Gloria Odion, Maritme Reporter

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has witnessed a change of leadership, with Deputy Comptroller Olisa Alumanah assuming duty as Acting Customs Area Controller, following the elevation of Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila to the rank of Acting Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs.

The leadership transition, which took place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, marks the end of Kaila’s approximately eight-month tenure at the strategic border command, during which the Command recorded a significant improvement in revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations.

In his farewell address, Kaila described his elevation as a new chapter in his career, expressing profound appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the management of the Service for the confidence reposed in him and the opportunity to serve at a higher level.

Reviewing his stewardship, the outgoing Controller disclosed that the Command generated over ₦27 billion between March and October 2026, compared with ₦8 billion recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.

The performance represents an additional ₦19 billion in revenue and an impressive 233 per cent growth, underscoring the significant improvement in the Command’s revenue-generating capacity during his tenure.

Kaila attributed the remarkable performance, alongside the Command’s anti-smuggling successes, to intelligence-driven operations, effective information gathering and sharing, enhanced surveillance and the collective resolve of officers to prevent the border from becoming a haven for economic saboteurs.

He urged officers and men to sustain the culture of discipline, loyalty, integrity, accountability, unity and professionalism, stressing that these values remained essential to the effective discharge of the Service’s statutory responsibilities.

Assuming leadership, Alumanah expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General and the management of the NCS for the confidence placed in him, pledging to consolidate the achievements of his predecessor and take the Command to greater heights.

He commended Kaila for providing purposeful leadership and strengthening the Command’s performance in revenue generation, intelligence collaboration, anti-smuggling operations, discipline and operational stability.

Describing Seme as a strategic component of Nigeria’s border management architecture, the new Acting Controller stressed that sustaining its operational relevance would require purposeful leadership, improved efficiency and stronger partnerships with stakeholders and sister security agencies.

Alumanah outlined seven priority areas that would shape his administration. These include improved revenue collection; facilitation of legitimate trade; discipline, integrity and professional conduct; teamwork and collective responsibility; stronger collaboration with stakeholders and sister security agencies; avoidance of unnecessary problems in the discharge of official duties; and the adoption of modernisation, innovation and global best practices.

He emphasised that the successful implementation of these priorities would depend on the commitment of officers, mutual understanding among stakeholders and effective collaboration with relevant government agencies.

In his remarks, the Head of Benin Customs and Co-Chair of the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post, Col. Mekoun Parfait, congratulated Kaila on his elevation, describing his rapid career progression, less than a year after assuming duty at Seme, as evidence of his competence, experience and professionalism.

The ceremony featured tributes to the outgoing Controller for his contributions to the Command and renewed assurances from the incoming Acting Controller to sustain the gains achieved while strengthening inter-agency cooperation and operational efficiency.

Alumanah reaffirmed his commitment to providing disciplined and professional leadership, promoting teamwork and improving service delivery, while ensuring that the Command remains focused on its core mandates of revenue generation, effective border management, suppression of smuggling and facilitation of legitimate trade.

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is stepping up efforts to reposition the nation’s seaports as engines of export-led economic growth, deploying dedicated Export Processing Terminals and cargo transit corridors to dismantle logistics bottlenecks and improve the movement of Nigerian goods to international markets.

The Managing Director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this at the 40th edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair, where he outlined the Authority’s reform initiatives and a $1 billion port modernisation programme designed to transform port infrastructure, attract private investment and strengthen Nigeria’s position in global trade.

Dantsoho said the Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) had been integrated into the port logistics chain to provide one-stop services for export cargo processing, documentation and pre-gating, eliminating avoidable delays and reducing cargo turnaround time.

He explained that the Authority had also established dedicated cargo transit corridors in collaboration with security and traffic management agencies to facilitate the movement of export consignments from production centres to the ports without unnecessary traffic and operational disruptions.

The initiatives, he said, were intended to address some of the structural challenges that have historically undermined Nigeria’s export competitiveness, particularly the high cost and delays associated with moving goods from farms, factories and processing centres to the seaports.

For small and medium-scale enterprises, the reforms could prove particularly significant, as improved logistics and faster cargo processing would make it easier to access international markets, expand production and compete with exporters from other countries.

Dantsoho described non-oil exports as a national economic priority, insisting that Nigeria must move beyond its traditional dependence on imports and commodity exports to become a manufacturing-driven and export-oriented economy.

He maintained that the transformation of the maritime sector was the product of deliberate policy implementation, institutional reforms and strategic leadership, stressing that the NPA occupied a pivotal position in connecting Nigerian producers and businesses with the global marketplace.

Beyond export facilitation, the NPA chief said the Authority’s $1 billion Port Modernisation Drive was opening significant investment opportunities for local and international investors interested in the development of Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure.

He identified the rehabilitation and expansion of facilities at Apapa, Tin Can Island, Calabar, Rivers, Delta and Onne ports as priority areas for strategic partnerships and private-sector participation.

He also listed digital and smart port solutions, including automated gates, Port Community Systems, Vessel Traffic Management Systems (VTMS) and artificial intelligence-driven logistics platforms, as emerging investment opportunities capable of improving operational efficiency and port service delivery.

Other areas identified for investment include the development of dry ports and multimodal logistics infrastructure, inland container depots, rail-port connections and cold-chain facilities to strengthen cargo evacuation and distribution networks.

Dantsoho further highlighted green port development as an important component of the modernisation agenda, pointing to opportunities in renewable energy, environmentally friendly cargo-handling equipment and sustainable waste management systems in line with global decarbonisation objectives.

He assured prospective investors that the NPA was committed to maintaining a transparent, predictable and business-friendly operating environment, supported by regulatory stability and viable investment prospects.

According to him, the modernisation programme, backed by the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, would position Nigerian ports for improved operational efficiency, increased trade volumes and greater participation in international commerce.

Dantsoho urged participants, international trade delegations and prospective investors at the Lagos International Trade Fair to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s maritime and Blue Economy sectors.

He said the theme of the 40th edition of the fair, “40 Years of Trade, Growth and Global Connection,” aligned with the NPA’s mandate of connecting domestic enterprises to international markets and facilitating Nigeria’s integration into the global trading system.

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Government of Bangladesh are exploring bilateral cooperation aimed at strengthening inland water transportation in Nigeria, with emphasis on technical exchange, capacity building, infrastructure development and investment opportunities.

The proposed partnership emerged during a courtesy visit by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, His Excellency Miah Mohammad Mainul Kabir, to the management of NIWA at its Liaison Office in Abuja.

Receiving the delegation, NIWA’s Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Malam Umar Yusuf Girei, described the visit as an important opportunity to deepen institutional relations between the two countries, particularly given their similarities as riverine nations with enormous inland waterways potential.

Girei noted that Bangladesh has approximately 24,000 kilometres of waterways, which account for more than 25 per cent of passenger transportation in the country and facilitate the movement of millions of tonnes of cargo annually.

Nigeria, he explained, has an estimated 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways, with the River Niger and River Benue serving as major navigational corridors and providing access to about 28 of the country’s 36 states.

He observed that Bangladesh’s experience in harnessing its waterways for transportation and economic development offers valuable lessons for Nigeria as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to unlock the vast economic potential of the inland waterways sector.

Identifying possible areas of collaboration, the NIWA Acting Managing Director highlighted technical and knowledge exchange in dredging, channel maintenance and the sustenance of year-round navigability.

He also listed the development and management of river ports, jetties and passenger ferry systems as priority areas where both countries could share expertise and explore mutually beneficial partnerships.

According to him, leveraging Bangladesh’s experience and technical capabilities could help Nigeria address some of the challenges limiting the effective utilisation of its inland waterways, while improving transportation efficiency, expanding economic opportunities and stimulating investment in the sector.

In his response, the Bangladeshi High Commissioner expressed appreciation to NIWA’s management for the warm reception, noting that both countries had significant opportunities to benefit from mutually rewarding partnerships in inland water transportation.

Kabir identified dredging, boat construction, marine equipment manufacturing and capacity building through training and retraining as critical areas in which Bangladesh could share its experience and technical expertise with Nigeria.

He expressed optimism that closer institutional engagement would facilitate knowledge transfer, strengthen technical capabilities and create opportunities for cooperation in the development of inland water transportation infrastructure.

Both parties expressed confidence that the diplomatic engagement would translate into concrete areas of cooperation and sustainable institutional partnerships capable of advancing inland water transportation and economic development in Nigeria and Bangladesh.

The proposed collaboration is also expected to support Nigeria’s broader marine and blue economy development agenda by promoting alternative transportation channels, improving connectivity, creating employment opportunities and enhancing the commercial value of the country’s extensive inland waterways network.