Maritime Agencies
Shippers’ Council, Nigeria Railway Corporation Partner To Promote Cargo Transshipment By Rail.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
To resolve numerous problems of cargo movement through the rail, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Thursday, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate and promote effective transshipment of cargo to all nooks and crannies of the country, going forward.
The MoU marked the highlight of events at a one-day stakeholders’ summit in Lagos on the theme “Limitations To Rail Transportation of Cargo in Nigeria”.
Declaring the well-attended event open, the NSC Executive Secretary, Barr. Pius Akutah, MON, harped on the need to increase exports, saying that more than ever before, the port economic regulator is set to identify and resolve challenges bedeviling cargo transportation in Nigeria.
Seated: Engr Fidet Okhiria, MD, NRC and Barr Pius Akutah, ES, NSC signing the MoU.
“We are working with the NRC,” he stated, “to encourage railway utilization for cargo evacuation and conveyance of goods from hinterlands to the ports.”
“Railway has been found to be the best mode for transporting cargoes in terms of safety and it is also cost-efficient. This MoU with NRC is to develop policies and infrastructure to enhance the use of railway for cargo transshipment.”
“Nigeria is looking at improving its exports under the present government. This is also important to make Nigerians benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) trade. If Nigerians are going to favourably compete in the regional trade, then the cost of transportation for moving cargoes to seaports must be reduced.”
The ES disclosed that the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is working on a policy to address infrastructure deficits at Nigerian ports part of which is involving private sector investors since the government cannot do it all.
The NSC’s partnership with the NRC, he said, will facilitate the development and use of inland container depots all over Nigeria.
In his remarks, Engr Fidet Okhiria, Managing Director, NRC, described the MoU as a work tool for his agency and the NSC to jointly confront the problems militating against seamless rail cargo movement to and from the seaport terminals to the advantage of shippers. However, his worry is the availability of cargoes to be conveyed.
“The last time we moved about 17 containers to Kano, it took us a very long time to gather these containers. We also try to encourage manufacturers to come together so that we can move their goods in bulk,” Okhiria said.
He called on terminals with access to railway lines to provide an enabling environment for importers and exporters to move their cargo by rail.
Speaking on what she described as the poor patronage of rail haulage, Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa, CEO, Le Look Bags, advised the NRC to do more publicity and sensitization on its railway cargo routes and services.
“We are glad to have witnessed this MoU between NRC and Shippers’ Council because we are in the business of exports. But witnessing the MoU is one thing and having it effectively executed is a completely different matter.”
She expressed optimism that if the rail system works as expected, the cost of manufacturing and other overheads would surely go down.
“Surely an optimized railway system will bring done the cost of manufacturing. There are some raffia we need for manufacturing that are found in Cross River State and it is so expensive to move by road. Moving by railway makes it cheaper and enables us save cost,” she explained.
Explaining the role of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in evacuation of cargoes from seaports, the Customs Area Controller, Tin Can Island Port Command, Comptroller Deraa Nnadi, mni, observed that the Service inspects and documents cargoes before they exit the seaports.
Nnadi encouraged shippers and their freight agents to gainfully utilize the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) to have an estimate of the cost of Customs duty and expedite cargo clearance.
While emphasizing the need for Nigeria to pay greater attention to exports, he described the NSC/NSC MoU as commendable.
In her goodwill message, the Chairperson, Apapa Local Government Council, Hon (Mrs) Idowu Sebanjo, lamented that her local government and residents are not enjoying the dividends of being a landlord to Papa and Tincan Island ports, the biggest seaports in Nigeria.
“Government should look inwards,” she advised, “and rebuild Apapa as a strategic ports city, taking advantage of the presence of key government agencies.”
“There are no proper roads to service the train stations at Apapa. The Flour Mills access road isn’t sufficient and we hope that something will be done about this amid plans to refurbish the railway. Apapa isn’t benefitting from having the nation’s biggest seaports,” Sebanjo said.
In addition to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and freight forwarding organizations, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and the Nigeria Police Force also attended the event.
Maritime Agencies
Focus on Innovation, Integrity and Continuous Learning, Apapa Customs Boss Charges Newly Promoted Officers
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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.
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.”
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.
“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.”
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.
He tasked the newly promoted officers to familiarize themselves with these tools and deploy them effectively to enhance efficiency, compliance, and risk management.
”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.
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.
“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.
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.
Maritime Agencies
Seme Customs Hits Big: Intercepts 10,000 Bags of Expired Flour, Cannabis; Facilitates 53, 989.47MT Exports in A Month
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
“Guided by the CGC’s commitment to transparency and modernisation, the Seme Area Command has intensified efforts to simplify procedures, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and ensure that legitimate traders enjoy the full benefits of Customs modernisation and regional integration along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor”.
Comptroller Wale Adenuga, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Seme Border Command gave this reaffirmation at the Seme-Krake border, Thursday, as he gave a rundown of recent exploits in revenue generation, anti-smuggling and trade facilitation.
In the month of September, 2025, the Command generated ₦1,500,029,233.88 in contrast to ₦531,462,332.45 collected in the corresponding period of 2024. This represents an increase of over 182%
Talking of exports, Seme Command facilitated the movement of 53,989.46 metric tonnes of goods with a Free on Board (FOB) value of ₦7,969,376,198.78 even as the total Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) realization was ₦39,868,354.42.
The most significant seizure achieved through
credible intelligence and strong inter-agency collaboration was that involving five (5) trucks conveying a total of 10,000 bags of expired flour originating from Egypt, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦1,210,300,000.00. The interception pulled through following a joint operation with the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC.
Other seizures include 1,104 parcels of Cannabis Sativa and 120 packs of tramadol (120mg) seized alongside two suspects handed over to the NDLEA Seme Command on October 7th, 2025 for further investigation.
After a sting operation at sea, the Nigerian Navy seized over 2,043 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each) and handed same over to Customs.
Other seizures showcased by Comptroller Adenuga were 150 bales of second-hand clothing,169 bottles of DSP Cough Syrup with Codeine and 5 used vehicles.
The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) for all seizures stands at ₦1,999,093,429.00.
Accepting the seized drugs on behalf of the DG of NAFDAC, the Seme Area boss, Dr Nurudeen Audu recalled that his agency has continued to synergise with the NCS in protecting the nation’s economy and checking the illegal entry of dangerous and expired pharmaceuticals into Nigeria. He added that “seized food items are usually sent to our laboratory at Oshodi for testing before they are allowed to be sold or taken to the internally displaced persons camps for distribution”.
On behalf of the leadership of the NDLEA, Ajoku Rita, Controller of Narcotics, said of the seized tramadol and cannabis sativa: “we are working together assiduously to make sure that these illegal drugs do not come in to wreck havoc on our youths”.
Concerning the means of conveyance of the seized items, Comptroller Adenuga assured of plans to dispose them soon as the CGC is averse to any kind of wastage.
Earlier in the week, the CAC hosted
traditional and youth leaders, sister-security agencies in the Seme-Krake border area, cross-border agencies from Benin Republic and the press to discuss the issue of numerous checkpoints along the busy Lagos -Badagry trade corridor and the need to reduce these as much as possible to enhance free movement and trade facilitation. He reported that within a short notice, stakeholders and various agencies complicated were already cooperating to ease movement of people and legitimate goods.
As far as the Nigeria Customs is concerned, he announced, only two checkpoints are approved on the Mile 2 to Seme border trade route. These are Agbara and Gbaji. However, there are one or two points where roving customs officers are sighted strictly for intervention and reinforcement. These are not answerable to Seme Command.
’Only God Is Wise’ bonded terminal under the supervision of the Command was inspected as the CAC directed.
According to the facility manager, Mr Adetoun Abidemi, the terminal which the command conceived began operations in 2019 for the purpose of improving trade facilitation.
Adetoun noted that the terminal handles general services and that examination of cargoes is presently done at 100%. He disclosed that for now, the terminal is operating at very low capacity as a result of low patronage. Abidemi called on all importers and exporters to use the bonded terminal facility while processing their cargoes.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
With the recent unveiling of ‘MV Dragon’ by Clarion Shipping West Africa Ltd, a home-grown shipping outfit, there are clear signs that the glorious days of indigenous shipping have come to birth in Nigeria if the tempo can be sustained.
Licensed Customs Agent and Coordinator, ‘Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders, Importers and Exporters Coalition’, Chief Patrick Osita Chukwu disclosed this in Apapa, Lagos, Tuesday, during a road walk organized by his group in conjunction with other freight forwarders and concerned players in the shipping industry.
The procession which marched through Creek Road, Burma Road and Wharf Road and back to the popular Nnewi Building area of Apapa under a heavy downpour was to sensitize the public and raise needed awareness on the need for relevant authorities to intensify action on the development of indigenous shipping in Nigeria. The foot-dragging, Chief Chukwu noted, must stop in the interest of Nigeria and the good of her image worldwide.
Chief Chukwu recalled with great nostalgia the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) Ltd which became defunct years back. He said the indigenous shipping company with many ocean-vessels on her fleet ran aground following monumental mismanagement on the part of the authorities. The NNSL operated intercontinental shipping but later became defunct after which there no longer existed any proper indigenous shipping companies in the real sense of it till date.
But now Clarion Shipping West Africa Ltd has acquired ‘MV Dragon’, he said, it is a dream-come-through other entrepreneurs in shipping should hook up with for their business interests and the image of Nigeria as a maritime nation. “It is a first for indigenous shipping in Nigeria”, Chukwu announced.
After the road walk…..
’MV Ocean Dragon’ is to engage in trans- shipping cargoes from the Lagos ports to other Nigerian ports as well as for regional shipping along the West African coast.
Clarion Shipping has also acquired a second vessel for intercontinental shipping. It is on its way to Nigeria to commence operations. The vessel, a 1,149 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) container carrier will facilitate shipping between China and Nigeria to help bring in part of the 38% annual imports destined for Nigeria.
Speaking after the road show, Solomon Ogudo, Clarion Shipping’s Regional Manager, South-east Nigeria, said: “The addition of the vessel is geared towards solving most of the myriad of problems in the movement of cargoes within the country and the West African region”.
“One gets incentives of having $500 on every 40 footer container that you book with them and $300 on every 20 footer container booked with them”.
He promised that delays in cargo clearing would be substantially reduced by as much as 4 to 6 days.
Clarion Shipping being a wholly Nigerian-owned entity, Ogudo assured, there is no place for repatriation of funds as everything would be recycled in-country.
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Maritime Agencies3 weeks agoIMO Commends Nigeria’s Maritime Security Architecture, Blue Economy Policy.
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