Headlines

Farinto identifies barriers to intra- African trade

The Eyewitness Reporter

Former Acting National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, (ANLCA), Kayode Farinto , has identified concealment of information as one of the stumbling blocks to the successful implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA in Nigeria.

Farinto, who stated this in a paper titled, “AfCFTA: Dismantling Trade Barriers, Navigating Regional Trade”, which he delivered at the 2024 MARAN Annual Maritime Lecture, MAMAL held in Lagos recently ,said that pretending that all was well when it was not true, would be the greatest undoing to Nigeria as a country in maximizing the benefits inherent in the continent-wide trade.

According to him, “Nobody expected a hitch-free take off but we should stop pretending and deceiving all Nigerians as if all is well.

” We are all aware of the controversy surrounding the first shipment under AfCFTA where according to Mr. Segun Olutayo, leader of the AfCFTA Coordination Office in Nigeria, endeavored to window-dress this controversy by saying that receiving Certificate of Origin under AfCFTA is only a preliminary step akin to a starting point and does not necessarily indicate that a shipment has been made.

“It’s high time we stopped this our attitude where we conceal and distort real information to confuse and convince Nigerians that all is well when we know that with speaking out, people can proffer solutions to whatever problem that arises.

“Giving out accurate information is one of the factors that can make AfCFTA a success (through information management).

“Concealing information from the public is not part of good information management and it runs negatively against the Freedom of Information Act.

” There’s nothing wrong with confirming to stakeholders when issues go wrong. All that is needed is allay their fears that whatsoever that is wrong can be corrected.”

Going further, he maintained that if the Africa Continental Free Trade Area must succeed, the Nigeria Customs Service, must play a pivotal role in this ,adding that one of the things that must be done was to ensure that trade was facilitated.

He said, “I watched with keen interest, Nigeria’s participation in the Biachara Africa 2024 Summit in Kigali where Nigeria businesses showcased their offering and was also delighted to hear a committal statement from the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, promising to ensure that trade facilitation becomes the focal point of the Service going forward, which has obviously been downplayed before now.

“It is not out of place for NCS to roll out her Standard Operating Procedure, (SOP) for AfCFTA.

“However, I am glad to inform this gathering that the NCS, for once, seems serious about facilitating good trade.

‘ I rely on a recent circular released to her officers to ensure that issues of alerts are not only streamlined but its incessant issuance be addressed where every Deputy Comptrollers in charge of revenue has been given a marching order to ensure compliance by their officers.

” What is only needed to be added is sanctions for non-conformists. If this is achieved, the major monster that can kill the Africa Continental Free Trade Area agreement has been successfully eliminated.”

Insisting that the Nigeria’s maritime sector had not fared well in the area of logistics management, Farinto however blamed it on the nation’s inability to embrace multi-modal transport system, noting that Nigeria’s reliance on road sector alone was a stumbling block and a barrier to free flow of trade.

“The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy needs to liaise with the Ministry of Trade either on a Private Party Agreement, PPA or taking it as her core responsibility to ensure that our over reliance on road is stopped.

“There is need for rail connectivity between the hinterland and our ports. Barge operation should be employed to reduce the congestion and traffic on road and to save time for the success of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement“, he said.

Pointing out that non-tariff barriers including technical barriers were very many in Nigeria, Farinto insisted that virtually all federal government regulatory agencies had one fine, levy and other which he said was killing trade.

“Take for example, a regulated item by either SON or NAFDAC must pay many levies or taxes such as import permit, MANCAP, money for examination to be conducted, fees to be paid before labelling rights are granted”, Farinto lamented.

Earlier in his welcome address, the President of the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria, MARAN, Mr. Godfrey Bivbere acknowledged that AfCFTA represented a groundbreaking initiative by the African Union, designed to create a single market for goods and services, promote free movement across borders and unlock the immense economic potential of the continent.

He however, identified barriers such as inadequate infrastructure, regulatory bottlenecks and operational inefficiencies as hampering the seamless flow of goods across the continent.

He, therefore, submitted that for Nigeria to maximize the benefits of AfCFTA, it must address critical requirements including: Improved Trade Infrastructure -Enhanced Roads, Transit Trailer Parks, and functional scanning facilities at ports; Efficient Procedures – Compliance with Rules of Origin, RoO and streamlined export processes as well as Capacity Building – Training Customs officers and other stakeholders to align with AfCFTA protocols.

Others according to him, include Investment in Maritime Assets: With intra-African freight expected to increase by 28% and maritime demand by 62%, we need significant investments, including the addition of 100 vessels to facilitate transport as well as Leveraging Technology and Innovation to Facilitate Trade.

“As laudable as AfCFTA is, some persons in Nigeria are worried that our lack of infrastructure (mainly energy and road) and inconsistent policy will continue to affect our production level.

“They are concerned that as a result of our low production capacity, our initial gain of shipment outside the country may fizzle out when other African countries with better production environment begin the shipment of their goods; while Nigeria may end up becoming a dumping ground.

“The African Union has reported that intra-African trade currently stands at just 10%, compared to 60% in Europe. With AfCFTA, there are projections to raise this to 20%. For this to happen, we must ensure free and efficient movement of goods across borders through vehicles, railways, ships, and trucks.

“Let us use this platform today to brainstorm on solutions, forge collaborations, and commit to actionable steps that will help dismantle trade barriers and build a robust framework for regional trade”, he concluded.

Customs

KLT Customs reaffirms commitment to stronger maritime stakeholder engagement

Deputy Comptroller Bolaji Adigun

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter
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‎The Acting Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Deputy Comptroller Bolaji Adigun, has reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to deepening engagement with stakeholders across the maritime industry in line with efforts to promote trade facilitation, transparency, and sustainable economic growth.
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‎Adigun gave the assurance through the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Administration, Comptroller T.A. Jonah, who represented him during a courtesy visit by the newly elected Executive Committee of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) to the Command in Lagos.
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‎The Acting CAC, who was unavoidably absent, underscored the importance of sustained collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and key industry stakeholders, particularly the maritime media, in advancing the Service’s mandate and supporting national economic development.
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‎He described the media as a critical partner in disseminating information on government policies, customs reforms, trade facilitation initiatives, revenue generation, and anti-smuggling operations.
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‎According to him, maritime journalists occupy a strategic position in shaping public understanding and perception of activities within the port and maritime sector, stressing the need for professionalism, accuracy, and balanced reportage in the discharge of their duties.
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‎Adigun further assured the MARAN delegation that the KLT Area Command would continue to operate an open-door policy while fostering cordial and productive relationships with stakeholders within the maritime community.
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‎Earlier in his remarks, the President of MARAN, Mr. Oluyinka Onigbinde, stated that the visit formed part of the association’s ongoing stakeholder engagement initiative following the inauguration of its newly elected executive committee.
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‎Onigbinde explained that the purpose of the visit was to formally introduce the new leadership of the association to the Command and strengthen the longstanding relationship between MARAN and the Nigeria Customs Service.
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‎He commended the KLT Area Command for its contributions to trade facilitation, revenue generation, and enforcement activities, describing the Command as a vital component of Customs operations within Nigeria’s port system.
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‎The MARAN President also reaffirmed the association’s commitment to professional, objective, and development-driven journalism, noting that maritime reporters play a significant role in promoting informed discourse on issues affecting the industry.
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‎He further assured the Command of MARAN’s continued support for initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness within Nigeria’s maritime sector through responsible and factual reporting.

Headlines

One infant, three adults die, several others sustain injuries in fatal train derailment along Warri- Itakpe route

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed the death of four passengers in a train derailment along the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) corridor near Agbor, Delta State on Monday, June 8th, 2026.

Several others suffered various degrees of injuries.

In a statement by the Ministry of Transportation and signed by its Permanent Secretary, Engr. Funsho Adebiyi, the victims included two female adults, one male adult and one infant.

The accident involved four coaches which reportedly capsized while one coach derailed, resulting in the unfortunate loss of four lives.

The statement confirmed that a total of 442 passengers were booked on the train, while 40 crew members, security personnel, and third-party service providers were also on board, bringing the total number of persons on the train to 482.

The NRC had activated immediate rescue and evacuation operations with the support of the Delta State Government, NEMA, FRSC, the Police, Civil Defence, local authorities, security agencies, and other emergency responders, and were completed by 6:30 p.m on Monday .

The Injured passengers were evacuated to medical facilities in Agbor for treatment.

Other notable individuals on board included the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone, and former Delta State Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Patrick Ukah, among others.

As of the time of this release, 24 serious injuries have been recorded, while several other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and are receiving medical attention.

One NRC staff member suffered a traumatic limb injury and is currently receiving treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.

“The Ministry and the NRC extend their deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and pray for the quick recovery of all those injured.

“The Corporation also appreciates the swift intervention of the Delta State Government, emergency responders, security agencies, the NRC Mechanical Directorate, the Special Rescue and Emergency Team, medical personnel, and members of the public who assisted in the rescue efforts” the statement declared.

The ministry said full onboard manifest has been retrieved and will be made available upon request by the relevant authorities while efforts are ongoing to identify all the injured and deceased persons for proper documentation.

The Ministry in conjunction with the NRC have commenced a full investigation into the cause of the accident while efforts will continue to account for all passengers and provide the necessary support to those affected.

Commentaries

Why Nigeria must prioritize competency development and standards to harness gains of blue economy

Funso OLOJO, Editor

Nigeria is endowed with vast maritime resources which offer enormous opportunities for economic growth, employment generation, food security, and environmental sustainability.

With its fabled over 850 kilometers of coastline, extensive inland waterways, and strategic access to the Gulf of Guinea, the country is naturally blessed to emerge as a hub for maritime activities in Africa.

However , taking advantage of these huge massive maritime opportunities should be the priority of Nigerian government which must be intentional on developing competency level of its Maritime professionals and raise their

adherence to international standards.

The blue economy encompasses diverse sectors including shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism, offshore energy, maritime logistics, shipbuilding, and marine environmental management.

These sectors are highly knowledge-driven and require a workforce equipped with specialized skills and globally recognized certifications.

Without competent professionals, Nigeria risks losing economic opportunities to countries with better-trained maritime personnel and stronger institutional frameworks.

Competency development is essential for enhancing productivity, safety, and operational efficiency across the maritime sector.

Skilled seafarers, marine engineers, port operators, logistics professionals, and environmental experts are critical to ensuring that maritime activities meet international best practices.

As global shipping and offshore industries become increasingly technology-driven, continuous training and capacity building are necessary to keep Nigerian professionals competitive in the international labour market.

Skilled maritime professionals such as seafarers, marine engineers and allied personnel in the sector could be sources of foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria as they could be exported to the international community.

Philippines and India are the world’s top exporters of skilled maritime personnel such as seafarers where they get the chunk of their foreign exchange.

If Nigeria could develop such capacity in skilled labourers in the sector and export their expertise, the country could harvest bountifully from such venture.

Equally important is the adoption and enforcement of internationally recognized standards.

Standards provide the framework for quality assurance, safety management, environmental protection, and operational excellence.

Compliance with global maritime standards established by organizations such as the International Maritime Organization(IMO) and the Nautical Institute enhances Nigeria’s credibility as a maritime nation and attracts foreign investment.

Investors and international partners are more likely to engage with institutions and businesses that demonstrate compliance with recognized benchmarks.

That is why the recent certification of the Maritime Centre of Excellence operated by NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited by the UK Nautical Institute is germaine to Nigeria’s quest to develop training capacity and build compliance with standard procedures

This feat also underscores the importance of world-class training institutions in building local capacity.

That is why the government should give necessary assistance to training institutions in Nigeria such as Maritime Academy of Nigeria(MAN), Oron and the Maritime Centre of Excellence operated by NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited.

Such government patronage and assistance will not only improve the quality of maritime training in Nigeria but also position the country as a regional centre for maritime education and professional development.

Prioritizing competency development and standards will also contribute significantly to maritime safety and environmental sustainability.

Well-trained personnel are better equipped to prevent accidents, manage maritime risks, and respond effectively to emergencies.

Furthermore, adherence to environmental standards helps reduce marine pollution, protect biodiversity, and ensure the sustainable utilization of ocean resources, which are fundamental pillars of the blue economy.

From an economic perspective, a competent workforce and strong standards framework can increase Nigeria’s participation in global maritime trade, create high-value jobs, reduce dependence on foreign expertise, and improve the country’s competitiveness.

It also supports local content development by enabling Nigerian professionals and companies to meet the requirements of international contracts and projects.

In conclusion, competency development and standards are not optional components of Nigeria’s blue economy strategy; they are foundational requirements for its success.

By investing in human capital, strengthening training institutions, and enforcing internationally accepted standards, Nigeria can fully harness the immense potential of its maritime resources and transform the blue economy into a major driver of national development, economic diversification, and sustainable growth.