Headlines

NIWA raises alarm over rising water levels across rivers, lagoons

––vows to enforce strict compliance with safety regulations, use of life jackets by boat operators, passengers

Funso Olojo

The National Inland Waterways Authority(NIWA) has issued an alert on the rising water levels across rivers and lagoons in the country which poses a danger to unregulated water transportation.

In the warning notice issued by the management, the authority said its gauge readers had confirmed the new development.

Consequently, NIWA has advised people living along the river banks across the country to relocate to higher grounds to avoid loss of lives and properties.

In addition, the authority has advised boat operators and passengers to ensure strict compliance with the laid-down safety procedures as it has vowed to ensure strict compliance.

”The National Inland Waterways Authority(NIWA) wishes to inform the General Public that our gauge readers have confirmed the country’s fast-rising water levels across rivers and lagoons.

”Consequently, the authority calls on all persons living at the riverbanks across Nigeria to start preparing to relocate to higher grounds to avoid the loss of lives and properties in the advert of a flood.

”Specifically, the boat operators and passengers are advised to take note of the rising tides and ensure strict adherence to safety regulations on the inland waterways, including compulsory use of life jackets always.

”The Inland Waterways transportation regulations 2023 has been gazetted and compliance shall be enforced”, the notice concluded.

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Customs

Lilypond export processing terminal processes $1.9billion value of export goods in 2024.

Funso OLOJO

The collapse of all the export terminals in the Lagos Ports into a consolidated export terminal at the Lilypond Port has boosted export of goods in the country as the terminal processed the sum of $1.9b in 2024.

Making this revelation on Thursday, March 13th, 2025 while interacting with the members of the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN), the

Customs Area Controller (CAC), Lilypond Export Command, Ajibola Odusanya, declared that processing of exports at the dedicated Lilypond Port has improved significantly, reducing processing time to a few hours.

It would be recalled that the Lilypond export processing terminal came into existence in 2024 from the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) between the Nigeria customs service and the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA).

However, Comptroller Odusanya lamented that transferring the export containers to Apapa Port has become a challenge recently, as priority is placed on exiting import containers out of the port.

He bemoaned that accessing the Export Processing Terminal (EPT) especially in Apapa Port is delayed due to traffic gridlock on the internal port access road.

However, Comptroller Odusanya assured that the the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and APM Terminals are working to improve on the port internal traffic.

“The NPA has contributed significantly to export facilitation by creating the Electronic Call-up System (ETO) and EPTs at the ports, but the internal port access roads would need more attention to clear up for seamless movement of export containers into the ports for outward shipping,” Comptroller Odusanya said.

In 2022, the Nigeria Customs Service and the NPA reached an agreement to make the Lilypond Port an export processing port as part of the country’s deliberate plans to improve exportation of non-oil products.

The Lilypond Port Controller explained that due to the presence of all the relevant agencies in the export port, processing of export goods have become very fast and seamless, leading to processing of about $2 billion worth of exports from the port between July and December 2024.

He said: “Since after the MoU between Customs and NPA to streamline export to Lilypond Command in July 2024 and the command became the only command processing sea bound export, we processed about $2 billion in that period Between and December, 2024.

“In February, 2025, we processed $225 million. This achievement is made possible by collaboration with other government agencies and port stakeholders.

“We now have the DSS, NDLEA, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the quarantine service dedicated to export at Lilypond Port.

“Now, with synergy with these sister agencies, export goods treated at Lilypond port are not stopped by any other agency on its way to Apapa or Tincan port.

“Such export will only be checked by Lilypond Customs officers at the port gate and not necessarily to open the container, except there is a security alert.”

He noted that the NPA and the terminal operators would not allow the ugly port access road situation in Apapa in the past to return.

“If you go to Lilypond now, you will see many containers there, but the problem is not with processing of the exports in Lilypond, but the logistics aspect of moving the containers to the ports.

“Sometimes, even when you have obtained your ETO, you won’t be able to access the port.

“You see the trucks lined up on the road with export containers on them. We have to work on this so that we don’t return to what it was before.

“We have to keep working hard to maintain the sanity on the port road,” Comptroller Odusanya emphasised.

Headlines

Akutah meets Okonjo- Iweala in Geneva to discuss challenges in Nigeria’s maritime industry

Funso OLOJO

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Pius Akutah, has met with the Director -General of World Trade Organization(WTO), Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss the challenges facing the Nigeria’ s maritime industry and find possible solutions.

Akutah and his team met the WTO chief on Wednesday, March 12th, 2025 where they brainstormed on trade impediments in the shipping sector of the country and how they could be surmounted.

An elated Akutah said the visit was crucial, “most particularly at this moment when the government is driving transformational changes in the maritime sector”

He regarded the warm reception granted his team by Dr Iweala as a “clear demonstration of patriotism and support for the country”

The WTO DG expressed willingness to engage the Shippers’ Council helmsman on the problems facing the Nigeria’s shipping sector and hoped solutions could be found.

She expressed desire that the Shippers’ Council and other government agencies could seize and harness the bountless opportunities in the shipping sector for its growth and development.

“Good discussions on the challenges facing the ports, maritime and shipping in Nigeria, all important aspects of trade.

” Also discussed possible solutions. Lots to do but opportunities exist for turnaround. Wishing the Shippers Council well in seizing these opportunities” Iweala declared.

Headlines

Port of Antwerp offers assistance to barge operators to access loans from Belgian Banks— Shippers’ Council

Funso OLOJO

The Port of Antwerp has expressed its readiness to assist barge operators to have access to foreign financial institutions for their operations.

The Director, Inland Transport Services, Nigerian Shippers’ Council,Mr. Mustapha Zubairu stated this at a meeting with the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) in Lagos on Monday, March 10th, 2025.

He said that the Council believed that the role of barge operations is critical for cargo evacuation at the nation’s seaports.

Zubairu noted that the utilization of barges is key in Lekki Deep Port’s operation, adding that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the nation’s Port Economic Regulator wants seamless cargoes evacuation from the ports.

Determined to ensure continuous collaboration with barge operators, the NSC’s Director also plans to summon a tripartite meeting with other agencies and proffer solutions to discuss the issues of barge operations.

The President of BOAN, Hon. Bunmi Olumekun, said the Association proposes tariff harmonization to create a more balanced and export-friendly environment that promotes national economic growth.

Hon. Olumekun emphasized the capacity development for operators and captains to enhance productivity and promote industry growth.

He also reiterated the importance of legislation for the movement of heavy goods through waterways and the danger of carrying them by roads.

Hon. Olumekun also said that the association is collaborating with the Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy to meet the establishment of more riverine terminals and waterfront jetties.