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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The Badagry Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA), in conjunction with Portbizness News is set to host the second edition of her annual Trans-border International Trade Discourse in Badagry.
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‎According to a statement jointly issued by James Shodiya, the Project Director, and Alhaji Yahaya Oladiran Idris, the President of BACCIMA,
‎the conference slated for December 12 and 13 takes place by 2pm each day. Venue is Sycomore Hotel & Suites, Ajara, Badagry, Lagos.
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‎It is designed to discuss actionable strategies to strengthen regional cooperation and enhance competitiveness within the framework of the Continental trade agreements such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS)  and the African Continental Free Trade Area ( AfCFTA).
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‎The organizers note that in an increasingly interconnected global economy, Cross-Border Trade has become a critical vehicle to deliver regional growth, economic integration and sustainable development.
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‎But in Nigeria, trans-border trade  continues to grapple with numerous challenges such as tariff and non-tariff barriers, infrastructure gaps, inconsistent government policies and limited access to funds.
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‎”Against this backdrop, Portbizness News is partnering with  the foremost Badagry Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines & Agriculture ( BACCIMA) to host the  2025 edition of its
‎ PORTS & TRANS-BORDER INT”L TRADE DISCOURSE – a  high level  Platform that brings  together policy makers, trade practitioners, business leaders, researchers and development partners to discuss challenges and opportunities in promoting seamless trade across borders.”
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‎The event’s theme is  ‘Bridging Borders, Building National Prosperity and Strengthening Regional Trade’. Day 1 covers Lecture, Discourse and Gala Night, while Day 2 will feature a Delegates’ Excursion to Tourist Destinations.
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‎ Chairman of the event is Hon (Dr) Segun Musa, Chairman/Chief Consultant, Global Transport Policy while Dr. Azeez A. Mustapha and Mr Kola Awe, Chairman, NACCIMA Export Group are the keynote speakers .
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‎ Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, Executive Chairman, Badagry Local Government is the Special Guest of Honour while Alhaji Olanrewaju  Akeem, MD/CEO, Taloid Group of Companies will be Father of the Day.
‎ Mother of the Day will be Comrade Onome Monije, ANLCA PRO, Tincan Chapter.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎A change of guards took place Thursday at the Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Idiroko, with Comptroller Godwin Otunla, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), handing over to Deputy Controller Oladapo Afeni on acting capacity. The change in leadership is sequel to a directive from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Adewale Adeniyi.
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‎The Command’s image maker, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Chado Zakari, disclosed this in a press statement.
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‎At the handing-over ceremony, the image maker stated, the new Acting Customs Area Controller (CAC) expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs for reposing confidence in him and pledged to advance and deepen ongoing reforms in trade facilitation, revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations.

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‎Describing the Ogun I Command as a strategic gateway to the nation’s economy and a critical line of defence against illicit cross-border activities, DC Afeni stated that he was aware of the unique operational challenges available.
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‎“It is a great honour to assume the leadership of Ogun I. I am fully aware of the vast and sensitive terrain of this Command and its importance to national security”.
‎He pledged to consolidate on the gains of his predecessors as he strives to deepen continuous improvement in efficiency, enforcement, intelligence-led operations, stakeholder collaboration and community relations.
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‎He further emphasised his commitment to deepening inter-agency cooperation, suppressing smuggling to the barest minimum and prioritising the welfare and professional growth of officers under his watch.
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‎DC Afeni, an accomplished administrator with nearly two decades of service, holds a B.Tech in Industrial Design from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, and a Master’s degree in Diplomacy and Strategic Studies from the University of Lagos. His professional training spans conflict management, international negotiation, strategic leadership and rural border patrol operations. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and a fellow of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (Chartered).
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‎In his valedictory speech earlier, the outgoing Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Godwin Otunla, described his tenure as challenging yet fulfilling. He highlighted strides made under him in curbing smuggling, enhancing trade facilitation and improving personnel welfare. He noted that strengthened inter-agency collaboration under his leadership significantly boosted security within the Command’s area of responsibility.
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‎He expresseed confidence that DC Afeni would consolidate on his achievements and lead the Command to greater heights.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr Pius Ukeyima Akutah has given a guarantee to maritime industry players, particularly  shippers, that with a new approach to maritime development being championed by the Council preparatory to the  passage of a new ports regulation Act to constitutionally bestow on her the status of the ports economic regulator, a law very important in dealing with all elements of their concerns has been  packaged.
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‎Dr Akutah spoke, Thursday, at the sidelines of the 10th Annual Law Week 2025, a colourful event organized by the Nigerian Bar Association, Badagry  Branch, at the Gbajabiamila Conference, Centre  Lagos State University, Ojo, where he was specially invested as ‘Honorary Life Member of the Heritage Bar’.

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‎”I guarantee Nigerians and, particularly, the maritime sector players, that that law, when it comes into force, is going to protect their investment; is going to set up the standards that everyone will follow, to provide predictability of investment in the sector. So, investors will no longer be afraid of putting their money in that sector because they will be sure that their money will need investment results and returns. So it’s a law that we are waiting for, and I know that the law is meant for the good of the maritime sector in Nigeria.”
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‎He explained that the 1978 decree, now CAPN 133 of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act, is totally a spent law.
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‎ “It’s of no use whatsoever in the maritime sector”, he stated.
‎” We have a new approach to maritime development, and we should have a law that is very important to deal with all the elements that will come up for a regulator like the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.”
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‎”That piece of legislation is very crucial for us to proceed. And I want to thank the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate President for giving attention to that bill when it came before them, and the Minister of Justice for also looking into it. So the two challenges we faced after the bill was passed, those have been cleaned up already, and the bill is back into the National Assembly for a process that will lead to a final assent by Mr. President .
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‎Reacting to suggestions on the need for  alternative disputes resolution in maritime matters, Akutah, a lawyer and technocrat of high repute, advocated that the mechanism be made  very effective and efficient in tackling maritime disputes.
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‎”Over the years, this has been advocated but not so much has been done yet. But a lot is going on. Even in the court reforms,  we have the Admiralty jurisdiction of the Federal High Court which fast-tracks these processes. But yet again, because of certain unforeseen factors in the administration of justice, sometimes those delays are imminent and you can’t help it. But then the issue of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms is very crucial.
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‎He  recalled handling the case of a vessel, ‘Heroic Idiom’ as a prosecutor at the Federal Ministry of Justice, securing an out-of-court dispute resolution before being seconded to the Nigerian Shippers Council as Executive Secretary. The vessel, he explained, was accosted in Equatorial Guinea and brought back to Nigeria.
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‎”I was a prosecutor in the case at that time before I left the Ministry of Justice. And then, if I must say, there are some other reforms going on in the Nigerian Shippers Council today. One major reform is in the area of law reform.”
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‎He explained that at the Nigerian Shippers Council, there is a unit that is dedicated to handling  maritime disputes.
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‎”I will say that last year alone, that unit was able to  resolve cases that would have cost over 6 billion in legal fees and damages and delays and all of that in maritime disputes. So we are doing everything possible to ensure that that mechanism is promoted over and against court resolution of matters so that before any case can go to court, let’s try arbitration. Let’s try any other alternative dispute resolution mechanism that are available to us in the sector..”
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‎”Even in the Ministry of Justice where I was a prosecutor, certain cases were resolved without necessarily going to court. The courts are there. They are actually the last resort.
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‎”When all resolution mechanisms fail, then you can approach the courts because they are statutory institutions to resolve disputes. But that doesn’t mean that individuals cannot resolve disputes by themselves, especially commercial disputes where money is involved, investments are involved in it.
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‎So if you tie down your investments for 10 years, pursuing a legal battle in court, by the time you come back that investment has been dissipated to almost nothing. So we encourage alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to be applied first in handling maritime disputes. Majority of them are commercial disputes, not criminal cases, so to say.
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‎Even in criminal cases, there is room for parties to settle, especially, like I said, where there is a commercial element in it and money is involved. If the parties have agreed to sort out their differences, why do you proceed to court? So this is very important.
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