‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎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.
‎
‎The investiture took place during the 12th Nigerian Transport Lecture and Awards event organized by Transport Day Media.
‎
‎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.
‎
‎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.
‎
‎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.
‎
‎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.
‎
‎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.
‎
‎Speaking shortly after receiving the award, Onigbinde expressed appreciation to the organisers for the recognition, describing it as both humbling and motivating.
‎
‎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.
‎
‎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.
‎
‎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.
‎
‎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.
‎
‎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.
‎

‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎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’.
‎
‎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.
‎
‎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 .
‎
‎
‎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.
‎
‎”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.”
‎
‎”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.”
‎
‎The seized items have a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦12,784,479,341.72k only.
‎
‎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.
‎
‎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.
‎
‎”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.
‎
‎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.
‎
‎The CAC restated the Command’s commitment to intensify intelligence-driven operations in order to protect lives, secure legitimate trade and uphold national security.
‎
‎
‎

‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎Chairman, Starzs Marine Investment Company Ltd and pioneer President of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Engr Greg Ogbeifun has hailed conscious efforts in the area of creating platforms that connect young and upcoming maritime professionals to interact with established industry practitioners as a major channel for mentorship and possible transfer of needed strategies that will facilitate growth, continuity and industrial sustainability.
‎
‎Engr Ogbeifun spoke in Lagos, Wednesday, when he chaired the Annual Maritime Student and Youth (AMSAY) Conference hosted by Platforms Communications Company to commemorate a decade of operations. The event whose theme was ‘A Decade of AMSAY Conference: Eyes on the Horizon’, featured maritime industry bigwigs whose mission was to interact with and expose participating youths from various maritime training institutions to the rich experiences of industry veterans the sector has produced over time in order to properly equip them as they strive to step into the big shoes being left over by mother nature.
‎
‎The foremost shipyard owner recalled significant contributions many practitioners have made, and are still making, to the development of the sector and counselled upcoming youngsters to remain focused, committed and resilient in their career aspirations because success in the maritime sector always comes through perseverance and tenacity irrespective of whatever may appear as huge challenges. He regretted that despite quality advocacy mounted by him and like minds, maritime development in Nigeria is not receiving the attention expected as is the case in other nations even less endowed. Many graduates of maritime training institutions still roam the streets in search of jobs even as most of them lack opportunities for sea- time experience, he regretted.
‎
‎Speaking on the shortage of vessels for training future seafarers, Ogbeifun recalled earlier concerns in this direction. No professional, he explained, can become a competent maritime person worth the salt without undergoing training in a vessel. In the same token, no nation can claim to belong to the league of ship-owning nations if it cannot boast of indigenous vessels that can come in handy to practically train her seafarers. He tasked relevant agencies in a position to influence government to insist that home -sourced vessels must be in place, in other words, a national fleet. He described the absence of Nigerian-owned vessels as a major drawback and called on stakeholders to advocate for the revival of indigenous shipping companies as this is critical in offering engagement opportunities to aspiring seafarers. Rebuilding Nigeria’s shipping capacity, he argued, would not only strengthen the nation’s maritime industry but provide a sustainable platform for young professionals to build successful careers as they fly the national flag globally.
‎
‎
‎”The concern we old sailors have is when we look back, where are our successors? There are efforts to ensure continuity but the biggest challenge I identify wherever I go is having a seafarer without ships. That’s a big challenge in our industry, in our country. I cry about it every time  I have a microphone because these children who attend academic institutions, when they come out, there’s nowhere to go to.”
‎However, he applauded efforts by NIMASA to address the issue even though he has reservations regarding the low percentage of attention.
‎

Cadets-In-Training at the registration point

‎In his intervention on the topic ‘The Youth and the Future of Nigerian Maritime Sector: Understanding How Nations Develop their Maritime Industry,’ keynote speaker at the event, Capt Warredi Enisuoh attributed the soaring unemployment rate of Nigerian seafarers to the limited international recognition accorded training certificates obtained in-Nigeria. He lamented the discrimination and limited engagement opportunities this exposes them to at the international shipping industry despite standard training opportunities institutions such as MAN, Oron, and others take the cadets through as they train.
‎

Capt Warredi Enisuoh

‎Enisuoh who is the Executive Director of Operations and Technical Services at Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd commended government agencies and industry stakeholders for strengthening safety and security across the nation’s maritime domain. However, he picked holes in the areas of fleet expansion, shipping capacity and manpower development. He advised that to address the non-recognition of Nigerian maritime training certificates by several international shipping companies, the Federal Government and the training institutions must adopt more mutually- beneficial certificate recognition partnerships with leading maritime nations to open wider employment opportunities for Nigerian seafarers across the international shipping chain.

‎On Nigeria’s inability to transport cargo originating from her shores, he referred to the case of China as a country that is able to control her cargo movement through indigenous fleets supply, thus enjoying stronger maritime capabilities, greater economic benefits and enhanced national security.
‎
‎”Many advanced nations carry the bulk of their cargo with vessels they own. That capacity strengthens their economies and contributes significantly to their security architecture,’ he explained. He added that maritime fleets often serve strategic national interests especially during periods of conflict as some countries can deploy commercial vessels for military purposes when the need arises. He warned that Nigeria’s dependence on foreign-owned vessels for cargo movement makes her vulnerable and handicapped in cases of emergency.

‎Investment in ship ownership, maritime infrastructure and human capital development, Enisuoh warned, must be treated as a national priority not just a commercial necessity. He advised the Federal Government to implement steps to reverse years of neglect in the shipping sector as a strong national fleet is a strong pillar to support maritime security, economic resilience and sustainable national development.
‎
‎Highlight of the event included the special recognition and posthumous awards bestowed on some prominent maritime icons now late. They are Otumba Kunle Folarin, Barr Margaret Orakwusi, Engr Olu Akinsoji and Dr Chris Asoluka.
‎