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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has been asked to always stick to the tenets of  professionalism, ethical journalism and balanced reportage within the maritime sector.
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‎Prince Segun Oduntan, Vice President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) gave the charge, Wednesday, while receiving the new MARAN President, Oluyinka Onigbinde and members of his executive council during a courtesy visit.
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‎Pledging support for the new leadership of the premier maritime reporters group, Oduntan described the emergence of the new MARAN leadership as a significant opportunity to reposition the association and restore confidence in maritime journalism.
‎He encouraged the new executive to remain focused on promoting unity, integrity and responsible journalism.
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‎According to him, the maritime media plays a critical role in shaping narratives within the industry and must therefore avoid sensationalism, blackmail and unverified reports capable of damaging reputations and institutions.
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‎Journalists , Oduntan stressed, should always prioritize truth, fairness and professionalism in carrying out their responsibilities.
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‎He noted that the credibility of journalism depends largely on the ability of practitioners to maintain ethical standards and resist external pressures capable of compromising their judgment.
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‎The ANLCA Vice President also expressed concern over the gradual decline in investigative and developmental journalism within the maritime sector, recalling a time when newspapers and industry publications were respected for credible and impactful reporting.
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‎He urged MARAN members to work towards rebuilding that standard and changing negative perceptions surrounding the profession.
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‎Oduntan further advised the association to guard against internal divisions and unhealthy rivalry, warning that leadership positions often come with disagreements and distractions.
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‎He, however, encouraged the executive to remain committed to collective progress and institutional development.
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‎“Leadership requires patience, wisdom and the ability to accommodate differing opinions. You may not have everybody on the same page, but what is important is to remain focused on the vision and move the association forward,” he stated.
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‎The ANLCA Vice President also cautioned journalists against allowing themselves to be used as instruments for personal or political battles, insisting that responsible journalism must be guided by facts and objectivity.
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‎He pledged to support the new MARAN leadership in its efforts to reposition the association and promote a healthier relationship between maritime journalists and industry stakeholders.
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‎Responding, MARAN President, Oluyinka Onigbinde, appreciated Oduntan for his encouragement, advice and commitment towards supporting the association.
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‎He assured the ANLCA Vice President that the new executive would prioritize ethical journalism, professionalism and constructive engagement with stakeholders across the maritime industry.
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‎The courtesy visit formed part of MARAN’s ongoing engagement with key stakeholders aimed at strengthening industry collaboration and advancing professionalism within Nigeria’s maritime sector.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The Tincan Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has raised an alarm on the desperation of criminal networks bent on using the ports to push dangerous substances into Nigeria, insisting that no effort would be spared to stop them.
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‎Comptroller Frank Onyeka, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), made the call at the Tincan Port, Wednesday, while handing over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) a major interception made through intelligence and collaboration barely two weeks a similar incident took place.
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‎”This tells us two things. First, criminal networks are still desperate to use our ports to push dangerous substances into the country. Second, and more importantly, it shows that our officers and sister security agencies are alert, focused, and fully committed to stopping them.”
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‎He announced that acting on credible intelligence gathered jointly by the Nigeria Customs Service and the NDLEA, officers of the Enforcement unit intercepted and subjected a 1x40ft container with number HAMU 247034/8 to a thorough physical examination.
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‎”Consequently, the container  which also originated from Canada, just like the previous one was found to contain  8,347 packages of Cannabis Indica weighing a total of 4,173.5 kilograms with an estimated street value of N16,694,000,000 (Sixteen Billion, Six Hundred and Ninety-Four Million Naira).”
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‎Comptroller Onyeka described the latest interception as unique and commended the vigilance and professionalism of Customs officers and partner agencies who ensured that the consignment will not get to the streets.
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‎”This is not just another seizure. This represents a deliberate attempt by criminal elements to jeopardize National Security, endanger lives and profit from the destruction of our hardworking young and women of our country. Thankfully, due to the vigilance and professionalism of our officers and partner agencies, the consignment will not  get to the streets.”
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‎Reassuring that his Command is prepared to confront and defeat illicit importations at all times, he stated: “Let me assure Nigerians that this Command is not relenting. If anything, recent events have strengthened our resolve. We will continue to intensify surveillance, deepen intelligence gathering, and sustain our collaboration with the NDLEA and other security agencies to ensure more interceptions are made”.
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‎”We are also determined to go beyond seizures. Those behind these shipments will be identified, traced, arrested, and prosecuted. Let me also clearly warn any insider collaborators aiding these criminal activities: the Command will not spare anyone found compromising national security for personal gain. No matter how long it takes, such individuals will be tracked down and dealt with according to the law.”
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‎He appreciated the Customs Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (rtd) for the successful partnership agreement reached in the interest of National Security and the fight against illicit activities.
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‎”This development is a clear demonstration of the commitment of both agencies towards strengthening inter-agency collaboration and Intelligence-sharing.”
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‎”The message today is simple and clear: we are watching, we are working, and we will continue to frustrate every attempt to use our ports for illegal importation,” Comptroller Onyeka concluded.
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‎Accepting the 4,173.5kg of cannabis indica on behalf of the NDLEA Chairman, ACG Archieabia Ibinabo Ogboba described the event as auspicious because Nigeria is being defended from what she called the daring and wicked activities of criminal merchants who are more concerned with profiteering than with the lives, health, and wellbeing of innocent citizens.
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‎”It is indeed an epoch-making event as the NDLEA formally takes over from the Nigeria Customs Service, prohibited weeds which have tested positive for Cannabis Indica, weighing a total of 4,173.5kg, alongside vehicles used as conveyances for the illicit drugs.”
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‎” These exhibits shall proceed through the necessary legal processes for final forfeiture in accordance with the law. The seizure is humongous, a total of 4,173.5kg of Cannabis Indica worth over 10.4 billion in street value. The interception of this large cache of illicit substances by the Nigerian security architecture at the seaports is highly commendable.”
‎She commended gallant officers who serve as effective and patriotic gatekeepers in ensuring the safety and security of the maritime corridors.
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‎Mrs Ibinabo Ogboba applauded the professionalism, resilience, and dedication displayed by the cooperating sister agencies, especially the  NPA, NCS and other security organizations during the joint examination through which the substances were recovered from the targeted container.
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‎”The marine intelligence unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, working in close collaboration with our foreign partners particularly the Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police diligently and tenaciously monitored the movement and trail of this particular consignment for over two to three months.”
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‎The criminals, Ogboba explained, intended to distort and frustrate the law from monitoring their deadly container by having multiple layers of movement.
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‎”They did this by subjecting the container through several routes, the container originated from Toronto by truck on 28/3/2026, through the rails to Montreal, before it was loaded on board vessel Jakarta Express Voyage, from Montreal. It arrived Tanger Med Port on 15/4/2026, where it was discharged and reloaded on vessel Osaka Voyage and arrived Tincan seaports on the 9/5/2026.”
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‎”Permit me to state that the unwavering commitment, intelligence-sharing, and operational synergy displayed, ultimately culminated in this remarkable feat and successful interception.
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‎”This achievement once again demonstrates the effectiveness of inter-agency international cooperation, intelligence-driven collaboration, and operations in combating transnational organized crime and illicit drug trafficking. As showcased in the recent seizures of Cannabis Indica that weighed 4,729kg on the 27th April 2026 and another 610.5kg on the 30th April 2026.”
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‎”The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, under the able leadership of our visionary and indefatigable leader, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (Rtd) CON remains resolute, vigilant, and uncompromising in its mandate to rid our society of narcotic substances and protect the future of our nation. This further buttress the importance of the renewed MOU signed between the NCS and NDLEA recently. The results are obvious. We shall continue to work closely with the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Port Authority and all Security Agencies to continually disrupt, defeat, and dismantle these nefarious activities, while ensuring the safety of our maritime domain for legitimate trade, tourism, and national prosperity.”
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The newly elected executive of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has pledged to deepen collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in support of Nigeria’s ongoing port modernisation drive and broader maritime sector development.
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‎The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the new MARAN leadership, led by its President, Oluyinka Onigbinde, to the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of the NPA, Ikechukwu Onyemekara, at the authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
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‎Speaking during the visit, Onyemekara described the emergence of the new MARAN leadership as a positive development for the maritime media landscape, while commending the association’s electoral committee and outgoing leadership for conducting a peaceful and credible transition process.
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‎According to him, the successful conduct of the election demonstrated maturity and institutional stability within the association, noting that many organisations often struggle with leadership transitions.
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‎“What they have done is something that deserves commendation.
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‎Some organisations would have scattered if not for a group of people who ensured stability and successfully midwifed the election process,” he said.
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‎He further praised the association for producing professionals who have continued to distinguish themselves across different sectors of the economy, stressing that MARAN has remained a strong platform for maritime journalism and policy engagement in Nigeria.
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‎The NPA spokesperson also highlighted the longstanding relationship between the authority and MARAN, assuring the new executive of the agency’s support and cooperation.
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‎“I have known the president for a very long time and we have built a relationship over the years. You can rest assured that relationship will continue to grow. MARAN remains a very strategic stakeholder within the maritime industry,” Onyemekara stated.
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‎He emphasised that the maritime sector was entering a critical phase in its history with the Federal Government’s port modernisation initiative, which he said would significantly redefine port operations, competitiveness and trade efficiency in Nigeria.
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‎According to him, the modernisation programme is designed to position Nigerian ports for larger vessel traffic, improved cargo handling capacity and increased regional transshipment opportunities.
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‎He noted that the growth currently being witnessed at the Lekki Deep Sea Port further validates the need for Nigeria to upgrade its port infrastructure to meet global shipping realities.
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‎“Most vessels being built globally today are designed for large draft channels. If we fail to position ourselves appropriately, we will simply be wasting time. What we have seen in our first quarter operational statistics will become insignificant compared to what the industry can achieve after modernisation,” he explained.
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‎Onyemekara added that Nigeria possesses the demographic and economic fundamentals needed to emerge as a major maritime hub in Africa, stressing that efficient and modern ports would naturally attract higher cargo volumes and transshipment business.
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‎“The economy is here, the population is here, and the market is here. Once you combine these with an efficient port system, Nigerian ports can become major transshipment hubs within the region,” he said.
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‎Drawing comparisons with developments in the aviation sector globally, he explained that countries seeking greater competitiveness were investing heavily in infrastructure expansion rather than merely cosmetic upgrades.
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‎“We are concentrating on where it matters most, where the vessels come in. That is the essence of the port modernisation project,” he added.
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‎The NPA spokesman also called for stronger media support in educating Nigerians on the importance of the maritime sector and the economic value of port reforms.
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‎He stressed that maritime journalism remains critical to shaping public understanding and stakeholder acceptance of ongoing reforms, particularly the modernisation initiative.
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‎“The knowledge of the port industry is still not where it should be. The role of journalists in educating the public is extremely important, and we are ready to support initiatives that will strengthen maritime journalism,” Onyemekara said.
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‎He also expressed support for specialised training programmes for maritime journalists, especially in areas relating to port infrastructure, logistics, shipping economics and trade facilitation.
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‎Responding, MARAN President, Oluyinka Onigbinde, appreciated the warm reception accorded the delegation and reiterated the association’s commitment to constructive engagement with industry stakeholders.
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‎He further stressed the need for continuous professional training for maritime journalists, particularly as the industry enters a new era driven by infrastructure expansion and modernisation.
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‎“Now that the industry is embarking on an ambitious programme of infrastructure expansion and modernisation, journalists also need to be trained adequately so they can properly understand and project these developments to the public,” he said.
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‎The MARAN president noted that capacity building for journalists would not only improve reportage but also contribute to better public understanding of maritime policies, investments and reforms.
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‎The visit forms part of the new MARAN leadership’s broader stakeholder engagement initiative aimed at strengthening industry relationships and promoting collaborative efforts towards the growth of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
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