope is being renewed for all Nigerians regardless of age or gender, across the nation,” he concluded.
Maritime Agencies
PIPELINES SURVEILLANCE: National Assembly Commends Tantita for Performance, Dismisses Petitions over Contract Award.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
For performing to expectations in the task of protecting Nigeria’s oil assets and boosting crude oil production, Tantita Security Services Limited, Tuesday, earned a vote of confidence from the National Assembly (NASS) even as three petitions challenging the pipeline surveillance contract awarded the company were dismissed.
The endorsement comes as Nigeria’s oil output rises to about 1.8 million barrels per day (mbpd) as of April, up from around 900,000 barrels per day recorded in 2022 when the surveillance contract was introduced.
The NASS resolution followed a motion moved by the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream), Henry Okojie, during a one-day parliamentary roundtable on pipeline security and efforts to curb crude oil theft.
The joint committees on Petroleum Resources said the surveillance arrangement has significantly reduced pipeline vandalism, curtailed crude oil theft, and increased national revenue. They noted that the initiative has been instrumental in securing critical oil infrastructure, with Tantita and security agencies making measurable progress in safeguarding pipelines and other oil facilities.
Okojie emphasized that the collaboration between private security firms, host communities, and government security agencies has helped dismantle several illegal tapping points, improved production levels, and enhanced the delivery of crude to export terminals.
Speaking at the event, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, stressed the need for sustained efforts to secure Nigeria’s oil sector amid growing global energy uncertainty.
He pointed to geopolitical tensions, including the Middle East crisis and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as factors contributing to volatility in global energy markets. Crude oil, he noted, remains a dominant energy source, particularly in the transportation sector.
Tajudeen explained that the pipeline surveillance contract became necessary due to long-standing challenges in the Niger Delta, where weak enforcement, agitation, and economic hardship fueled pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, and illegal refining.
At one point, he explained, Nigeria was losing between 10 and 30 percent of its crude oil production to theft, costing the country billions of dollars annually and undermining her credibility as a reliable oil producer.
He said the Federal Government’s decision to engage private security firms and host communities was aimed at strengthening the protection of oil facilities, stressing that community participation has proven critical to the success recorded so far.
Tajudeen also highlighted the social impact of the initiative, noting that it has created jobs for thousands of youths in the Niger Delta, many of whom were previously involved in agitation and illegal activities.
Despite the progress, he acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly in the areas of transparency, accountability, and the effectiveness of certain surveillance frameworks.
He reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to reforming the oil sector through legislation, oversight, and funding support. Tajudeen cited the Petroleum Production and Distribution (Anti-Sabotage) Act and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as key legal frameworks that introduced stricter penalties for vandalism and enhanced community participation.
He explained that under the PIA, host communities risk losing benefits if vandalism occurs within their areas, thereby promoting a sense of shared responsibility in protecting oil infrastructure.
Tajudeen added that the 10th National Assembly has intensified oversight on the implementation of the PIA, conducted investigative hearings on oil theft, and approved funding for pipeline security.
He stressed that crude oil theft should be treated not only as an economic crime but also as a national security threat requiring coordinated action.
The Speaker described the roundtable as an opportunity to consolidate gains from the surveillance contract, address existing gaps, and strengthen transparency, accountability, and community engagement in protecting Nigeria’s oil assets.
Stakeholders at the roundtable also commended the collaboration between Tantita Security Services, security agencies, and host communities, noting that the partnership has strengthened surveillance across key oil facilities in the Niger Delta and contributed to improved crude production. They urged the Federal Government to sustain the initiative while enhancing transparency and accountability mechanisms to consolidate the gains recorded in the fight against crude oil theft.
“We must position Nigeria as a reliable energy supplier in the global market,” Tajudeen said. “The world is searching for energy security, and Nigeria must present itself as a credible alternative. We cannot afford internal sabotage. Our message is clear: Nigeria is securing its assets, stabilizing production, and remains open for business.”
Maritime Agencies
NATIONAL SINGLE WINDOW: Anti-Corruption Group Hosts Seminar To Tackle Envisaged Risks.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
To deepen public understanding of the National Single Window (NSW), the Federal Government’s flagship trade facilitation initiative, an anti-corruption group, Media Anti-Corruption Initiatives (MACI), in conjunction with Hynek Media, is set to hold a one-day enlightenment seminar in Lagos on the theme “National Single Window: Strategies to Avert Failure”.
To feature also are sub-themes which include Transparency in Single Window Project – A Key to Sustainability and
Inter-Agency Rival-Free Collaboration for NSW Success.
Billed for April 15, 2026, at Rockview Hotel, Apapa GRA, the seminar brings together policymakers, regulators, private sector leaders and civil society to discuss what experts describe as tamper-proof strategies for the effective implementation of the NSW.
As stated in a release by Funso Olojo and Pastor John Iwori, secretary and media/publicity chief of the NGO respectively, the seminar will be chaired by Aare Hakeem Olanrewaju, Chairman of the Customs Consultative Committee, with Hon. Kingsley Igwe, Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), as Co-Chairman.
Other high-profile participants expected include Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Customs Comptroller -General as guest of honour, Tola Fakolade, Director, National Single Window (Special Guest of Honour) , Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, MD, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Dr. Dayo Mobereola, DG, NIMASA. Others are Dr. Pius Akutah, ES/CEO, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) , Alhaji Umar Yusuf Girei, Acting MD, NIWA and
Mrs. Adesuwa Ladoja, MD, Lagos Free Trade Zone .
The NSW is designed to streamline and centralize importation and exportation processes as well as transit documentation in order to reduce duplication while enhancing transparency.
Projections are that the initiative could cut transaction costs by up to 25% and boost government revenue by as much as 20 %.
Event Highlights will feature insights from Customs controllers, freight forwarders’ associations, indigenous terminal operators, and regulators, alongside perspectives on the Lagos Free Zone Green Channel initiative.
Organizers say the seminar will provide a rare opportunity to align government agencies, private operators, and civil society around a shared vision for a seamless trade ecosystem.
However, experts warn that Nigeria’s history of reform failures underscore the need for robust implementation safeguards.
Maritime Agencies
ICTN: FG Gives Shippers’ Council Nod for a Roll-Out, Agencies Sign Performance Bonds.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
A presidential nod to commence the implementation of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) has been granted the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).
Disclosing this in Lagos, Thursday, Executive Secretary of the NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah confirmed that already work is in progress to consolidate the procurement processes needed.
Dr Akutah was speaking during the Ministerial Management Retreat and the 2026 first quarter stakeholders’ engagement.
“We have already obtained approval from the President to proceed with the procurement process, and that process is ongoing,” Akutah said.
He explained that while the Nigerian Ports Authority is spearheading the deployment of the Port Community System (PCS), the NSC has been mandated to drive the ICTN, a complementary initiative aimed at enhancing cargo tracking and trade transparency.
Akutah acknowledged the troubled history of the ICTN in Nigeria, describing its past implementation attempts as “checkered,” but expressed confidence that the current administration is determined to avoid previous pitfalls.
According to him, the minister is taking deliberate steps to ensure that the project is executed seamlessly and does not suffer the repeated suspensions that hampered earlier efforts.
“The Minister is taking all the necessary steps to ensure that the implementation under his leadership will not be suspended,” he added.
He further revealed that the Council is intensifying efforts to resolve outstanding operational and stakeholder concerns ahead of the full rollout, expected before the end of 2026.
When fully operational, he assured, the ICTN is expected to significantly improve cargo visibility while strengthening regulations.
Speaking at the event which featured the signing of the traditional performance bonds between the Minister and agencies under him, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola warned heads of agencies that performance would no longer be evaluated by intentions but by verifiable results.
Dr Oyetola emphasised that all Departments and Agencies under the Ministry must remain firmly focused on delivering tangible results. These agencies include the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron. Others are the National Inland Waterways Authority and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.
Performance bonds signed at the retreat, the Minister explained, were binding commitments that would be rigorously monitored.
“These are not ceremonial documents. They are binding commitments. Accountability will not be optional,” he declared.
PIPELINES SURVEILLANCE: National Assembly Commends Tantita for Performance, Dismisses Petitions over Contract Award.
NATIONAL SINGLE WINDOW: Anti-Corruption Group Hosts Seminar To Tackle Envisaged Risks.
ICTN: FG Gives Shippers’ Council Nod for a Roll-Out, Agencies Sign Performance Bonds.
NPA Deepens Digitalization,Targets Port Community System As ETO undergoes Review.
Nigeria Canvasses Regional Co-operation, Investment Drive at Liberia Fisheries Summit.
PORTS MODERNIZATION, NATIONAL SINGLE WINDOW TO TACKLE PORTS CHALLENGES, Says NPA MD.
Oyetola Welcomes EU Delegation, Urges Stronger Role Against Illegal Fishing, Maritime Crimes in the GoG.
Maritime Journalists’ Group, MARAN, Set To Honour Her Past Leaders.
Tincan Customs Posts Over N120.4bn in February, 2026, A Huge Leap Above the February 2025 Records.
TRADE FACILITATION: FG Unveils National Single Window To Encourage Coordinated and Technology-Driven Trade System.
NIMASA Collaborates With KAIPTC To Empower West African Women For Digital Participation In Maritime Sector.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, 2026: NIMASA Commits To Women Inclusion in Maritime Sector.
Apapa Customs Hits Smugglers Hard After CGC’s Visit, Intercepts ₦3.398 Billion Codeine Syrup In 5 Days.
MAN, Oron, Pushes Actualization of Her Mandate Beyond Nigeria, Seeks Strategic Partnership with Liberia Maritime Training Institute
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOUBLE CAPTAIN!
NPA’s 2025 Operational Performance Report Validates FG’s Economic Diversification Initiatives.
2023 ELECTIONS：CILT Hosts Seminar on Logistics & Electoral Process
1. EXECUTIVE PLATFORM. AMES 2024: TIME TO CHANGE GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE TOWARDS SHIPPING DEVELOPMENT IS NOW, AMES President Charges FG.
APFFLON Seeks Immediate Reform of CRFFN, Replacement of Registrar.
OMIS AWARDS, 2022: Greg Ogbeifun, Industry Gurus For Special Recognition.
B’ODOGWU TRADE PORTAL: Customs Consolidates, Pilots Form ‘M’ Processing.
FG Set To Re-establish National Shipping Line, To Take Advantage of $10 bn Annual Ship Charter Market.
PHOTO NEWS: Maritime Capacity Development
Photo News: Salah Celebration
Sylvanus Ekpo, ex-Editor, Shipping World Magazine, loses Mum
HALF YEAR, 2024: Apapa Customs Nets ₦1.024 Trillion, Records 143% Increase.
WAR AGAINST OIL THEFT: Tompolo’s Company Nabs VLCC Laden With Crude Oil
JANUARY-MAY REPORT: Seme Customs Hits N2.6bn, Facilitates ₦35.1bn Exports.
Mama Theresa Enisuoh Due For Burial April 27
INLAND WATERWAYS OFFERS NIGERIA ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCE, Says Sambo
MAN, ORON: It’s Encomiums Galore From International Seabed Authority (ISA).
SIFAX GROUP: Ojeniyi Becomes Sky Capital GMD, Omajuwa Strategy Director.
-
Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoApapa Customs Hits Smugglers Hard After CGC’s Visit, Intercepts ₦3.398 Billion Codeine Syrup In 5 Days.
-
Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoINTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, 2026: NIMASA Commits To Women Inclusion in Maritime Sector.
-
Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoTincan Customs Posts Over N120.4bn in February, 2026, A Huge Leap Above the February 2025 Records.
-
Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoOyetola Welcomes EU Delegation, Urges Stronger Role Against Illegal Fishing, Maritime Crimes in the GoG.
-
Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoTRADE FACILITATION: FG Unveils National Single Window To Encourage Coordinated and Technology-Driven Trade System.
-
Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoNIMASA Collaborates With KAIPTC To Empower West African Women For Digital Participation In Maritime Sector.
-
Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoMaritime Journalists’ Group, MARAN, Set To Honour Her Past Leaders.
-
Maritime Agencies1 week agoPORTS MODERNIZATION, NATIONAL SINGLE WINDOW TO TACKLE PORTS CHALLENGES, Says NPA MD.