Headlines

Removal of fuel subsidy: How to enhance fuel efficiency of your car

The Eyewitness Educational Series

It is no longer news that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has eventually taken the tough decision of removing fuel subsidy.

This decision, though painful but desirable, is to free the funds trapped in the wasteful subsidy regime and use it to provide other social amenities and build more infrastructure.

However, one of the direct consequences of subsidy removal is the high cost of Premium Motor Spirit ( PMS) otherwise known as petrol.

Since the new development, the average cost of fuel per litre is between N488 to N530, depending on your state in Nigeria.

Therefore it is imperative to ensure that your cars consume less fuel to save costs.

Below are the quick tips car owners should know to enhance the fuel efficiency of their automobiles.

These tips are best suited for automatic transmission vehicles.

Driving an automatic is easy. The whole driving experience is comfortable and convenient, when there’s no having to shift the gears up and down.

However, automatic cars tend to be less fuel efficient than manual ones.

The slightly higher fuel consumption figure is due to the engine working a little harder, as they use a bit more gas to transmit power through an automatic transmission than a manual one.

Here are some tricks and tips on how to drive your automatic car to save fuel and money, while keeping your vehicle running smoothly.

Even Out the Acceleration :

When driving an automatic car, one way to save fuel is to even out your acceleration. This can be done by gradually pressing down on the gas pedal instead of sudden, jerky movements. It’s also helpful to anticipate stopping, easing off the accelerator to slow down, rather than braking suddenly.Additionally, try to maintain a steady speed on the motorway and avoid changing lanes and speeding up and slowing down frequently.

Use cruise control (when on flat, straight roads) or the speed limiter to maintain a steady and consistent speed, helping you avoid slowing down or speeding unnecessarily. Remember, the key is to drive smoothly and anticipate the road and traffic ahead.

Don’t Rest Your Foot on the Brake:

One of the best ways to save fuel is to avoid resting your foot on the brake. Most cars have a footrest right beside the pedal, so get used to putting your left foot there — it’ll help you keep your foot off the brake, so you can continue moving forward smoothly.Resting your foot on the brake can also wear out your brakes quicker, and increases drag (even if only slightly).

Use the AC Sparingly:

Using your air conditioning constantly can have an impact on fuel efficiency.

To save fuel, it’s best to use your air conditioning sparingly. One way to do this is by rolling down the windows at lower speeds and using the air conditioning when driving at higher speeds, such as 50 km/h or more.

At these speeds, the AC will have a more significant effect on cooling the car, while the drag caused by open windows will have a greater impact on fuel consumption.

Check Your Tyre Pressure:

Flat or under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which means that your car has to use more energy when you are moving. Maintaining proper tyre pressure can boost the fuel efficiency of your vehicle, so be sure to check and set the correct tyre pressure for your car.Regular wheel alignments will also ensure safer and more efficient driving, so it’s worth making sure you’re getting it done with your regular services.

Control Your Transmission:

Even though you’re driving with an automatic transmission, there are tricks you can use to save fuel.

For one thing, you can coax your car transmission into shifting gears earlier by listening for the engine note and watching the needle on the tachometer to track the RPM when you’re accelerating.

Remember, the higher the engine note climbs, and the higher your RPMs go, the more fuel you’re burning.

Modern cars also come with paddle shifters, so you can control the gears like a manual car while still enjoying the ease of an automatic.Shift to Neutral or Turn off When Stopped:

This is one of the most obvious ways to save fuel and also one of the most effective. When you stop in traffic, shift into neutral and idle your engine. That way, your transmission isn’t working harder to keep up with your idle speed, and therefore uses less fuel than if it were running.Modern engines use far less fuel when you start them than if you let them idle for an extended period of time — so it’s better to turn everything off if you’re waiting around or are going to be parked for more than a minute or so.

Plan Ahead:

Before you set out on your drive, prepare for your commute. Google Maps or other Sat nav tools can help you find the best route to take — one that bypasses congestion or school pick-up and drop-off times. Where you can, avoid traffic lights and crossing intersections, as they are likely to cause you to stop and start quickly often. This way, you’ll save on gas and your valuable time.If you’re likely to make multiple trips, try to knock out more than one errand at a time, so you don’t have to head out on multiple journeys.

Utilise Your Vehicle’s Technology:

Alongside Sat nav for efficient journeys and cruise control for smoothing out the ups and downs, there are other clever features in your car that help track and control your fuel consumption.On the multi-information display, some driver-assist systems will show how much fuel you’re consuming in a litres per 100kms figure. You may find it a worthy challenge to adjust your driving habits to see if you can reduce this figure.

The automatic function of hill-hold control is especially effective when driving from a stopped position up a steep incline. It holds your vehicle temporarily so your car won’t roll back down as you release the brake pedal to accelerate, reducing the use of fuel.

Tyre pressure monitoring systems let you know if and which tyre needs topping up on air, which helps improve overall fuel efficiency.

Stay On Top of Maintenance:

By regularly servicing your vehicle and keeping it in tip-top shape, you can ensure that the engine is running exactly as it should — at its most fuel-efficient level.Keeping the fluids topped up and replacing faulty components and consumables like oil and air filters is essential.

If in doubt, follow the service schedule for your specific vehicle. Staying on top of maintenance will reduce the chances of something going wrong with the car that might cause it to burn more fuel than usual.

Lighten Your Load:

This might seem like a no-brainer, but having excess weight in your car can affect your gas mileage. Additional weight requires more power, and therefore fuel, to move, so removing the items in your luggage area that you don’t require for the trip will save you at the pump.Also, items like roof racks or roof boxes cause drag which reduces the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Be sure to remove these items when you are not requiring them to keep your vehicle as streamlined as possible.

Develop fuel-efficient habits with these tips

So there you have it! Ten tricks to save fuel when driving an automatic car. Be sure to follow these tips to help you drive more efficiently, save money on fuel, and keep your car in the best condition possible.

Headlines

MARAN trains 20 members at shipping institute, pledges sustained capacity building

Gloria Odion, Maritme reporter

The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has trained 20 of its members at the Chartered Institute of Shipping of Nigeria (CISN) in a renewed effort to deepen maritime journalists’ technical knowledge, strengthen professional competence and improve the quality of reporting on Nigeria’s shipping industry and emerging blue economy.

The Graduate Induction Training Programme, which ended on Saturday, October 10, 2026, exposed participants to the technical, regulatory, operational and environmental dimensions of the maritime industry.

Participants are expected to obtain a Postgraduate Diploma Certificate in Shipping upon successful completion of the programme.

The training covered critical areas, including maritime safety and security, integrated marine environment management, shipping and port management, cargo clearance procedures and documentation, as well as the marine and blue economy.

The initiative underscores MARAN’s determination to bridge the knowledge gap between maritime journalism and the technical realities of the shipping industry, equipping its members with the expertise required to report more accurately and analytically on developments across the sector.

Delivering the first lecture, a CISN lecturer, Mr Patrick Ambakederimo, examined the principles of maritime safety and security, highlighting their significance to efficient shipping operations, the protection of lives and property, and the sustainability of maritime activities.

He discussed the identification and management of risks associated with vessel operations, cargo handling and other maritime activities, emphasising the need for strict compliance with safety regulations, regular inspections, adequate crew training and effective emergency response mechanisms.

Participants were also exposed to the importance of intelligence sharing, effective surveillance, coordinated security operations and adherence to relevant international maritime security standards.

The lecture distinguished between maritime safety, which focuses on preventing accidents and operational hazards, and maritime security, which addresses deliberate threats, unlawful activities and other hostile acts within the maritime domain.

Another CISN lecturer, Mr Sunday Duru, delivered a lecture on integrated marine environment management, examining the need for coordinated strategies to protect marine and coastal ecosystems from the environmental pressures associated with shipping, port operations and coastal development.

Duru stressed the importance of collaboration among government agencies, maritime operators, environmental organisations, coastal communities and other stakeholders in addressing environmental challenges confronting the maritime industry.

He identified marine pollution, oil spills, improper waste disposal, plastic pollution and the degradation of coastal ecosystems as critical concerns requiring sustained attention.

He also highlighted the importance of environmental monitoring, pollution prevention, proper waste management and effective enforcement of environmental regulations in safeguarding Nigeria’s marine resources.

Other courses covered shipping and port management, cargo clearance procedures and documentation, and the marine and blue economy.

These sessions were designed to broaden participants’ understanding of the commercial and operational processes underpinning shipping and port activities, while exposing them to the economic opportunities available in fisheries, coastal tourism and other ocean-related industries.

Speaking on the initiative, MARAN President, Oluyinka Onigbinde, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to sustained capacity building as a strategy for producing a corps of maritime journalists equipped to report the industry with greater accuracy, depth and professionalism.

Onigbinde maintained that effective maritime journalism required more than the ability to gather information and write news reports, stressing that journalists must understand the policies, regulations, commercial transactions and operational processes that shape the industry.

According to him, a technically informed maritime press would be better positioned to interrogate policy decisions, scrutinise industry practices, hold stakeholders accountable and explain complex maritime issues to the public.

He said MARAN would sustain its professional development initiatives through strategic partnerships with maritime institutions, government agencies and private-sector operators, creating more opportunities for members to acquire specialised knowledge and practical industry experience.

The association, he added, would continue to explore training programmes that expose members to emerging trends in shipping, port operations, maritime security, international trade and the blue economy.

Onigbinde stressed that continuous professional development was essential to strengthening the credibility of maritime journalism and improving public understanding of the sector’s contribution to national economic growth.

He expressed optimism that the knowledge acquired by participants would translate into improved reporting, particularly in the coverage of port efficiency, shipping operations, maritime safety, environmental sustainability and government policies affecting the industry.

The training comes at a time when Nigeria is intensifying efforts to improve port competitiveness, strengthen maritime security, promote environmental sustainability and unlock the economic potential of its marine resources.

For MARAN, the programme represents an investment not only in the professional development of its members but also in the quality of public discourse on the maritime industry.

By equipping journalists with a deeper understanding of the sector’s technical and commercial realities, the association hopes to promote more informed reporting, strengthen accountability and enhance public appreciation of the maritime industry’s role in Nigeria’s economic development.

Customs

MACI hails Customs’ anti-corruption framework, demands full implementation

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Media Anti-Corruption Initiative (MACI) has applauded the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for introducing a comprehensive anti-corruption framework aimed at identifying institutional vulnerabilities, strengthening internal controls and promoting integrity across the operations of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

The initiative, which MACI described as a significant milestone in the fight against corruption within the Service, is anchored on three key documents signed by the Customs chief: the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Internal Corruption Risk Analysis and Mapping (ICRAM), the ICRAM Handbook and the Integrity Action Plan (IAP).

In a statement jointly signed by MACI President, Funso Olojo, and Project Coordinator, Lod Onyeji, the organisation described the development as a “pivotal moment in the fight against corruption within the Nigeria Customs Service.”

Mr Olojo, who commended the initiative of the Customs, noted that the stance of the agency on corruption is in alignment with the aims and objectives of MACI which is an advocate for corruption- free society.

The signing ceremony, held on October 6th, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja, also witnessed the inauguration of the ICRAM Steering Committee, which is responsible for identifying, assessing and mapping corruption risks across the Service’s operations.

According to the statement, the framework represents a proactive institutional approach to tackling corruption by identifying vulnerabilities in Customs processes and establishing measures to prevent abuse of office, improve accountability and strengthen public confidence in the Service.

The Comptroller-General, Adeniyi, disclosed that the framework was developed in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and partner administrations, including His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the United Kingdom.

He explained that the documents provide practical guidance for Customs officers operating at seaports, land borders and airports, equipping them with procedures and controls designed to promote integrity, transparency and accountability in the discharge of their responsibilities.

MACI noted that the introduction of the framework followed a pilot programme conducted across seven Customs Commands and Units, covering 66 processes spanning regulatory activities, core Customs operations and support functions.

The exercise culminated in the development of a comprehensive Integrity Action Plan containing 101 action items and 295 sub-actions designed to address identified corruption risks and strengthen institutional safeguards.

Key measures outlined in the plan include increased automation and improved audit trails, stronger supervisory mechanisms, clearer accountability structures, effective segregation of duties, regular staff rotations and targeted training programmes.

The framework also seeks to strengthen controls governing interactions between Customs officers and stakeholders, an area considered critical to reducing opportunities for corrupt practices and improving compliance with established procedures.

MACI commended the Customs leadership for adopting a risk-based approach to corruption prevention, noting that identifying and addressing institutional weaknesses before they are exploited is essential to building a transparent and accountable public institution.

The organisation, however, stressed that the effectiveness of the initiative would ultimately depend on the consistent implementation of the prescribed measures across all commands and operational units of the Service.

It therefore urged Customs management, officers, stakeholders and relevant partner institutions to support the full implementation of the framework to ensure that the initiative delivers measurable improvements in institutional integrity.

MACI expressed confidence that effective implementation of the ICRAM framework and Integrity Action Plan would strengthen internal controls, reduce corruption risks, promote ethical conduct and enhance public trust in the Nigeria Customs Service.

The organisation emphasised that the new framework should not merely remain a collection of policy documents but should translate into tangible changes in operational practices, staff conduct and the overall culture of accountability within the Service.

Headlines

NIMASA flaunts automation process of Nigerian ship registry at 2- day webinar with stakeholders

Funso OLOJO Editor

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will host a two-part stakeholder webinar on October 6 and 8, 2026, to showcase the ongoing automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry as part of efforts to modernise ship registration services and enhance the competitiveness of the Nigerian flag.

The webinars will provide shipowners, operators, maritime professionals, financial institutions, insurers and other stakeholders with insights into the new digital registration platform and its potential to significantly improve the speed, transparency and efficiency of ship registration and related services.

The automated system is designed to enable 24/7 access to registration services, streamline application and approval processes, and facilitate faster issuance of electronic certificates, thereby reducing administrative delays associated with conventional paper-based procedures.

A key feature of the platform is its capacity to provide secure, real-time tracking of ship mortgages and related registry transactions. This will strengthen transparency and provide greater visibility for stakeholders, including financial institutions and other parties involved in vessel financing.

The automation initiative is also expected to make interaction with the Nigerian Ship Registry more seamless for local and international shipowners, while improving the Agency’s ability to deliver efficient, responsive and globally competitive flag-state services.

Speaking on the initiative, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the automation of the Ship Registry was part of the Agency’s broader commitment to transforming the Nigerian flag and creating an enabling environment for increased participation in the global shipping industry.

“The automation of the Nigerian Ship Registry represents a significant step in our commitment to providing efficient, transparent and globally competitive services to shipowners and other maritime stakeholders.

“Our objective is to make the Nigerian flag more accessible, responsive and attractive through technology-driven processes that meet international standards,” Mobereola declared.

The ongoing user-testing phase is focused on validating the platform’s functionality, security and user experience ahead of its official deployment.

NIMASA said the webinars would also provide an opportunity for stakeholders to understand the platform, experience its key features and provide feedback as the Agency moves towards full implementation.

The Agency is inviting shipowners, ship managers, maritime professionals, financial institutions, insurers, legal practitioners, classification societies and other interested stakeholders to participate in the webinars.