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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎Come Tuesday, June 23, the newly elected Executive Council of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) will be inaugurated at the Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos with the theme
‎’Upholding Ethical Journalism for Maritime Development.’
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‎The  event scheduled for 10 am is expected to, among others, attract top players in the maritime, shipping, logistics, security and media sectors. Heads of key regulatory agencies and leaders of various maritime associations have also indicated interest to grace the occasion.
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‎Chairman of the occasion is the President of the Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN), Emmanuel Maiguwa Gankino, while renowned public relations and event management expert, Bolaji Abimbola, will deliver the keynote address.
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‎Among dignitaries expected are 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 and the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barrister Pius Akutah Ukeyima.
‎The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, alongside chief executives of maritime agencies, captains of industry, terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders and other stakeholders across the maritime value chain will also attend.
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‎Speaking ahead of the inauguration, MARAN President, Comrade Oluyinka Onigbinde, described the event as a defining moment in the association’s quest to deepen professionalism, credibility and responsible maritime reporting.
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‎He said the new executive would focus on strengthening the association through capacity building, constructive engagement and adherence to ethical standards, stressing that responsible journalism remains critical to transparency, accountability and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s maritime industry and the nation’s blue economy aspirations.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎In recognition of his outstanding contributions to maritime journalism,  consistency in reporting and commitment to promoting informed discourse on Nigeria’s maritime and transport sectors, Oluyinka Onigbinde, President, Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has been honoured as Maritime Reporter of the Year, 2026.
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‎The investiture took place during the 12th Nigerian Transport Lecture and Awards event organized by Transport Day Media.
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‎The annual Nigerian Transport Lecture, is one of the country’s foremost gatherings of policymakers, regulators, transport operators, academics and journalists, where critical issues affecting the transport industry are examined and excellence within the sector is celebrated.
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‎This year’s lecture on the theme “Intermodal Transportation Safety in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges and Contributions to National Growth,” featured a keynote address by former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, who called for stronger measures to improve safety across Nigeria’s transportation system.
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‎Onigbinde’s emergence as Maritime Reporter of the Year was widely applauded by industry stakeholders, who described the award as a fitting recognition of his years of dedication to objective, investigative and impactful maritime journalism.
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‎Over the years, Onigbinde has built a reputation for in-depth reports, policy analyses, exclusive interviews and balanced coverage of Nigeria’s ports, shipping, customs administration, freight forwarding, logistics and the blue economy.
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‎Aside his role as Assistant Editor of Shipping Position Daily, Onigbinde recently assumed office as President of MARAN where he has pledged to promote professionalism, strengthen collaboration between the media and maritime stakeholders, and advance credible, ethical maritime journalism in Nigeria.
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‎Speaking shortly after receiving the award, Onigbinde expressed appreciation to the organisers for the recognition, describing it as both humbling and motivating.
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‎He dedicated the award to members of MARAN, his colleagues at Shipping Position Daily, his mentors, industry stakeholders and everyone who has supported his journalism career over the years.
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‎The recognition, he stated, serves as a renewed challenge to continue pursuing factual, balanced and impactful journalism that contributes to the growth and development of Nigeria’s maritime and transport sectors.
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‎He also reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards and supporting initiatives aimed at improving efficiency, transparency safety and sustainable development within the nation’s maritime industry.
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‎The latest recognition adds to the growing list of honours received by Onigbinde for his contributions to maritime journalism and comes at a time when he is leading MARAN with a vision centred on professionalism, capacity building and constructive engagement with stakeholders across the maritime industry.
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‎The Transport Day Media Awards are regarded as one of the transport sector’s notable platforms for recognising individuals and organisations whose work have significantly advanced Nigeria’s transport ecosystem through policy, innovation, advocacy, operational excellence and media coverage.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎In a significant demonstration of the ability to detect and dismantle sophisticated smuggling networks striving to exploit Nigeria’s maritime entry points for illicit activities, the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Monday, intercepted a large consignment of cannabis sativa otherwise called ‘Canadian Loud’.
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‎Recovered were 3,639 sachets of the illicit
‎substance, with each sachet weighing 500 grams. This brings the total weight to approximately 1,819 kilograms (1.81 as confirmed by preliminary field tests which yielded positive results for Cannabis Sativa.
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‎The Command’s image maker, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman stated this in a release on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba .
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‎Through her intelligence-driven monitoring, CSC Sulaiman explained, officers of the Command, working in liaison with sister agencies, successfully nabbed the drugs cleverly concealed inside a black Toyota Nissan vehicle, a Toyota Sienna, along with several bags and drums loaded inside a container with number CAAU7569127.
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‎”In a related development, the Command intercepted 2 x 40FT containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products illegally imported into the country. Physical examination revealed that the pharmaceutical products have varied expiry dates of 2021, 2022 and 2023 which the importers planned to relabel  and reintroduce into the Nigerian market, posing serious health risks to unsuspecting consumers.”
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‎”The 1 x 40FT with number PCIU8771576 contained expired pharmaceuticals including Cidoxilin Capsules, Cynamine Vitamin B12 Injection and Becoline B-Complex Injection while 1 x 40FT container with number MRKU4961275 contained various expired medical products such as Oxytocin Injection, Mexclor Eye Drops, Avomex Tablets, Carbamazepine Tablets, Silymarin Tablets, Nystatin Tablets, Hyoscine Butylbromide Tablets.”
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‎The seized items have a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦12,784,479,341.72k only.
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‎The  substantial seizure, the Command explained, highlights the scale of the attempted economic sabotage and underscores the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to protect national security, public health and the Nigerian economy through intelligence-driven enforcement operations.
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‎Commenting on the seizures, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba warned unpatriotic importers and their collaborators who deliberately engage in smuggling, drug trafficking and the importation of expired pharmaceuticals, declaring them as enemies of Nigeria’s progress.
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‎”We have the intelligence, the technology and the resolve to identify and apprehend them. Anyone still contemplating these criminal acts should immediately desist because the consequences will be swift, decisive and uncompromising. Apapa Port will not be used as a conduit for economic sabotage and public health endangerment,” the CAC warned.
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‎Assuring that Apapa Port and all Customs-controlled areas remain under constant surveillance, he further warned that the entire officers of the Command remain resolute in protecting the Nigerian economy, safeguarding public health and preventing criminal exploitation of the nation’s borders.
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‎The CAC restated the Command’s commitment to intensify intelligence-driven operations in order to protect lives, secure legitimate trade and uphold national security.
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