Headlines

Shippers’ Council begs Maritime Workers to end APMT blockage

—–holds sensitisation workshop on role as economic regulator

Eyewitness reporter

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has appealed to the striking dockworkers to sheath their swords to enable the council to resolve the contending issues.

The top management of the Council, led by its Executive Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Jime, during its advocacy visit to the leadership of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Thursday, pleaded with the union to give the Council some time to engage the management of the APMT in order to bring peace between the two warring parties.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the President General of the Union, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, commended the management of the Shippers’ Council for its various efforts in the maritime industry.

Comrade Adeyanju expressed disappointment with the attitude of APM Terminal management, specifically its “hire & fire” system.

He also complained about the poor retirement package APMT gives its employees.

Also speaking at the meeting was the District chairman, APMT, Com. Tunde Balogun spoke about APM Terminal’s employment of foreign workers instead of Nigerians, demotion of staff in order to accommodate expatriates in higher positions of the organization and the employment of inexperienced workers in high positions in the organization.

He also bemoaned the discriminatory payment structure of the organization.

However, Adeyanju promised that the union will consider the plea of the Council in order to end the strike action.

It would be recalled that the angry dockworkers commenced a warning three-day strike on Wednesday to ask for a wage increase and protest the alleged ill-treatment of Nigerian workers by the APMT management.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council holds a sensitisation workshop Friday on its role as an economic regulator of the maritime industry.

The sensitisation programme is facilitated by the Ministry of Transportation

The programme, which will be chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr Magdalene Ajani, is scheduled to hold Friday 22nd, July 2022 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, by 9.00 am.

The theme of the programme “Port Economic Regulator – NSC in Focus” is aimed at enlightening the stakeholders and the general public on the mandate of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as Port Economic Regulator.

A paper titled ” Promoting Competitiveness and Compliance in Nigerian Maritime Industry”, will be presented at this much-anticipated event by Prof. Bongo Adi, a maritime economist.

Regulated Service Providers, CEOs of Regulatory Agencies, Maritime Experts, Lawyers, Organized Private Sector and Shippers, Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders are expected to attend the sensitization programme.

It may be recalled that the Federal Government’s Port Reform programme of 2006 transferred the ownership of Nigerian ports to private investors.

In the reform, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) was the Landlord and the technical regulator for the ports while there was no agency in the maritime sector given the mandate of the port economic regulator.

. This brought about irregularities in the shipping sector. The anomalies include the imposition of different tariff headings by terminal operators and shipping lines/agents, lack of holding bays for containers, shortage of modern cargo handling equipment, etc.

In order to address the anomalies, the maritime stakeholders sought the appointment of a regulator for the ports.

On February 14, 2014, the Federal Government pronounced the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as an interim port regulator.

Shippers’ Council had before that always protected the interest of shippers.

In 2015, the Federal Government declared the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the Port Economic Regulator.

As the port economic regulator, NSC was saddled with the responsibility to institute effective regulation at ports, working with other government agencies.

The Council has over the years also embarked on various initiatives to bring sanity to the ports.

Headlines

NIWA partners ICPC to strengthen internal transparency in its operations

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has announced new strategies aimed at improving its operational system and enhancing collaboration with key stakeholders as part of efforts to boost efficiency and accountability.

Speaking at a post event Press Conference at NIWA Headquarters Lokoja, the Acting Managing Director, Umar Yusuf Girei, while answering questions from journalists stated that, the organization convened a two -day Executive and Anti-Corruption training with the theme “Strengthening Integrity and Revenue System in Inland Waterways Management” organized for Board Members, Management and Area Managers and also 2026 NIWA Management Retreat in Abuja.

The Acting MD noted as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,with the support Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Authority is focused on aligning institutional goals in ensuring better service delivery to Nigerians.

He further said, as part of its anti-corruption drive, the Management held discussions with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to explore measures for strengthening transparency within its operations.

Girei therefore, assured staff that the ongoing reforms under his watch would translate into improved service and better working conditions.

“NIWA remains committed to continuous improvement and stakeholder engagement and the reforms are expected to enhance both internal performance and public confidence”. he stated.

Headlines

Navy appoints new Maritime Guard Commander for NIMASA

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has approved the appointment of Commodore Reginald Odeodi Adoki as the Commander of the Maritime Guard Command at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Commodore Adoki takes over from Commodore H.C Oriekeze who has been redeployed.

Commodore Adoki, a principal Warfare Officer specializing in communication and intelligence, brings onboard 25 years experience in the Nigerian Navy covering training, staff and operations.

As a seaman, he has commanded NNS Andoni, NNS Kyanwa and NNS Kada.

It was under his command that NNS Kada under took her maiden voyage, sailing from the country of build (the United Arab Emirates) into Nigeria.

He was commissioned into the Nigerian Navy in 2000 with a BSc in Mathematics.

He has since earned a Masters in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos and an M.Sc in Terrorism, Security and Policing at University of Leicester, England.

He is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Defence and Security Studies at the National Defence Academy (NDA).

He is a highly decorated officer with several medals for distinguished service.

Welcoming the new MGC Commander to the Agency, the Director General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, expressed confidence in Adoki’s addition to the team, emphasising that it will further strengthen the nation’s maritime security architecture given his vast experience in the industry.

The Maritime Guard Command domiciled in NIMASA was established as part of the resolutions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Navy to assist NIMASA strengthen operational efficiency in Nigeria’s territorial waters, especially through enforcement of security, safety and other maritime regulations.

Customs

Customs collects N1.585 trillion from 51 compliant traders under AEO programme

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), one of the trade facilitation tools introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service in 2025, has begun to yield bountiful harvests with the revenue growth of ₦362.79 billion recorded in 2025.

According to the AEO scorecard released by the Service, the facilitation tool grossed the sum of N1.585 trillion after certification, an increase revenue from N1.222 trillion before certification.

This represents the growth of N362.79 billion(29.68 per cent) for 51 AEO – certified entities as at October, 2025.

The Programme, according to the NCS, also contributed 21.77% to its total revenue collection of ₦7.281 trillion in 2025, while customs duties paid rose by 85.66% due to enhanced compliance and increased volumes of legitimate trade.

According to AEO Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Report, the Programme achieved an average compliance rate of 85.45 per cent with the highest at 100 per cent and the lowest at 60 per cent.

“The evaluation applied rigorous methodologies to ensure objectivity, transparency, and alignment with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards and the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

“In the area of trade facilitation, AEO participation reduced average cargo clearance time from 168 hours to 41 hours, representing a 75.60% time saving.

“Company operating costs declined by 57.2 per cent while demurrage payments dropped by 90 per cent, limiting capital flight to foreign-owned port service providers and strengthening foreign exchange retention.

” Overall trade efficiency improved by 77.11 per through digitalisation, simplified procedures, and targeted risk management” the Customs declared in the AEO scorecard.

However, the Service singled out with Eight companies for commendation due to their integrity and compliance under the programme.

The companies include Coleman Technical Industries Limited, WACOT Rice Limited, ROMSON Oil Field Services Ltd, WACOT Limited, Chi Farms Ltd, CORMART Nigeria Ltd, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.

The Service lauded them for a cumulative voluntary remittance of over a billion naira into the Federation Account following their self-initiated transaction review and disclosure.

“These actions reflect the strengthening of post-clearance audit mechanisms and a growing culture of voluntary compliance within the trading community.

Nevertheless, the Service suspended a firm under the programme for its non- compliance and display of lack of integrity.

The suspended firm engaged in false declaration of consignments contrary to programme obligations.

“Consequently, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, directed the immediate suspension of the company’s AEO status in accordance with the AEO Guidelines, the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards, and Section 112 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

The NCS reiterated that the AEO Programme is founded on trust, transparency, and continuous compliance.

“While compliant operators will continue to benefit from expedited clearance and reduced inspection, appropriate sanctions will be applied where violations are established.

“The Service remains resolute in safeguarding national revenue, facilitating legitimate trade, and preserving the integrity and global credibility of Nigeria’s AEO framework” the NCS concluded in the report.