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.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Captain Warredi Enisuoh, Executive Director, Operations and Technical at the Tantita Security Services Ltd, will deliver the keynote speech at the 10th Annual Maritime Students and Youth Conference (AMSAY) billed for June 10, 2026. Venue is the Conference Hall of the Mission To Seafarers, 29 Marine Road, Apapa GRA, Lagos.
As stated in a release, Enisuoh will speak on the lead paper entitled, “The Youth and the Future of Nigerian Maritime Sector: Understanding How Nations Develop Their Maritime Industry.”
Organised by Platforms Communications annually, the arrowhead, Sylvanus Obasi, says the AMSAY Conference has over the past decade evolved into a critical platform for youth advocacy, mentorship and stakeholders’-students engagement to discuss and proffer solutions to contemporary issues affecting the future of Nigeria’s maritime sector, having consistently driven conversations around industry reforms, capacity growth, innovation and sustainable development.
With over two decades of global experience spanning maritime operations, aviation, and national security, Captain Enisuoh is widely regarded as a leading authority in maritime safety, shipping development, and infrastructure protection in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
He holds a Master Mariner Class 1 Unlimited Foreign Going License, an Aircraft Pilot’s License, and a Diploma in Aviation. His academic journey includes training at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron; Arab Maritime Transport Academy, Egypt; Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania; Tasmanian Aviation College; and the Swiss Air Training Centre in Zurich.
Over the years, he has held strategic roles across continents, including eight years with Pacific International Lines in Singapore and six years with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). He also served as a lecturer, instructor, course developer, and examiner at the Australian Maritime College.
In Nigeria, he contributed significantly to sectoral development during his tenure at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), where he served as Director of Maritime Safety and Director of Shipping Development.
Capt Warredi”s Keynote Speech will also feature a high-level panel discussion moderated by Captain Dr. Fola Ojutalayo, Marine Surveyor and Senior Lecturer at the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology.
Panelists are drawn from diverse segments of the maritime industry, including regulators, shipowners, local content experts, technical professionals, legal practitioners, operators, and the academia as representatives from NIMASA, Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited, and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, are expected to discuss the lead paper .
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Ports Authority Police (Western) Command has called for deeper collaboration with maritime journalists as part of efforts to strengthen security within Nigeria’s port environment and support the growth of the nation’s maritime economy.
Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police (Western) Command, CP Oluwatoyin Iyabode Agbaminoja, made the call on Tuesday while receiving the newly elected executives of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) during a courtesy visit to the Command Headquarters in Apapa, Lagos.
The visit, led by MARAN President, Mr. Oluyinka Onigbinde, provided an opportunity for both parties to reaffirm their commitment to promoting safety, security, and operational efficiency across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Speaking during the engagement, Onigbinde commended the Command for its efforts in safeguarding the nation’s ports and other critical maritime assets, noting that security remains a key pillar for sustainable trade and economic development.
He pledged MARAN’s continued support through responsible journalism, accurate reporting, and constructive engagement with stakeholders in the maritime sector.
According to him, the media has a crucial role to play in creating public awareness, promoting transparency, and highlighting issues that impact the efficiency and competitiveness of Nigerian ports.
In her remarks, CP Agbaminoja congratulated the newly elected MARAN leadership and acknowledged the association’s longstanding contribution to the dissemination of credible information on developments within the maritime industry.
She emphasized that stronger cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the media would enhance public trust, improve security consciousness, and contribute to national economic growth.
The Commissioner noted that effective communication and timely information sharing are essential in addressing security challenges within the port ecosystem, stressing that the media remains a strategic partner in achieving those objectives.
She further assured the association of the Command’s readiness to maintain open channels of communication and foster productive partnerships aimed at advancing port security, maritime safety, and trade facilitation.
Nigeria’s ports serve as critical gateways for international trade and revenue generation, making security within the maritime sector a matter of national economic importance. Stakeholders have consistently advocated greater collaboration among security agencies, regulators, operators, and the media to strengthen surveillance, curb criminal activities, and improve operational efficiency.
The meeting concluded with both the Ports Authority Police Command and MARAN reaffirming their commitment to sustained engagement and cooperation in support of a safer and more efficient maritime industry.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Nigeria’s pioneer maritime journalists’ body, the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) will inaugurate her brand new Executive Council on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.
The high-profile event which is planned to bring together key stakeholders from the maritime, shipping, logistics, security, and media sectors will also feature discussions on strengthening ethical standards in maritime journalism.
The theme of the inauguration is “Upholding Ethical Journalism for Maritime Development.”
The Chairman of the occasion is Emmanuel Maiguwa Gankino, President, Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN), while the keynote address will be delivered by Mr. Bolaji Abimbola, a leading public relations and event management expert.
Special Guests of Honour expected at the event include 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; the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima; and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR. Also expected are chief executives of maritime agencies, captains of industry, leaders of maritime associations, terminal operators, shipping companies, freight forwarders, and other critical stakeholders across the maritime value chain.
Speaking ahead of the inauguration, MARAN President, Comrade. Oluyinka Onigbinde, described the event as a defining moment in the association’s journey towards deepening professionalism, credibility, and responsible maritime reportage.
The new executive council, he stated, will focus on repositioning MARAN as a stronger voice within the maritime sector through capacity building, constructive engagement, and adherence to ethical journalism standards.
He noted that the theme of the event underscores the indispensable role of the media in promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainable development within Nigeria’s maritime industry.
“The maritime industry is central to Nigeria’s economic growth, and ethical journalism remains a vital instrument for ensuring that developments within the sector are accurately reported and constructively engaged,” he added.
Onigbinde further called on government agencies, industry operators, and media practitioners to continue supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening maritime journalism and advancing the nation’s blue economy aspirations.
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