Headlines

Denmark furious as pirates attack its vessel in Gulf of Guinea

.—- calls for concerted efforts to check menace

——launches manhunts for hijacked vessel

The eyewitness reporter with agency report

Denmark has expressed shock and anger at the attack on its product tanker by pirates.

Months of relative calm in the Gulf of Guinea came to an end on March 25th/26th when an unknown number of pirates boarded a product tanker, tentatively identified as the Monjasa Reformer (IMO 9255878), when it was off the coast of DR Congo, near Point Noire.

Accounts ranged between three and five armed boarders, from a single skiff.

French and UK monitoring agency Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) issued a sequence of warnings advising mariners to avoid the area offshore near the southern border of Congo and Angola.

The AIS of the Monjasa Reformer remained off. The crew was reported to have mustered in the citadel.

Details on the incident remain scarce, but both MDAT-GoG and private security agencies are reporting that pirates approached and successfully boarded the tanker overnight between March 25th and March 26th, with the AIS going off at about midnight.

MDAT-GoG said that a rescue effort was being mounted for the crew.

The tanker was believed to have been laying off the coast, having departed the port several days ago. The last reported position was approximately 140nm west of Port Point Noire.

2003-built, Liberia-flagged, 8,829 gt Monjasa Reformer is owned by Monjasa Chartering III DMC care of Monjasa DMCC of Dubai, UAE. No recent AIS since March 22nd.

But Denmark has called for more action on piracy as the hunt continues for the hijacked product tanker

There are renewed calls for attention and further action on the piracy problem in West Africa in the wake of this week’s ongoing hijacking of a product tanker off Congo.

Danske Rederier, the Danish shipping trade and employer organization, issued a statement saying that the current attack “unfortunately shows with all clarity that the problems with piracy in West Africa are far from solved.”

The group said it is working with the relevant authorities and Monjasa as the vessel’s owner to resolve the situation and get the seafarers home safely.

The organization said while none of the seafarers aboard the product tanker are Danish, its thoughts go out to seafarers and their families, while also calling for continued focus on problems with piracy in the region.

This comes as the authorities and the shipowner are still attempting to make contact with the pirates that boarded the Monjasa Reformer on March 25.

The French and British-operated Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) continues to ask for the assistance of vessels in the area to report possible sightings of the product tanker.

They confirmed a report from yesterday that placed the Monjasa Reformer 470 nautical miles to the west-northwest of its original position which was 140 nautical miles off the coast of DR Congo after having departed from Port Pointe-Noire.

“The current situation clearly shows that most countries in the region do not have the necessary resources or capacities to respond to such an incident,” said Anne Steffensen, Director General and CEO of Danske Rederier.

“Since the piracy problem in West Africa has not been solved, we have to find other solutions.”

The organization is calling for considering what contributions Denmark can send to the region to increase training or surveillance after the country withdrew its frigate from the Gulf of Guinea at the start of the war in Ukraine.

Steffensen highlights that there are naval vessels from several countries in the area, including a number of European countries.

She is calling for the EU countries in particular to coordinate their presence to a much greater extent to increase coverage across the region.

Denmark’s calls for more coordinated and consistent actions in the Gulf of Guinea mirror the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB), which in its annual report also highlighted the need for sustained efforts to maintain the progress seen in 2022.

Saying that incidents had dropped to just 19 reports in 2022, they reiterated that the danger remained and that there was a need to maintain security efforts in the region.

Montec Ship Management immediately alerted the authorities when it learned of the ongoing incident. They said they are working with all relevant maritime authorities in the region, including several local and international navies.

MDAT-GoG also reiterated its warnings to mariners advising them to remain clear of the areas where the product tanker has been spotted while also asking for reports of sightings of the black-hulled vessel or any suspicious activity in the Gulf of Guinea.

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.