Headlines

ill-fated boat in Niger state on illegal operation—- NIWA

Bola Oyebamiji, NIWA MD

— deploys more river marshalls on 24-hour surveillance as rescue efforts continue

Funso OLOJO

More bodies are being recovered from the Gbajibo River, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State after a wooden boat carrying 300 passengers capsized on Tuesday night of October 1st, 2024.

As of yesterday, the water marshalls of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) with the collaboration of the Nigeria state’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and local divers have recovered 70 bodies, rescued 150 persons while the search for remaining missing passengers was still ongoing.

However, Mrs. Sarat Braimah, the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA has accused the operators of the ill-fated boat of illegal operations as they sailed at 8: 30 pm which was against the water transportation code which has outlawed night sailing.

Mrs. Braimah, who absolved NIWA of complicity in the tragic incident following a public outrage over what was described as the negligence of the Authority, disclosed that the four water marshalls deployed to the Gbajibo River where the incident occurred had already closed from duty for the day and left the jetty at 8 pm while the boat loaded at 8: 30 pm.

The NIWA Area Manager however said the Marshalls went to the other side of the jetty while the ill-fated boat was loading without their knowledge.

Meanwhile, NIWA has attributed the unfortunate incident to flagrant disregard for transportation code by the boat operators such as overloading( the wooden boat carried 300 passengers), use of sub- standard boat which is a wooden carved boat without necessary navigational aids, lack of wearing of safety vests and night sailing which has been banned.

As a result of this incident, Mrs. Braimah disclosed that more water marshalls will be deployed to Niger state and other northern states where night sailing is prevalent for 24-hour surveillance.

“NIWA just constituted river marshalls who were posted to every state and Niger state in particular has 24 water marshalls while in Mokwa Local government Area where the incident happened, they have four Marshalls.” the NIWA Area Manager disclosed.

She lamented the prevalence of night sailing in the North despite its ban which she said was a major challenge for NIWA.

” NIWA will now make it 24-hour surveillance on waterways in that area in order to prevent reoccurrence” stated Mrs Braimah.

According to her, the recently gazetted transportation code launched by NIWA and cascaded to every state contains penalties for infractions of safety standards.

” Last month, NIWA was everywhere on sensitization of the revering public on this code. But, unfortunately, this tragic incident happened.

” From now on, night sailing is our target. We are going to recruit more river marshalls who will be working on 24- 24-hour basis. This will hopefully deter people and boat operators from night sailing” Mrs Braimah said.

She revealed that all the local wooden boats used in the area are sub-standard and have no navigational aids to sustain night travel.

“NIWA has deployed a modern ferry to Niger state which will be put to use by next week.

Speaking further on the efforts of NIWA to arrest incessant boat mishaps in the North, Mrs. Braimah disclosed that the agency has established training centres in all the states of the Federation, especially in the Northern states where most of the boat operators lack formal education and required training to operate boats.

” At the end of such training which includes safe navigation and done in their local dialect, because most of them are illiterate, NIWA issues them certificates and we also monitor their operations”the NIWA

Areas Manager stated.

She further revealed that NIWA has a set of standards for boat building.

” We have gone to boat builders to license them and give them specifications on the type of boats they should build,” Mrs Braimah said.

In addition to all these safety measures, Braimah claimed that NIWA has a department that carries out surveys and inspections of boats for seaworthiness, an exercise carried out in January every year.

She also disclosed that the authority collaborates with other sister agencies to ensure the waterways are safe.

According to her, in Niger state where the latest boat mishap happened, NIWA has collaboration with the state’s NEMA while it has with Lagos State Waterways Authority( LASWA).

Gbajibo river in Mokwa Local government Area of Niger state is notorious for boat accidents.

It would be recalled that in September 2023, a similar tragic incident happened when a boat carrying 50 passengers capsized, killing 24 persons who were on their way to their farms for harvest.

Customs

Wale Adeniyi, CGC, bags one-year tenure extension as WCO Council Chairman

Funso OLOJO, Editor

Few days after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu extended the tenure of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, by an additional six months, the World Customs Organization (WCO) has also renewed his tenure as Chairman of its Council for another one year.

The decision was unanimously endorsed by member countries during the 147th and 148th sessions of the WCO Council held in Brussels, Belgium, reaffirming the confidence of the global customs community in Adeniyi’s leadership.

Addressing members of the NCS management team who gave him a rousing welcome on his return to Nigeria on Monday, June 29, 2026, Adeniyi revealed that he had travelled to Brussels expecting to hand over the chairmanship but was instead entrusted with another one-year mandate.

“I sincerely appreciate your support. I went to Brussels believing I was going to hand over, but the outcome was different. The Council renewed my tenure for another one year, and I dedicate this achievement to the entire Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.

Adeniyi made history in June 2025 when he became the first Nigerian to be elected Chairman of the WCO Council, the highest decision-making body of the global customs organisation.

The renewal of his international mandate comes just days after President Tinubu approved a six-month extension of his tenure as Comptroller-General of Customs, a development widely seen as a strong endorsement of his leadership, reform initiatives and outstanding performance both nationally and internationally.

In recognition of the milestone, the NCS management team presented the Comptroller-General with a symbolic souvenir to celebrate his exemplary leadership and contributions to the transformation of the Service.

Responding to the gesture, Adeniyi expressed appreciation to the management team for their unwavering support, describing the honour as a reflection of the unity, professionalism and shared commitment that exist within the Nigeria Customs Service.

The renewed confidence reposed in him by both the Federal Government and the international customs community is expected to further strengthen the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing reform agenda, deepen global partnerships, enhance trade facilitation and reinforce Nigeria’s growing influence in international customs administration.

Customs

Wale Adeniyi,CGC, bags tenure extension as WCO Chairman

Funso OLOJO, Editor

Few days after his tenure as the Comptroller- General of the Nigeria customs service was renewed by additional six months by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the World Customs Organization(WCO), has also followed suit by the renewal of the tenure of Adewale Adeniyi as the Council Chairman of the World Customs Organization (WCO).

The council members, at the 147th and 148th WCO sessions at Brussels, Belgium, were unanimous in their decision to allow Adeniyi to continue as the Chairman of the global Customs body.

While addressing his management team which gave his a rousing welcome on his return on Monday, June, 29th, 2026, the CGC said he went to Brussels to hand over but was rather rewarded with tenure extension.

“I sincerely appreciate your support. I went to Brussels believing I was going to hand over, but the outcome was different.

” The Council renewed my tenure for another one year, and I dedicate this achievement to the entire Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.

Adeniyi was elected as the Chairman of the global Customs body in June 2025 as the first Nigerian to be so honored.

The renewal of his Council Chairmanship coincides with the renewal of his tenure by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the CGC by another six months, thus confirming the national and global recognition of his capacity, leadership qualities and exceptional performance as number one customs officer in Nigeria and the world.

Recognizing the rare feat achieved by the CGC, his management team welcomed him from the WCO council sessions with a symbolic souvenir that showed their love to their principal and exemplary leadership and contributions to the growth and transformation of the NCS.

Responding, CGC Adeniyi thanked the management team for their unwavering support, describing the gesture as a reflection of the unity and shared commitment within the Service.

He disclosed that he travelled to Brussels expecting to hand over the chairmanship of the WCO Council but was instead entrusted with another one-year mandate by members of the Council.

The renewed international mandate, alongside the extension of his tenure as CGC, reinforces confidence in his leadership and is expected to further advance the Service’s reform agenda, international partnerships, and trade facilitation efforts.

Headlines

NRC grants Lagos Government permanent approval to operate Red Line rail services

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has granted final approval to the Lagos State Government to operate two of its rail tracks under the Track Sharing Agreement, paving the way for the full operation of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line project.

The LRMT Red Line commenced passenger operations on October 15, 2024, with morning and evening peak-hour services following its inauguration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The permanent approval follows the temporary operating approval granted by the NRC in 2025 under the Track Sharing Agreement with the Lagos State Government.

Presenting the Permanent Operating Licence to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) on Tuesday, June 30th, 2026, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, said the approval confers on the Lagos State Government all the rights and obligations contained in the Track Sharing Agreement.

According to him, the licence also empowers the state to operate rail services in line with international best practices.

Opeifa described the milestone as a testament to the mutual trust, cooperation and shared vision that have continued to define the partnership between the NRC and the Lagos State Government.

“Beyond providing access to the tracks, our collaboration has also included the training and capacity development of the Red Line’s operational personnel, demonstrating the immense value of strong institutional partnerships,” he said.

He commended the Lagos State Government for its confidence in the NRC and its sustained commitment to the partnership.

“I also commend the Government for its remarkable investment in public transportation, particularly in the rail subsector, including the acquisition of adequate rolling stock to meet the growing mobility needs of Lagosians,” he added.

The NRC Managing Director noted that the development of modern rail infrastructure requires foresight, substantial capital investment and sustained political will, qualities he said the Lagos State Government has consistently demonstrated.

Opeifa also urged other state governments across the federation to invest in rail infrastructure and services to complement the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s railway network.

According to him, expanding rail transportation nationwide would ease congestion on highways, reduce logistics costs, improve passenger mobility, stimulate industrial and commercial activities, and accelerate national economic growth.

He stressed that rail transportation remains the backbone of efficient mass transit systems in major cities around the world.

“Continued investment in rail infrastructure is essential to providing safe, reliable, environmentally sustainable and high-capacity mobility for our growing population, while significantly reducing pressure on our road network,” he said.

Opeifa reaffirmed the NRC’s commitment to fostering productive partnerships that will transform Nigeria’s transport landscape.

“Together, we will continue to build an integrated, efficient, safe and sustainable railway system that serves the aspirations of all Nigerians,” he concluded.