Headlines

Lagos govt. commences clean-up of Apapa – Oworonshoki Expressway

The Eyewitness Reporter

The Lagos State government, through the Lagos Waste Management Authority(LAWMA), has commenced the final pre-commissioning cleaning of the recently rebuilt Apapa-Oworonshoki Expressway, focusing on the area around Coconut Bus Stop.

The first phase of the cleanup started a few weeks ago following the removal of the tankers and trailers that had for long queued along the highway, preventing access by LAWMA equipment to clean the rubbish deposited on the road by the unruly tanker drivers and their service providers.

This operation brings together three specialized LAWMA teams, namely,the Operations Team, the Marine and Vegetal Waste Unit, and the Highway Sanitation Sweepers.

The Operations unit will look after the bulk evacuation of waste and coordination of the cleanup operation.

The equipment used are Payloaders, excavators, backhoes, and tipper trucks.

The target is to move over 500 truckloads of bulk waste, setbacks, medians, and drainage channels along the highway; safely transport and dispose at landfills

The Marine and Vegetal waste unit takes care of manual clearing of waste from drainages that cannot be reached by mechanical equipment.

The target of the unit is to ensure the safe and complete removal of remnant waste from drainage channels along the median and sides of the road.

The main objective of the highway sanitation unit is to clean and polish road surfaces to enhance the aesthetics of the highway, using the method of manual sweeping with hard brushes, cleaning with pressure washers to remove residual waste and beautify the area and final mop-up and polishing with mechanical sweepers

The Coordination, monitoring and sustenance unit is responsible for daily strategy sessions and quality checks to ensure the operation runs smoothly and meets high standards.

The unit will also coordinate with other stakeholders like the Nigerian Ports Authority, and Dangote Industries as well as make available double Dino bin locations to cater for public waste collection from markets and low-income communities.

It will also introduce waste monitoring, enforcement, and policing along the Expressway to prevent recurrence.

The cleanup effort by LAWMA underscores its commitment to improving environmental quality and enhancing the aesthetic appeal of our roads and highways.

“Our overarching goal is to ensure a clean and pleasant environment for both residents and commuter” the agency said.

Headlines

Tantita gifts military 15 gun boats to enhance security surveillance on Nigeria’s waters

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter

In a bid to further decapitate the capacity of pirates and armed robbers at sea, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, has donated 15 sophisticated and high- caliber gun boats to Nigerian Armed Forces.

Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited is a private security company headquartered in Effurun, Delta State, specializing in protecting Nigeria’s vital oil and gas infrastructure through pipeline protection, paramilitary escort, and advanced surveillance operations.

The commissioning ceremony took place at the Nigerian Navy Boatyard in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, May 14th, 2026.

The company handed over seven gun boats to the Nigeria Army while the Nigeria Navy got eight gun boats.

The vessels are expected to enhance joint operations against oil theft, piracy, and other maritime crimes in the Niger Delta and coastal waters.

The event featured military officials, representatives of Tantita Security Services, and dignitaries from Rivers State government.

The commissioning underscored the importance of public-private collaboration in safeguarding Nigeria’s waterways.

Officials emphasized that the deployment of these gun boats will strengthen surveillance, rapid response, and deterrence against criminal activities threatening national economic assets.

Nigeria’s maritime domain has long been vulnerable to illegal bunkering, smuggling, and piracy.

By equipping both the Army and Navy with modern gun boats, Tantita Security Services aims to reinforce the military’s operational readiness and ensure safer navigation for commercial and civilian vessels.

Headlines

APMT pledges fresh $600m investment to boost terminal operations at Apapa port.

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The APM Terminals has pledged a fresh investment portfolio of $600m to shore up its terminal operations at the Apapa Port.

The Dutch company operates the largest container terminals in the West African sub- regional at Apapa port.

The Regional President, APM Terminals Africa-Europe, Igor van den Essen, disclosed this when he led other executives, including Head of Investments, APM Terminals, Martijn Van Dongen, and CEO, APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, to meet with President Tinubu on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.

Igor van den Essen said the proposed investments will be deployed in Apapa port modernisation, logistics infrastructure, and long-term private-sector investment in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

President Tinubu welcomed the investments, emphasising that Nigeria is repositioning itself for greater competitiveness through ongoing economic reforms and infrastructure modernisation.

He said the country is determined to move beyond structural bottlenecks and outdated systems, stressing the need for advanced technology, faster cargo processing, and improved operational efficiency across the nation’s ports.

He emphasised that Nigeria possesses the market scale, talent base, and economic potential to support globally competitive maritime and logistics infrastructure investments and called on other investors to take advantage of Nigeria’s reform outcomes.

Earlier, Igor van den Essen lauded President Tinubu’s reform agenda and policy direction, which had strengthened investor confidence and created renewed momentum for long-term infrastructure investments.

He described Nigeria as a strategic stronghold within its African operations, referencing over 20 years of collaboration and substantial existing investments in the country’s port ecosystem.

He reaffirmed his company’s commitment to expanding investments in Nigeria and disclosed plans to support the development of world-class terminal infrastructure and technology-driven port operations.

He also commended President Tinubu for establishing the National Single Window (NSW), which has streamlined trade procedures, improved Customs coordination, and reduced delays in cargo clearance.

In another meeting with Winme Group executives, President Bola Tinubu called for deeper investment partnerships to unlock Nigeria’s opportunities in logistics, mining, shipping, and integrated infrastructure development.

He stressed the need for integrated investments linking ports, transport systems, processing facilities, and export infrastructure to drive industrial growth and competitiveness.

The delegation expressed confidence in Nigeria’s long-term investment potential, having closely followed President Tinubu’s reforms.

Customs

At UNILORIN conference, Adeniyi advocates for human- driven technology for balanced developmental efforts

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter

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‎The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to responsible digital transformation and innovation driven governance during his keynote address at the 4th Biennial International Conference organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Ilorin, in collaboration with the Faculty of Philology, RUDN University, Russia.

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‎The conference, themed “Disruptive Technology: Human and Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Economy,” was held on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, at the University of Ilorin Main Auditorium.

The event attracted academics, communication experts, technology professionals, researchers, policymakers, and heads of government agencies to deliberate on the growing influence of digital innovation and artificial intelligence on governance, education, trade, and economic development.

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‎In his address, CGC Adeniyi stressed the importance of balancing technological advancement with human responsibility, noting that the future of the digital economy depends not only on artificial intelligence but also on ethics, leadership, and institutional capacity.

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‎“The digital age is, in the end, a human story, and the real test of our generation is not how powerful our machines become, but how wisely our societies choose to use them,” Adeniyi stated.

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‎He observed that disruptive technologies such as digital payments, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and smart systems have already reshaped global operations, adding that the world is no longer preparing for disruption but actively functioning within it.

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‎According to him, government institutions must ensure that technological innovation strengthens transparency, public trust, and operational efficiency without compromising accountability.

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‎Drawing from the Nigeria Customs Service’s experience, the CGC highlighted ongoing digital transformation initiatives, particularly the deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, which has significantly improved trade facilitation, cargo processing, and inter-agency collaboration.

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‎He disclosed that the platform generated over N230 billion at the PTML Command within its first eight months of deployment, while cargo clearance timelines for compliant traders have been reduced to less than eight hours.

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‎“The partnership, not the rivalry, between human and artificial intelligence is where the real value lies,” he said, adding that technology delivers optimal results when guided by strong institutional values and ethical standards.

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‎Adeniyi further noted that although artificial intelligence enhances efficiency, risk management, and decision-making, human expertise and leadership remain indispensable to effective governance and enforcement.

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‎“Technology changes processes leadership and expertise still deliver the results,” he added.

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‎The CGC also called for stronger collaboration among universities, research institutions, and public agencies to develop practical solutions to emerging digital and governance challenges.

He urged academic institutions to move beyond theoretical learning and play a more active role in innovation and policy development.

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‎He identified areas where academia can support Customs modernisation efforts, including digital compliance systems, AI-driven risk management, public trust communication strategies, and the governance of cross border data flows.

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‎Adeniyi further advocated for the development of digital governance frameworks tailored to African realities, legal systems, and developmental priorities, emphasising that technological advancement must remain accountable to the people it serves.

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‎On the sidelines of the conference,the CGC engaged with heads of government agencies, scholars, communication professionals, traditional rulers, and institutional leaders on opportunities for collaboration in digital innovation, research, community development, and capacity building.