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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎Following his outstanding contributions to capacity development in maritime education and training in Nigeria’s premier maritime training centre,  the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Training (CILT), Nigeria, Thursday, conferred special honours on the  Acting Rector, Dr Kevin Okonna.
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‎Tagged “Award for Distinguished Leadership in Logistics and Transport”, the conferment was the highlight of the  2025 National  Conference and Awards Ceremony of the Institute which took place in Lagos.
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‎Speaking at the event , CILT Nigeria President, Barr. (Mrs.) Mfon Usoro, highlighted the Institute’s strategic partnership with the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN). She commended Dr. Okonna for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to repositioning the Maritime Academy of Nigeria as a centre of excellence in maritime education in Africa.

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‎“Dr. Okonna has shown exceptional leadership and professionalism in ensuring the Academy continues to meet international standards. His passion and zeal for the development of the Academy is worthy of emulation,” Mrs. Usoro stated.
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‎In his remarks following the conferment of the award, the elated Acting Rector expressed appreciation to CILT Nigeria for the honour. He described it as a call to continue striving for excellence in his service to the maritime industry and the nation in general
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‎“This recognition is deeply appreciated. It is a call to a higher responsibility. This award reflects the collective effort of the Management, Staff, Students and Cadets of the Academy, whose dedication continues to drive our progress.”
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‎”It means that what we do quietly is seen and valued. We’re ready to continue doing more for CILT, the industry and the country as a whole,” he promised.
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‎Dr. Kevin Okonna, a seasoned maritime academic and administrator, has dedicated over thirty years to the service of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron. As a lecturer, he assiduously rose through the ranks to clinch the position of Acting Rector.
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‎In ten months since he became the Acting Rector, MAN Oron has recorded significant milestones. His leadership has heralded extensive reforms in firming up on training standards, infrastructure renewal, upgrade of teaching facilities and restoration of public power supply to the Academy’s campus and environs.  Other key areas include the pursuance of ISO Certification for the Academy, development of Conditions and Scheme of Service, development of Courses on Port State Control, enhancement of staff and cadet welfare and many others.
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‎His tenure has also strengthened collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Nautical Institute,  UK, Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), and other global maritime bodies.
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‎The CILT recognition, industry  watchers say, underscores the Acting Rector’s enduring legacy of excellence. It also reinforces the Academy’s stance as Nigeria’s foremost maritime education and training institution.

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‎Distinguished officers of MAN Oron  witnessed the CILT conferment on the Acting Rector. These included the Acting Director, School of Maritime Transport Studies,  Mrs Theresa Eyo;  Senior Lecturers – Mrs Nse Okon, Dr. Imoh Ekpo, Dr. Obot Idopise  and Dr. Ufia Friday.  Others were the Lagos Liaison Officer, Mrs Dorcas Titilola Imogore and Domo Umoekpe, the Academy’s Head of Public Affairs  Department.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎With a whooping revenue of N350,347,173,787.92 billion the PTML Command of the Nigeria Customs Service realized between January and  September, 2025, the coast is  quite clear that it will surpass the amount of N362.5 billion it posted in 2024.
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‎Comptroller Joe Anani, the Customs Area Controller, stated this in Lagos, Friday, while speaking during his maiden press chat at the Command’s headquarters.
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‎ The January – September figure which is 96.64% of the 2025 target, he  explained, almost equals the ₦362,521,085,250.98 realized by the PTML Command from January to December the previous year.

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‎The CAC disclosed that in spite of obvious  challenges associated with the B’Odogwu initiative, in the third quarter of 2025, the Command recorded  a total  revenue  of ₦116,243,603,670.58. This is 34.3%  higher than ₦86,584,012,733.43 collected during the corresponding period in 2024.
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‎A comparative analysis of the Command’s revenue performance in Q3, 2025, shows  that the PTML Command has maintained a steady increase in revenue collection likely to be surpassed as the year winds down.
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‎The Command intercepted a 1X20FT container with number GCNU1275880 falsely declared as supermarket items. Upon 100% examination, however, it was discovered to be laden with pharmaceutical products.

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‎Two containers of unregistered “medicines”  intercepted include: one (1) Taiwan Airsoft pistol, Two (2) magazines and 12 rounds of live ammunitions, 1x40ft container with marks and number ACLU9806850 falsely declared as magnetic resonance imaging apparatus was also apprehended and upon 100% examination, it was found to contain 6,262 cartons of antibiotics of various brands.
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‎In line with the existing interagency collaboration approved by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi,  Comptroller Anani handed the  seized containers  over to Dr Olakunle  Olaniran, the Director of Ports Inspection Directorate of the NAFDAC who stood in for the Director-General.
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‎CAC Anani said: “Our anti-smuggling and enforcement drives remain intact without compromise.”

‎“As a Command, we are not compromising national security on the altar of trade facilitation.

‎“I have visited various agencies of government and received them in my office on similar visits where we renewed our resolve for regular cooperation, inter- agency collaboration, intelligence sharing and crime prevention strategies.
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‎He thanked the Command’s  stakeholders and urged them to always stick to extant provisions on legitimate trade.
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‎“Compliance saves time, saves money and helps in building a reputation for business growth towards migration into the AEO status.”
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‎ Receiving the seizures, the NAFDAC officer thanked Customs for their life -saving enforcement drive.

‎He commended the  memorandum of understanding between Customs and NAFDAC as a working pact even he urged Nigerians to patronise only registered pharmaceutical vendors.
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‎He commented Customs for supporting his agency to safeguard Nigerian lives through ensuring that prohibited medicines, including hypertension drugs and other prescription medications without NAFDAC authorization are not allowed into the country.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎With higher responsibilities within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), newly promoted Deputy Controllers and Assistant Controllers must embrace innovation, integrity and continuous learning in order to achieve the core objectives of the Management.
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‎As stated in a release by Superintendent of Customs, J.T. Ayagbalo, Public Relations Officer, Apapa Customs Command, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba gave the charge in Lagos, Wednesday, during  the opening session of a special training programme for the newly elevated officers. Congratulating the participants on their career advancement, Oshoba described their promotions as both “a reward for hard work and a call to greater service.”
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‎ Urging the officers to exhibit excellence, discipline and commitment to the modernization vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, he reminded them to realize that the new ranks come with increased expectations from the Service and the nation.
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‎“These elevations come with benefits, challenges, and responsibilities. The management of the NCS demands more commitment, innovative thinking, and an unwavering dedication to excellence in carrying out the CGC’s reform agenda.”
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‎Highlighting the Service’s transformation drive, the Apapa CAC noted that Customs operations have become more knowledge-driven, with modernization initiatives such as the Advance Ruling System, Time Release Study, Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, and the One Stop Shop mechanism redefining trade facilitation in Nigeria.
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‎He tasked the newly promoted officers to familiarize themselves with these tools and deploy them effectively to enhance efficiency, compliance, and risk management.
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‎”There are cases of non-compliance, either from ignorance or deliberate circumvention of procedures. This calls for greater alertness and the smart use of technology for risk assessment,” Oshoba warned.
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‎While urging participants to leverage the training for professional development, he encouraged them to interact, exchange ideas, and build networks that will strengthen teamwork and leadership capacity across commands.
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‎“As new leaders, some of you will be entrusted with sensitive duties, including custodianship of release passwords and supervision of junior officers,” he added. “You must uphold the tenets of Justice and Honesty, which are core values of the Service.”
‎ Capacity building, Oshoba assured, remains a priority for the Service under the current leadership, with continuous training and retraining forming part of the long-term strategy for institutional excellence.
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‎The training session hosted at the Apapa Area Command headquarters, aims to equip the newly promoted officers with advanced knowledge and leadership skills essential for driving Customs modernization and effective trade facilitation.
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