Headlines

ENL vessel incident: A bellow of smoke or outbreak of fire?

Funso OLOJO

On Saturday, June 21st, 2025, a cargo vessel christened CHANG MIN, anchored and discharging at the ENL terminal, Apapa, was involved in an incident which has been differently described as a “fire incident” and “emissions of smoke”

The vessel was laden with a variety of cargo which includes CNG trucks, wooden products, tyres and other highly combustible products.

While one account said part of the vessel was gutted by fire before it was eventually put out, another report said what happened was a mere ” emission of smoke”.

There are three parties to the account of the incident.

Both the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) agreed that what happened was a fire outbreak.

On the other hand, the ENL, the owner and the operator of the terminal, debunked the claim of fire outbreak instead, it said it was ” an emission of smoke from one of the hatches of the ship”.

Here is the NPA account of the incident

” In response to an alarm received by the Marine Division of the Nigerian Ports Authority from a vessel at about 15:00 hours today, Friday, June 20th, 2025, the NPA emergency preparedness mechanism was immediately activated to avert what would have resulted in huge investment losses when a fire outbreak was reported aboard a vessel berthed at one of the terminals in the Apapa Port Complex.

“The NPA Fire Service Department immediately deployed it’s state-of-the-art fire fighting equipment in concert with the NPA Tugboats whose fire-fighting capability helped to combat the fire from the seaside whilst the NPA firefighters with the collaboration of the Terminal’s fire team, Dangote Fire Team and the Lagos State Fire Service Team contained it from the land side.

“The Authority wishes to appreciate the Dangote Group Fire Team and the Lagos State Fire Service for their collaborative support.

“The Authority wishes to assure all stakeholders that the situation is now under control and reiterate its relentless commitment to promoting the culture of safety and continuous improvement in emergency preparedness” declared the NPA in its official statement.

The LASEMA, giving the account of the same incident said

“Following distress alerts at 1755hrs, the Lagos State Emergency Management (LASEMA), activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans from the Cobra Base in Onipanu.

“Upon arrival at the scene, a cargo ship, CHANG MIN, laden with cargo which included CNG trucks, wooden products, tyres and other highly combustible products, was observed to have caught fire within section two of the cargo hold.

“Preliminary investigations conducted by Emergency responders at the scene revealed that the fire was observed at the point of unloading and the cause is yet to be ascertained at time of report.

“No life was lost and no injuries were sustained to anyone as all seafarers on board have been accounted for.

“The Cobra response team alongside all other responders at the scene undertook the following actions: Debrief from the Crew on board to give more information to Emergency Response Teams as to the instruction that the compartment be totally shut to eliminate oxygen supply, while initial dampening down was being conducted;

“A fire response plan was agreed upon by Emergency Responders on a method to combat the inferno in the safest possible way to eliminate secondary incidents and also ensure the safety of all fire fighters; ⁠Reopening of the cargo hold to enable fire teams engage the inferno; Location of fire and the ship floor plan” declared the Lagos state fire fighters which corroborated the NPA’s account.

But in a swift reaction, the ENL Consortium debunked the two similar accounts.

In its rebutal statement, the terminal operator said the incident was ” an emission of smoke” and not fire outbreak.

“There was absolutely no naked fire on the ship,”

“What occurred was emission of smoke from one of the hatches of the ship, a situation which was swiftly identified and effectively curtailed without escalation.

“The smoke was quickly traced, and our emergency response team acted immediately in line with established safety protocols.

“The situation was promptly brought under control.

“The quick and professional handling of the incident highlights the company’s strong safety culture and the effectiveness of its rapid response systems” the ENL management declared.

From the account of the incident from the three parties which witnessed the scenerio, the NPA ‘s account agreed with that of the LASEMA while the ENL, for a curious reason, deferred.

Analysts believed that the NPA would not have received a distress call from the terminal if the incident was a ” mere emission of smoke” which the fire fighters of the ENL should have been able to control .

They also declared that if it was a mere ” emission of smoke” there wouldn’t have been any need for the NPA to call for a reinforcement from LASEMA and Dangote fire fighters.

It was also agreed that a mere ” emission of smoke” would not have involved the elaborate efforts from the combined team of NPA, LASEMA and Dangote fire fighters to put it off.

Curiously, the account of the ENL on the incident was silent on the yeoman’ s job of the NPA, LASEMA and Dangote fire fighters.

Instead, the ENL only gave credit to the professional expertise of its fire fighters who swiftly put off the “smoke”

“The smoke was quickly traced, and our emergency response team acted immediately in line with established safety protocols” the terminal operator said.

With the muddled account of the incident by the ENL, watchers of the event queried the motive of the terminal operator and its attempt to cover up what was clearly a fire incident that was curtailed by the combined team of NPA ,LASEMA and Dangote fire fighters.

An amused respondent asked rhetorically” what is the ENL hiding?

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.

Headlines

NPA unveils multi-agency task force to tackle resurgent port access gridlock

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has launched a multi-agency task force to combat the resurgence of traffic gridlock choking the Lagos port access roads, in a fresh push to restore seamless cargo evacuation and sustain recent gains in port efficiency.

The intervention followed a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, on June 23rd, 2026, where security agencies, freight forwarders, truck operators and representatives of the Lagos State Government agreed on coordinated measures to eliminate the bottlenecks disrupting cargo movement.

At the meeting, stakeholders identified illegal extortion points, overlapping responsibilities among security agencies and other operational distortions as major factors responsible for the renewed congestion along the port corridor.

Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, the NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemakara, said the Authority’s overriding priority is to guarantee the unhindered movement of cargo to and from the nation’s seaports.

According to him, the task force comprises the NPA, the Police, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO).

“The responsibility of the task force is to monitor truck movement on the port access roads on a regular basis, identify any disruption capable of causing gridlock and immediately resolve such challenges,” Onyemakara said.

He stressed that members of the task force would not establish checkpoints along the corridor but would maintain strategic presence at designated locations to ensure compliance without obstructing traffic.

To enhance rapid response, Onyemakara disclosed that the task force has created a dedicated WhatsApp platform through which members can instantly report infractions or emerging traffic issues for immediate intervention.

On the long-delayed renewal of the Electronic Truck Call-Up (ETO) system contract, the NPA spokesman said the Authority is reviewing the terms to ensure a more robust contractual framework before awarding a fresh agreement.

He explained that although the previous contract had expired, the ETO platform remains operational under the management of the Truck Transit Parks (TTP) pending completion of the procurement process.

He expressed confidence that the renewal would be concluded soon.

Reaffirming the Authority’s commitment to maintaining free-flowing port access roads, Onyemakara said efficient logistics remain central to the NPA’s drive to improve Nigeria’s port competitiveness and preserve its growing international reputation.

“We are more interested in the free flow of logistics into our ports than anyone else because it is in our own interest,” he said.

“If you look at the international recognition we are receiving, including the World Bank report, we are determined to sustain and even surpass the improvements already recorded in our port system.
“You can be assured that we remain fully committed to achieving the best possible performance from our ports.”

Headlines

Customs Steps Up Nationwide Green Tax Awareness Ahead of July 1 Rollout

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its nationwide sensitisation campaign ahead of the July 1, 2026 implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge and related fiscal adjustments, aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and encouraging the importation of cleaner vehicles.

The awareness campaign, held on Friday July 26th, 2026 at the Apapa Area Command, brought together Customs officers, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, importers and other key stakeholders under the theme: “Implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge and Related Fiscal Adjustments.”

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, Mohammed Babadende, said the exercise was designed to ensure stakeholders fully understand the policy before its implementation.

“This sensitisation is designed to ensure that every stakeholder clearly understands the policy before implementation. Our objective is to eliminate uncertainty, promote voluntary compliance and guarantee uniform application of the Green Tax Surcharge across all commands,” Babadende stated.

Delivering a technical presentation, the Comptroller in charge of Tariff, System Audit and Coordination, Murtala Muazu, explained that the Green Tax Surcharge is different from conventional fiscal measures and would therefore require a separate assessment process.

He disclosed that the Service has simplified implementation through the HS Code declaration platform to facilitate seamless compliance by importers and clearing agents.

Muazu also revealed that the Federal Government has reduced import levies on vehicles from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, while import duty on used vehicles has been slashed from 15 per cent to five per cent to cushion the impact of the new environmental surcharge.

Area Controllers who participated in the sensitisation urged importers, licensed customs agents and the trading public to embrace the initiative, stressing that the reduction in import levies would lower the cost of doing business, promote legitimate trade and ultimately reduce transportation costs.

Stakeholders welcomed the policy but called for sustained public enlightenment to deepen understanding and ensure seamless compliance ahead of the July 1 commencement date.