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Sanwoolu flags off distribution of subsidy palliatives to 500,000 vulnerable families in Lagos

The Eyewitness Reporter
As part of the measures to cushion the biting effects of the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government, the Lagos state government has flagged off the distribution of various food items to vulnerable households in the state.
At the flag-off ceremony in Lagos Sunday, the Governor of the State, Mr Babajide Sanwolu, declared that the gesture was meant to reach and impact 500, 000 vulnerable households in the state.
Amidst the heavy downpour, representatives of various interest groups such as the media, non-government organizations ( NGO), market women, artisans, Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWD) and religious groups gathered on the open group at the governor’s office at Alawusa, Ikeja to witness the ceremonial hand over of food items in jute boxes.
Addressing the gathering, Gov. Sanwolu said the distribution of the raw food items was a direct intervention of the government to ameliorate the sufferings of the people occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
According to him, the food items consist of rice, beans and garri and their distribution is in two categories.
The 50kg of rice, 50kg of beans and 50k garri will be distributed to groups while the second category consists of 10kg of rice, 5kg of beans and 5 kg of garri neatly packaged in jute boxes shall be distributed to vulnerable individuals.
Sanwolu stated that the items would be distributed through different groups and institutions such as NGOs, CDC, CDA, PLWD, religious groups and people under the Lagos state social protection list which is a register of vulnerable people in the state.
The governor also disclosed that the state government has set up a monitoring group consisting of representatives of trade unions, youths, CDC, CDA, PLWD and religious organizations that will drive and monitor the distribution process to ensure transparency and equitable distribution of these items.
He appealed to the committee to ensure that the items trickle down to the people they are meant for.
He warned the members of the committee, especially the religious leaders,  not to hoard nor divert the items, so that their prayers could be answered by God.
“The distribution of the items will be done in phases to avoid congestion in the process.
”About 500,000 vulnerable households would benefit, 2500 micro, small and medium enterprises will be impacted by this gesture ” the governor declared.
He revealed that all the items were sourced from local sellers from public markets at Ojuwoye, Oshodi, Ikorodu and Epe to stimulate the local economy.
Sanwolu also stated that all the government warehouses in the State have been stockpiled with these items.
He, therefore, appealed to people for support and patience in the face of this hardship but promised that government would continue to initiate programmes that would mitigate the challenges.
It would be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the disbursement of N5 billion to each of the 36 stayes and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja as part of measures to ameliorate the crushing effects of the removal of fuel subsidy.
Some of the states, including Lagos state, have commenced the distribution of food items as palliatives to vulnerable citizens.
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Headlines

Customs Steps Up Nationwide Green Tax Awareness Ahead of July 1 Rollout

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its nationwide sensitisation campaign ahead of the July 1, 2026 implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge and related fiscal adjustments, aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and encouraging the importation of cleaner vehicles.

The awareness campaign, held on Friday July 26th, 2026 at the Apapa Area Command, brought together Customs officers, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, importers and other key stakeholders under the theme: “Implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge and Related Fiscal Adjustments.”

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, Mohammed Babadende, said the exercise was designed to ensure stakeholders fully understand the policy before its implementation.

“This sensitisation is designed to ensure that every stakeholder clearly understands the policy before implementation. Our objective is to eliminate uncertainty, promote voluntary compliance and guarantee uniform application of the Green Tax Surcharge across all commands,” Babadende stated.

Delivering a technical presentation, the Comptroller in charge of Tariff, System Audit and Coordination, Murtala Muazu, explained that the Green Tax Surcharge is different from conventional fiscal measures and would therefore require a separate assessment process.

He disclosed that the Service has simplified implementation through the HS Code declaration platform to facilitate seamless compliance by importers and clearing agents.

Muazu also revealed that the Federal Government has reduced import levies on vehicles from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, while import duty on used vehicles has been slashed from 15 per cent to five per cent to cushion the impact of the new environmental surcharge.

Area Controllers who participated in the sensitisation urged importers, licensed customs agents and the trading public to embrace the initiative, stressing that the reduction in import levies would lower the cost of doing business, promote legitimate trade and ultimately reduce transportation costs.

Stakeholders welcomed the policy but called for sustained public enlightenment to deepen understanding and ensure seamless compliance ahead of the July 1 commencement date.

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Headlines

Beyond Lagos: The untold realities of Nigeria’s Eastern corridor seaports

Monday Discourse with  Ibrahim Nasiru
When the World Bank and S&P Global recently released the 2025 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), the headlines understandably erupted in celebration.
For Tin Can Island and Apapa to land in the global Top 20 for performance gains is undoubtedly a historic milestone.
Yet, for seasoned maritime analysts and industry stakeholders, a glaring question remains: what about the rest of Nigeria’s coastlines?
While the satellite data accurately captures a localized turnaround in the Lagos pilotage districts, it simultaneously masks a stark regional imbalance.
The narrative of Nigerian maritime modernization cannot begin and end in Lagos.
 To truly turn the tide, the conversation must expand to the Eastern Corridor encompassing Onne Port, Port Harcourt Port, Calabar Port, and Warri Port.
The fundamental issue is that the World Bank’s CPPI relies strictly on automated vessel AIS data tracking.
It registers a win when ship turnaround times shrink at a berth, but it completely shuts out the structural and geographical deficiencies that prevent large vessels from even sailing into Eastern waters in the first place.
Modern deep sea shipping lines require drafts starting at 15 meters.
While multi-billion naira investments and natural depths allow Lagos and the expanding Lekki Deep Sea Port to receive mega-vessels, Calabar Port remains severely hindered by an un-dredged channel hovering around a shallow 6 to 7 meters.
Port Harcourt suffers from similar shallow constraints. Without aggressive, patriotic capital dredging projects, the devils in the details ensure that these regional Ports remain underutilized, regardless of how much digitization is deployed on paper.
It is easy for policymakers to announce massive financial interventions.
Critics are entirely right to point out that the Federal Government’s massive Port modernization plans must yield measurable metrics on the ground, not just political headlines.
However, recent data shows that commercial viability is waiting to be unlocked.
In overall cargo throughput metrics, Onne Port has consistently proven that the Eastern flank possesses massive economic power when given the operational room to breathe.
The roadmap for greenfield developments like the Ibom deep seaport and others exists, but real execution under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework will be the ultimate judge of these investments.
The current operational reality forces an unnatural economic bottleneck.
 Importers in the South-East and South-South regions frequently clear their goods in Lagos, only to transport them across hundreds of kilometers of volatile highways back to Eastern markets.
This layout drives up logistics expenses, completely wiping out the macro efficiencies celebrated in recent National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) trade surplus figures.
The next institutional hurdle for the Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, is the implementation of a unified, cooperative Port development strategy.
This requires more than just launching an electronic call-up system; it demands a deliberate re-alignment of tariff structures that actively incentivizes shipping consortia to divert traffic to regional hubs.
Ultimately, a Port system is only as strong as its weakest link. Celebrating the World Bank validation of Apapa and Tin Can is fair, but treating it as a nationwide victory is premature.
Until the institutional bottlenecks, channel depths, and security challenges of the Eastern Corridor seaports are solved with the same urgency applied to Lagos, Nigeria’s maritime sector will continue running on half its cylinders.
True maritime competitiveness is not won by building an elite logistics island in one state, but by unlocking the full economic potentials of the nation’s entire coastline.
Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs Analyst, writes from Abuja
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Features

Beyond Lagos ports: Why NPA should position Eastern ports for global recognition

Chief Nasiru Ibrahim

Monday Discourse with Ibrahim Nasiru focuses on why government should look beyond Lagos ports and position Eastern ports for global recognition.

Our feature last week on the World Bank Top 20 ranking for Tin Can and Apapa Ports sparked an intense industry debate.

The biggest question raised: What about the rest of Nigeria’s coastlines?

Dropping tomorrow morning, June 29th, 2026,we go beyond the Lagos headlines to break down the hidden operational realities of Nigeria’s Eastern Ports.

Don’t miss “Beyond Lagos: The Untold Realities of Nigeria’s Eastern Corridor Seaports”

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