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House of Reps pledges adequate funding for completion of Lokoja River Port

Funso OLOJO
The House of Representatives Committee on Inland Waterways has promised to assist the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in the completion of Lokoja River port by making adequate provision in 2025 budgetary allocation.
The Chairman of the House committee on Inland Waterways ,Hon. Ojotu Ojema disclosed when he led six other members on a legislative oversight function of the committee  to the Headquarters of the Authority, and for an on-spot assessment tour of the Lokoja River Port.
Hon. Ojema said “we looked forward to a faithful and fruitful discussion and insight as we prepare for the 2025 budget”.
He acknowledged the critical role the Inland Waterways play in Nigeria’s Transportation sector and how it has impacted on the economy.
“We came to see some of the ongoing infrastructural development especially Lokoja-Jamata port which to me has become an eyesore, and year in-year out we are aware that money have been voted for the development of this sector.
“But usually the money is inadequate, and we are calling on the contractor handling this port to expedite action and also for the sufficient funds to be made available to ensure that this port is conclusively constructed”.
In his welcome address, the Managing Director of NIWA Mr. Bola Oyebamiji,  thanked the chairman and members of the committee for their support to the Authority at all times.
He gave a brief overview of the progress made so far since he took over the leadership of the Authority and also some challenges encountered in the course of carrying out his duty, especially the Lokoja port project.
He further stressed that “with the visit of the committee, I am sure that we will have a robust funding for this project,coming 2025 and this will aid the development of this port”.
The committee then proceeded for an on-spot assessment of the Lokoja River Port project.
Commenting, Hon. Ojema said “we have seen that this project has been lying here for quiet a number of years and we are saying that the Government should as a matter of priority give the necessary attention to this project, considering the fact that the project is located at a very strategic place in this country”.
He called on the contractor to as a matter of urgency go back to site and promised to assist in case of any challenge.
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Headlines

TransQuest media rallies stakeholders to  chart Nigeria’s blue economy future at symposium

Gloria Odion, maritime reporter 

Stakeholders in the maritime and logistics industries will converge in Lagos on Saturday, July 25th, 2026, for the TransQuest Anniversary Transport Development Symposium and Awards, where they will deliberate on practical strategies for accelerating sustainable growth in Nigeria’s blue economy.

The symposium, themed “Re-Appraising Nigeria’s Blue Economy: Charting a Path to Sustainable Growth,” will take place at Shoregate Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, under the chairmanship of retired Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Charles Eporwei Edike.

The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, is expected to attend as the Special Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker.

He is expected to outline the Federal Government’s vision for expanding the blue economy through policy reforms, infrastructure development, investment promotion and enhanced maritime governance.

The event will bring together an impressive lineup of key stakeholders, including the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima; Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola; Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; Acting Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Alhaji Umar Yusuf Girei; Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Dr. Kevin Okonna; Executive Director of the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Dr. Sule Abiodun; and Provost of the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology (FCFMT), Dr. Chucks Paul Onuoha.

The panel discussion will be moderated by veteran maritime journalist Elder Asu Beks and is expected to examine critical issues ranging from maritime trade and port efficiency to inland waterways development, marine research, fisheries, Customs modernisation and investment opportunities within the blue economy.

Participants will also benefit from technical presentations by renowned maritime technocrat Lucky Amiwero, President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), and logistics expert Dr. Eugene Ifeanyichukwu Nweke, Head of Research at SEREC and former President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF).

Beyond the policy dialogue, the event will celebrate excellence through the TransQuest Awards, recognising individuals and organisations whose outstanding contributions have advanced Nigeria’s maritime, transport and Customs sectors.
Among the top honourees is the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, who will receive the Maritime Personality of the Year Award, while the Nigerian Ports Authority will be honoured as Maritime Agency of the Year for its transformational achievements in port infrastructure, operational efficiency and ongoing port modernisation initiatives under his leadership.

Several Nigeria Customs Service Area Controllers will also be recognised for exceptional performance in revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations and trade facilitation. They include Comptroller Joseph Anani (Tin Can Island Port Command), Comptroller G.I. Aliyu (Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’), Comptroller Godwin Otunla (Murtala Muhammed Airport Command), Comptroller Hawa Abubakar (Lagos Free Trade Zone Command), Comptroller Shuaibu Kaila (Seme Area Command), and Deputy Comptroller Moses Adewole.

The awards will equally spotlight emerging Customs leaders, including Comptroller O.O. Afeni of Ogun I Area Command for his anti-smuggling achievements and Comptroller Bolaji Adigun of Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command for pioneering operational reforms that have improved efficiency and service delivery.

Corporate organisations, maritime professionals and journalists who have distinguished themselves through exceptional service and contributions to the growth of the maritime and transport sectors will also be honoured during the ceremony.

According to the organisers, the symposium is designed to serve as a strategic platform for meaningful engagement among policymakers, regulators, academics and industry practitioners, with the objective of generating practical recommendations that will unlock the enormous economic potential of Nigeria’s blue economy.

The event is scheduled to commence at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Shoregate Hotel, 29 Joel Ogunnaike Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

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Analyses

The invisible toll gates:Why National Single Window is Nigeria’s ultimate economic battleground

Monday Discourse with  Ibrahim Nasiru
Walk into any market in Nigeria today, from the commercial hubs of Lagos to the roadside stalls in Yola, and ask why a bag of rice or an imported spare part costs three times what it did last year.
The typical public commentator will blame global inflation, floating currencies, or macro-economic shocks.
But those who understand logistics know the real truth lies buried under layers of paper, manual stamps, and artificial delays at our seaports.
Nigeria’s international trade is suffocating not from a lack of deep water, but from a deliberate design of convenience.
The recent operational rollout of the National Single Window (NSW) has triggered behind-the-scenes panic among Port cartels, and for good reason.
For decades, keeping our clearing processes fragmented, manual, and dependent on desk-to-desk human interaction was the perfect business model for syndicates.
When cargo dwell times drag on for 21 days, those delays are money in the pockets of the gatekeepers and a death sentence for local businesses.
Let us look at the raw field realities. The push by the Nigeria Customs Service to aggressively crash clearance times down to global 48-hour standards is meeting fierce internal resistance.
Why? Because a unified digital ecosystem means you cannot easily manipulate documentation, hide illicit cargo, or demand “mobilization fees” before signing off a container.
The outcry and protests from certain freight-forwarding syndicates aren’t about technical glitches; they are about the sudden closure of invisible toll gates.
This is exactly why governance at our national gateways can no longer be left to the mercy of transactional bureaucratic habits.
Building deep-sea infrastructure like Lekki Port is a massive physical achievement, but concrete and cranes are useless if the administrative processes at the gate remain backward.
 Real structural reform requires turning our Ports into automated, friction-free pipelines that prioritize production over rent-seeking.
If Nigeria wants to survive this fiscal squeeze, the National Single Window cannot just be treated as another glossy IT project launched in Abuja.
 It requires unyielding administrative enforcement to completely dismantle the corrupt cartels managing the manual desk chains.
The invisible toll gates at our Ports must be completely demolished, and that exact same structural discipline must be scaled across our border stations and trade corridors.
The era of managing international trade with 20th-century paper trails is dying. The future belongs to the builders of automated, transparent systems.
Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs analyst,  writes from Abuja 
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Headlines

NANTA Exco embarks on seven-day Ghana retreat, fam trip to deepen regional tourism partnership

Gloria Odion, Reporter

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has commenced a seven-day executive retreat and familiarisation (fam) trip to Ghana, hosted by Safari World, as part of efforts to strengthen regional tourism partnerships and expand cross-border travel opportunities.

The NANTA delegation was received at Safari World Homes in Accra by the Chairman of the Safari World Group, Mr. Ernest Gyekye, who expressed delight at hosting the Nigerian travel trade leaders.

He assured the delegation of a memorable experience throughout their week-long stay.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, NANTA President, Mr. Yinka Folami, described the retreat and familiarisation tour as a strategic initiative aimed at fostering stronger business relationships and promoting collaborative tourism development across Africa.

“This mission is not a leisure trip,” Folami said. “It is a deliberate step to implement and expand our association’s marketing advocacy for Nigerian brands across borders.”

He noted that Nigeria and Ghana share deep historical, cultural and commercial ties that should be leveraged to drive tourism growth on the continent.

“Nigeria and Ghana share history, culture, trade and people. The future of our tourism cannot be built in silos,” he said.

“This retreat is about moving from policy to practice—creating real products, real partnerships and real movement of travellers between Accra and Lagos.”

As part of the programme, the NANTA executives will engage in strategic business-to-business (B2B) meetings with their Ghanaian counterparts, tour key tourism destinations under the Safari World brand, and participate in cultural exchange activities designed to promote stronger bilateral tourism cooperation.

The itinerary spans Safari World’s three flagship destinations, including Safari Homes in Accra, the Aqua Safari riverfront experience, Safari Island Cruise, Safari Nautica, and Safari Recreation and Sports facilities in Ada, as well as the Safari Valley Eco Resort and Safari Eco Park in Dawu.

Operating under the brand promise, “One World, Three Destinations, Over 20 Unique Experiences,” Safari World is leveraging the visit to strengthen its footprint in the Nigerian travel market while positioning Ghana as a premier destination for leisure tourism, conferences, group travel, family holidays and premium tourism experiences.

A major highlight of the visit will be the Executive Dinner scheduled for July 21 at the Safari Valley Eco Resort, where key stakeholders from Nigeria and Ghana’s tourism industries will deliberate on strategies for deepening travel trade and advancing regional tourism development.

The familiarisation tour is expected to provide NANTA’s leadership with first-hand knowledge of Safari World’s tourism offerings, paving the way for the development of attractive travel packages and stronger business partnerships that will benefit Nigerian travellers and the wider West African tourism industry.

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