Maritime Agencies
NNPP CAUTIONS MEMBERS: Don’t Blackmail Kwankwaso Over Son’s Nomination As Commissioner.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has cautioned expelled members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and their allies to stop blackmailing Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso over the nomination of his son as a Commissioner in Kano State. Describing current agitations in this regard as diversionary and blackmail carried too far, the NNPP warned that it is avoidable and unnecessary.
NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulrasak disclosed this in a release.
Senator Kwankwaso, Abdulrasak stated, could not have been the first person in authority opportuned to provide job opportunity for his or her children in government.
“We as members of the New Nigeria People’s Party can simply deduce that the innocent son of Senator Kwankwaso is being used as an instrument of blackmail against Senator Kwankwaso.”
“The untold story is the fear of the unknown as to the reasons over the internal crisis in the New Nigeria People’s Party which is avoidable.”
He referred to the current misgivings elected members of the party in government have over the activities of Senator Kwankwaso especially concerning his anti-party activities.
Ahead of 2027, he reasons, what happens to them if Senator Kwankwaso moves to the central government platform?
“The question is what happens to them in the political arena whereby they are disgraced out of the party through court processes?”
The National Public Secretary expressed delight that now it is apparent that INEC is beginning to ensure internal democracy with a view to limiting number of cases in court before and after the elections, the founder and members of board of trustees can now fully exercise powers vested in them to call any member of the party to order in accordance with the party’s constitution.
He recalled the heinous act by uninformed members of the NWC who, in the past, acted outside the party constitution by pronouncing the expulsion of the father of the party who is also a life member of the board.
“As it were, INEC may have refused to attend any meeting or congress and or national convention of the illegal NWC of NNPP if the application is not approved by the founder and board of the New Nigeria People’s Party. ”
He decried the situation whereby most elected members can neither employ nor recommend for employment common cleaners or protocol officers of their choice.
On persisting anomalies in the party, the National Publicity Secretary recalled that the Acting National Chairman Alhaji Abbah Kawu was recently forced to resign ahead of an illegal national convention and congresses arranged to enthrone another puppet that never worked .
“It is on record that the likes of Prof Alkali, Professor Sam Angwe and Senator Hunkuyi Suleiman have been frustrated out for speaking against the injustice meted out to the founder of NNPP and mismanagement of party funds.”
“What is certain now is that the impunity to pronounce expulsion of the founder of NNPP is consequential, meaning that mistakes of the past and open- mindedness to a professional politician like Senator Kwankwaso shall be unattainable this time around.”
He called for a halt to the current abuse of goodness being ascribed to Senator Kwankwaso even if NNPP decides to pardon him in due time.
On political balancing, Abdulrasak emphasized that since the federal character is a constitutional provision, in a national political party, therefore, there is no way the chairman of the party and the presidential candidate can hail from the same region.
In the last general election for instance, Senator Kwankwaso from Northwest and Prof Alkali from northeast respectively featured as presidential candidate and national chairman.
“Even when you analyse the composition of the NWC members, it is lopsided in favour of the north and, indeed, more of Senator Kwankwaso’s stoogies.”
The release advised elected government functionaries to stand up and be bold to tell Senator Kwankwaso the truth.
“And for his son being nominated as a commissioner, it is our advice that we realise that the young man has his life and destiny to contend with and not that of his father. He should not be allowed to suffer because of his father’s alleged greed, arrogance and unnecessary pride.”
“While we put Senator Kwankwaso in prayers for wisdom of God and gratefulness, it is our hope that he shall imbibe the tenets of humility, love and friendship to all manner of people who may come his way.”
Maritime Agencies
NPA Berths Nigerian-Owned Container Vessel,”MV OCEAN DRAGON,” To Boost Incountry and Regional Trade,
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), 2nd July, 2025, berthed “MV Ocean Dragon”, the first wholly Nigerian-owned container vessel.
The craft with International Maritime Organization (IMO) Number 9508770 which belongs to Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited has a capacity of 349 Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units (TEUs) and demonstrates a concerted investment drive by the NPA aimed at reaping the gains of cost and time- saving benefits of short-sea shipping by plying in-country maritime trade routes across Nigeria and the West African sub-region. It offers an efficient alternative to road transport as the Authority’s efforts at deepening multi- modalism in transportation is being realized.
The vessel is scheduled to operate across West Africa and beyond, servicing ports in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Egypt, South Africa and others, with expressions of interest for businesses already being established.
As stated by Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director/ CEO of the NPA: “this development is a testament to our relentless commitment towards deepening efficiencies required for maximizing our marine and blue economy potentials in line with the prompting of the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola whose tenacity of purpose culminated in the recent FEC approval of the national policy on Marine and Blue Economy”.
Speaking about the development too, the Vice President of Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited, Bernadine Eloka, described the acquisition of the vessel as a bold solution to the high-risk, road-dominated movement of cargoes within Nigeria. It signifies a strategic move to deepen regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Clarion Group, she stated, aims to offer more efficient intra-African shipping services while opening up new business opportunities across ports in Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and beyond.
“We acquired MV Ocean Dragon to offer a seamless alternative to container haulage by road. Rather than struggling to move containers from Lekki to Onitsha, Port Harcourt, or Calabar by trucks, Ocean Dragon can move up to 349 containers by sea and deliver within two days from port to port,” Eloka said.
According to her, enforcement of the cabotage regime would encourage local investment, create jobs, and reduce Nigeria’s dependency on foreign-owned shipping lines.
Also speaking, Managing Director of Clarion Suncity Terminal Logistics Limited, Mustafa Mohammed, said the company would take aggressive steps to compete with global giants such as Maersk Line and MSC, by leveraging its status as Nigeria’s first indigenous shipping liner, investing in assets that directly support Nigerian exporters and importers, particularly in the landlocked regions.
He said the company had already secured bookings for 1,300 export containers and is helping farmers and manufacturers to avoid losses caused by delays and lack of containers.
This development is coming on the heels of the announcement by the NPA MD of injection of 60 million USD in fresh investments towards the establishment of eco-friendly ports developments catalyzed by the Authority’s renewed orientation towards Nigerian content development.
By Izuchukwu Ozemema
In a development that signposts readiness to maximize the gains derivable from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on 2nd July at 05:05 hours deployed its state-of-the-art marine crafts to berth the first wholly Nigerian-owned container vessel.
The container vessel with International Maritime Organization (IMO) number 9508770 christened MV Ocean Dragon is owned by Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited has a capacity of 349 Twenty-Foot-Equivalent Units (TEUs) gives a boost to concerted investment drive geared towards reaping the cost and time saving benefits of short-sea shipping by plying in-country maritime trade routes across Nigeria and the West African sub-region and offers an efficient alternative to road transport as the Authority’s efforts at deepening multi modalism crystallize.
The vessel is scheduled to operate across West Africa and beyond, servicing ports in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Egypt, South Africa and others, with expressions of interest for business already being established.
Responding to the milestone, Managing Director/ CEO of the NPA Abubakar Dantsoho said “this development is a testament to our relentless commitment towards deepening efficiencies required for maximizing our marine and blue economy potentials in line with the prompting of the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola whose tenacity of purpose culminated in the recent FEC approval of the national policy on Marine and Blue Economy”.
On her part, Vice President of Clarion Shipping West Africa Limited, Bernadine Eloka, described the acquisition as a bold solution to the high-risk, road-dominated movement of cargoes within Nigeria and a strategic move to deepen regional trade under the AfCFTA.
She said that the Clarion Group aims to offer more efficient intra-African shipping services while opening up new business opportunities across ports in Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and beyond.
“We acquired MV Ocean Dragon to offer a seamless alternative to container haulage by road. Rather than struggling to move containers from Lekki to Onitsha, Port Harcourt, or Calabar by trucks, Ocean Dragon can move up to 349 containers by sea and deliver within two days from port to port,” Eloka said.
According to her, enforcement of the cabotage regime would encourage local investment, create jobs, and reduce Nigeria’s dependency on foreign-owned shipping lines.
Also, Managing Director of Clarion Suncity Terminal Logistics Limited, Mustafa Mohammed, said the company would take aggressive steps to compete with global giants, such as Maersk Line and MSC, by leveraging its status as Nigeria’s first indigenous shipping liner, investing in assets that directly support Nigerian exporters and importers, particularly in the landlocked regions.
He said the company had already secured bookings for 1,300 export containers, and is helping farmers and manufacturers to avoid losses caused by delays and lack of containers.
This development is coming on the heels of the announcement by the MD NPA Abubakar Dantsoho of fresh injection of 60 million USD in fresh investments towards the establishment of eco-friendly ports developments catalyzed by the Authority’s renewed orientation towards Nigerian content development.
Maritime Agencies
HALF-YEAR REVENUE DISPOSITION: Apapa Customs Hits N1.38Trillion, Confiscates Prohibited Goods Worth Billions.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Following diligent commitment of officers to duty, improved stakeholders’ compliance to legitimate trade and the strategic leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in the first half of 2025, collected ₦1.378 trillion, a remarkable 35% increase in the revenue figure achieved in the corresponding period of 2024.
“We insisted on maximum revenue collection and plugged leakages through effective demand notices,” the Apapa Command Customs Area Controller (CAC) Comptroller Babatunde Olomu announced in Lagos, Thursday, while addressing the press.
The Command, the CAC stated, also recorded several milestones including the first-ever use of the Single Goods Declaration (SGD) through the new B’Odogwu digital platform designed to streamline cargo clearance, reduce congestion and deepen trade facilitation.
In a bid to further modernize operations, he added, the Command is presently collaborating with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and industry stakeholders to revive rail cargo movement from Apapa Port to other parts of the country with the aim to decongest roads and cut logistics costs.
Between January and June, 2025, the Command intercepted 27 containers of contrabands whose combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) stands at ₦9.27 billion. These include unregistered pharmaceuticals, expired food products and codeine syrup.
Others are used clothing, stolen vehicles and wildlife parts imported in violation ofradr the CITES treaty.
”As a standard, we will never compromise the health, well-being, safety of Nigerians on the altar of trade facilitation. Every consignment going through our port undergo diligent check through scanning and physical examination when required.”
”It is pertinent to note that trafficking of wild animals contravenes the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which Nigeria is a signatory to. Equally on the detention list is a container of matches imported without the required End-User Certificate as provided for on our extant laws.”
In his submission, Buba Makawa, Commander, Narcotics, Apapa Command of the NDLEA decried the situation whereby importers of fake pharmaceuticals and other illicit drugs use fake companies and addresses to avoid being detected.
”Most of the drugs being imported are brought in the name of fake companies. We had some cases we are prosecuting at the Federal High Court. We had to use their NIN to trace the perpetrators. If we use the Bill of Laden, it won’t lead anywhere.”
Within the period, three bonded terminals were sealed for various infractions, with one already facing prosecution, the CAC told the maritime press.
“We have demonstrated our capacity, and we shall continue to do more,” Olomu declared.
The Area Controller described intelligence- sharing as “a critical force in defeating criminal networks” and commended other sister agencies who volunteer massive collaboration to enable the Command discharge her duties.
NPA Berths Nigerian-Owned Container Vessel,”MV OCEAN DRAGON,” To Boost Incountry and Regional Trade,
NIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY BERTHS FIRST WHOLLY NIGERIAN-OWNED CONTAINER VESSEL.
HALF-YEAR REVENUE DISPOSITION: Apapa Customs Hits N1.38Trillion, Confiscates Prohibited Goods Worth Billions.
PORTBIZNESS Celebrates Excellence in Customer Service Delivery, Holds Special Awards Night
Kebbi Customs Command Introduces Health Screening, Mandatory Sports To Ensure Work-life Balance
CG Adeniyi Commends Ogun II Command for Massive Revenue Increase.
Container Movement To Seaports: NPA Meets With APM Terminals, Shipping Lines, for Coordination.
ANTI-SMUGGLING OPERATIONS: FOU, Zone ‘A’ Ups the Ante, Confiscates Bulletproof Vests, Cannabis Sativa,etc, worth N1.2bn
INLAND WATERWAYS SAFETY: Oyetola Flags Off 3,500 Life Jacket Distribution Campaign in Lagos.
Dangote Hits Another First, Named “Most Admired African Brand” in Addis Ababa.
NPA Secures Approval to Dredge Lekki Deepsea Port Channel To 19 Metres
Apapa Customs , International Network and NDLEA Collaborate to Confiscate Unregistered Pharmaceuticals.
Nigeria Hosts French Ambassador, Seeks Support for Her IMO Council Membership Quest.
TRADE FACILITATION: Nigeria And Benin Customs Deploy SIGMAT To Address Diversion And Fraud
Improving Ease of Doing Business: NPA Set To Clear Ports Corridor
Seme Customs Collects N847m in a month, facilitates non-oil exports valued at N16Bn
APFFLON Seeks Immediate Reform of CRFFN, Replacement of Registrar.
OMIS AWARDS, 2022: Greg Ogbeifun, Industry Gurus For Special Recognition.
FG Set To Re-establish National Shipping Line, To Take Advantage of $10 bn Annual Ship Charter Market.
2023 ELECTIONS：CILT Hosts Seminar on Logistics & Electoral Process
INLAND WATERWAYS OFFERS NIGERIA ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCE, Says Sambo
MAN, ORON: It’s Encomiums Galore From International Seabed Authority (ISA).
MAN, Oron, Kick-starts Simulator-based Training, Commends FG, NIMASA.
MUAZU SAMBO: Showcasing Nigeria’s Maritime Potentials At The Global Arena
Photo News: Salah Celebration
Lilypond Export Command Is Meeting Expectations, Handles 70% of Nigeria’s Total Tonnage of Export Cargo, says CAC Odusanya.
PHOTO NEWS: Maritime Capacity Development
BENIN SEAPORT UPDATE: Edo State Government, Host Communities, Conduct Bidders To Inspect Project Site.
MARAN Salutes DCG Adeniyi On His Elevation As Customs Comptroller-General.
WAR AGAINST OIL THEFT: Tompolo’s Company Nabs VLCC Laden With Crude Oil
PUBLIC RELATIONS: New Image Maker Mounts the Saddle at NPA.
SIFAX GROUP: Ojeniyi Becomes Sky Capital GMD, Omajuwa Strategy Director.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoCG Adeniyi Commends Ogun II Command for Massive Revenue Increase.
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Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoPORTBIZNESS Celebrates Excellence in Customer Service Delivery, Holds Special Awards Night
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Maritime Agencies2 weeks agoKebbi Customs Command Introduces Health Screening, Mandatory Sports To Ensure Work-life Balance
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Maritime Agencies3 days agoHALF-YEAR REVENUE DISPOSITION: Apapa Customs Hits N1.38Trillion, Confiscates Prohibited Goods Worth Billions.
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Maritime Agencies2 days agoNPA Berths Nigerian-Owned Container Vessel,”MV OCEAN DRAGON,” To Boost Incountry and Regional Trade,
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Maritime Agencies2 days agoNIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY BERTHS FIRST WHOLLY NIGERIAN-OWNED CONTAINER VESSEL.