Headlines

Public hearing on Nigerian Shipping bill holds, not postponed- Abdussamad Dasuki

Tajudeen Abbas, Speakers House of Representatives.

–as House Committee on Shipping Services tackles Port and Harbour Committee over purported cancellation

Funso Olojo

There is an intense intrigue to frustrate the bill that seeks to give legal backing to the Nigerian Shippers’Council as the economic regulator of the maritime industry.

After many years of wearing the toga of an economic regulator devoid of legal powers, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, sponsored a bill to repeal the NSC Act (Cap N133, LFN 2004) and 2010 and enact The Nigerian Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Bill that will empower the Shippers’Council to regulate the services of service providers in the industry.

The Committee on Shipping Services, which is handling the bill, therefore called and fixed a public hearing on the bill for Monday, May 27th, 2024, thus sending invitations to all the relevant stakeholders to attend the session.

Curiously, about 48 hours before the event, another committee in the House, the Committee on Ports and Harbour, announced that the event, which it was not the major convener, had been postponed indefinitely.

In its letter of postponement written to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, the Clerk of the Committee, Delupe Abiodun Suraj, said the postponement was due to another national engagement which the committee has the same day.

However, our reporter gathered that the purported letter was a clear game plan in the series of political intrigues meant to frustrate the bill seeking to empower the Shippers’Council as an economic regulator with the force of the law.

It could be recalled that since the Council assumed the role of economic regulator, it has been struggling to enforce the rules of engagement with the service providers without success due to lack of legal powers.

However, the Chairman of House Committee on Shipping Services, who convened the public hearing, has said that the event will still hold on Monday, May 27th, 2024.

Sources in the Shippers’Council, also confirmed the position of the lawmaker, saying the event will still go ahead as scheduled and the Council is on ground to attend the public hearing on Monday, May 27th, 2024.

Prince Olayiwola Shittu, another visible stakeholder and former National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) said the purported postponement was not true as relevant stakeholders are already in Abuja as at Sunday, May 26th, 2024 to attend the public hearing.

“It’s not true, Sir( the purported postponement). The program is going on. We’re already in Abuja” he declared via Whatsapp message.

However, sources in the industry accused those who ” are threatened by the legal powers that the bill seeks to give the Nigerian Shippers’Council” of being behind the efforts to truncate the bill.

“We know them. They are threatened by the bill which will transform the Council from a toothless bulldog they usually call the agency to a biting dog” But we are not perturbed by their antics”

The source declared that the bill presents a unique opportunity for genuine stakeholders to attend the public hearing in order to make the Council a formidable force that will effectively regulate the services of the service providers.

He allayed the fears of those who are threatened by the bill that the powers being sought for the council under the proposed Act are to regulate the services and not the organizations.

Another source queried the legality of the Committee on Ports and Harbour to issue a postponement of an event it did not convene.

“It was the Chairman of the Committee on Shipping Services, Abdussamad Dasuki, who invited the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola to the event.

” What justification did a clerk of the Committee on Ports and Harbour have to write to the same minister, canceling the invitation” the source queried.

However, a source close to the Minister said the ministry has no position on the controversial letter.

” It is an issue between two committees in the House which they have to resolve.

“As you know, the legislature is independent of the Executive so we don’t have any position,” the ministry source said.

A source in the Shippers’Council also agreed with the position of the ministry source over the independence of the two arms of government.

” Even if the Minister doesn’t appear at the hearing, it won’t stop the event from being held because the Minister is just one of the stakeholders invited, and if the committee discovers that there is a reasonable attendance of stakeholders, they will conduct the hearing. They are independent of the legislature” he noted.

Another source said if there was going to be any postponement, it should come from the Speaker of the House who sponsored the bill or the Chairman of the Committee on Shipping Services, Abdussamad Dasuki, who invited the minister and not the Clerk of Committee on Ports and Habour.

It could be recalled that a group called Maritime Advocacy Foundation has stated its opposition to the bill, saying, if passed into law, it will run counter to the interests of Nigerian shippers.

Another group which called itself Marine and Blue Economy Integrity Group, has countered the position of the MAF, calling it self-centered and mischievous.

The two opposing groups have further lent credence to the notion that there are some entrenched interests who are threatened by the emerging powers of the NSC and are hell-bent to truncate it.

”They are simply mischious. These are the same people who always said the Council lacks powers as economic regulator. Now it is the same people who are trying to truncate the process to make the council acquire the nececcesry legal backing as economic regul1ator”, another industry stakeholder observed

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.