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Oyetola rallies stakeholders for implementation of national policy on marine and blue economy 

– enumerates successes , projections of the ministry for the industry.
Funso OLOJO 
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy,  Adegboyega Oyetola, has enjoined industry stakeholders to support the national policy on marine and blue economy which he believed will drive the growth and development of the industry.
The Minister make this appeal in Lagos on Thursday , July 3rd, 2025 while engaging the industry stakeholders on the need for their collaboration for effective implementation of the policy.
It could be recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in May, 2025, approved Nigeria’s 10-Year National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy from 2025-2034.
The Policy is designed with a robust implementation plan and the goal of harnessing Nigeria’s vast marine resources to drive economic growth.

At the 2nd Citizen/Stakeholders’ engagement held in Lagos, Oyetola said the approval of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy by the Federal Executive Council marks a critical turning point in providing a comprehensive framework to unlock value across Nigeria’s marine ecosystems.

According to him, the  policy encompasses port infrastructure, maritime security, aquaculture, ocean governance, marine biotechnology, renewable energy, coastal tourism, and climate resilience.

“Our gathering today is not ceremonial. It is a working forum designed to develop a strategic roadmap for implementation.
” We are here to design actionable frameworks, set implementation priorities, and assign clear institutional responsibilities.
“In doing so, we must focus on improving coordination, ensuring accountability, and building capacity at all levels” Oyetola told the stakeholders who gathered at the event.
The Minister further delved into the successes and projections of the ministry
” We are focused on modernising our port infrastructure.
“The Federal Government has approved the contracts for the reconstruction of the Apapa and Tin Can Ports, under the Western Port Rehabilitation Programme.
” Procurement is ongoing for the Eastern Ports. These upgrades are complemented by the deployment of digital solutions, including the Port Community System, the E-Call-Up System, and a unified One-Stop-Shop for port clearance.
“These interventions are designed to reduce delays, boost investor confidence, and reposition Nigeria as a regional maritime hub.
“We are also working to strengthen indigenous shipping capacity. Through a public-private partnership model, we are pursuing the revival of a National Carrier.
” Additionally, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has commenced preparatory activities for the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund.
“The process is being carefully structured to ensure transparency and regulatory compliance. When operational, the Fund will significantly expand opportunities for Nigerian shipping operators.
“On revenue and service delivery, we have recorded consistent year-on-year growth across our agencies. This is largely driven by our digitization drive, which is improving operational efficiency, closing leakages, and attracting private capital into the sector.
“Furthermore, we are making concerted efforts to streamline trade facilitation, reduce procedural bottlenecks, and eliminate overlapping regulatory burdens.
“Investment opportunities are expanding in bonded terminals, dry ports, inland logistics corridors, and warehousing infrastructure.
“Our overarching objective is to make Nigeria the maritime and logistics gateway for West and Central Africa.
“​On the regional front, Nigeria is championing the operationalisation of the Regional Maritime Development Bank under the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA).
“With its headquarters here in Abuja, the Bank is poised to provide long-term financing for maritime infrastructure, thereby accelerating regional integration and supporting cross-border trade.
“Our inland waterways are also receiving priority attention. The Ministry, through the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has introduced the Inland Waterways Transportation Regulation, 2023, and launched a nationwide water safety campaign.
” We have distributed over 42,000 safety jackets, deployed ferries, patrol boats, and trained water marshals.
“These efforts are already yielding results in reducing boat mishaps across the country  and restoring confidence in water transport as a safe and viable mode of movement.
“Following the formal transfer of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to our Ministry, we are repositioning the sector as a key contributor to food security and rural livelihoods.
“Ongoing efforts include reviving critical fishing terminals, automating licensing systems, and incentivising responsible private investments in both artisanal and commercial aquaculture.
“Maritime security remains central to our mandate. Through the Deep Blue Project, Nigeria has maintained zero piracy incidents in its territorial waters for three consecutive years.
“This achievement has earned us commendation from the international community and contributed to regional maritime stability.
“We are also proud that Nigeria’s offer to host the African Union Combined Maritime Task Force in Lagos has received endorsement from the AU Peace and Security Council” Oyetola enthused.
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Customs

Customs exempts raw materials, machineries, parts,  project cargo, humanitarian aids,aircraft parts from 4 percent FOB charge 

Funso OLOJO
In a rare gesture of magnanimity and desire to stimulate the economy, the Nigeria Customs Service has granted concessions to manufacturers who engage in importation of raw materials, machineries and their parts, government projects and humanitarian aids.
This category of manufacturers will be exempted from paying the controversial 4 percent Free-on- Board (FOB)charge.
Included in the concession are commercial aircraft parts, beneficiaries of the presidential initiative for unlocking healthcare value chain.
These measures were the fall- out of a long- drawn consultation and engagement between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria( MAN) held in Lagos on Friday, September 26th, 2025.
The  Comptroller- General of Customs,  Adewale Adeniyi, led a team of high- powered Customs High command to the National Secretariat of MAN whose team was led by the President of the association, Otunba Francis Meshioye.
Reading the agreement signed by Adeniyi on behalf of the NCS and Otunba Francis Meshioye of MAN, the CGC disclosed that the special concession on the select manufacturers was made by the Customs in consultation with the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun.
Giving the details of the exemptions, Adeniyi clarified that the concession was meant for the category of manufacturers who engage in the importation of the exempted cargoes.
“Nigeria Customs Service announced that following consultation with the Honourable Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, approval has been granted for strategic exemptions from the 4% FOB charges on the following, among others:
“Importation of raw materials, spares, and machines by the manufacturers who are beneficiaries of concessions contained in Chapters 98 and 99 of the Customs Tariff,
“Manufacturers who are currently on chapters 98 and 99 are advised to apply for pre-release of the consignment to avoid payment of demurrage.
“In addition, members of MAN who import raw materials, machines, and spares that are not currently on chapters 98 and 99 to be onboarded in order to enjoy the exemptions provided in 5(i) above.
“MAN, NCS, and the Federal Ministry of Finance will work together for the inclusion of manufacturers that are currently not on chapters 98 end 99.
“An immediate tripartite consultation of the Federal Ministry of Finance, NCS, and MAN would be held immediately to work out the modalities for expedited onboarding of manufacturers on chapters 98 and 99” Adeniyi explained.
He further disclosed that the 4% FOB payments already made by manufacturers who are yet to be onboarded to chapters 98 and 99 will be held as credit and be utilized for future customs-related transactions after their onboarding.
The CGC further listed the category of the beneficiaries of the special exemption to include government projects with Import Duty Exemptions Certificates, goods imports for Humanitarian, Life Saving and other related purposes and beneficiaries of the Presidential Initiative for unlocking Healthcare value chain as well as commercial airlines’ spare parts.
Adeniyi had disclosed that the recent suspension of the 4 percent FOB by the Ministry of Finance has opened a new vista of opportunity to make wider consultations and engagements with relevant stakeholders such as MAN, the outcome of which he said were the special exemption granted some category of manufacturers.
The concession has addressed the concerns of the manufacturers in the areas of the increasing cost of production which the 4 percent FOB will engender.
MAN through its President, Otunba Francis Meshioye, has also raised concerns on multiple checkpoints as threat to trade facilitation, multiple alerts in the clearance system and the B’Odogwu platform glitches.
However, the Customs helmsman said the service has developed robust policies that would engender seamless clearance procedures at the port.
“The Nigeria Customs briefed MAN on the various trade facilitation initiatives undertaken by the Service.
 “This includes the Economic Operator Programme (AEO), Advance Ruling, and Time Release Study.
“NCS, during the dialogue, expressed strong commitment to balancing its revenue generation mandate with innovative trade facilitation measures” the CGC assured.
” Beyond existing exemptions, discussions focused on additional trade facilitation initiatives being implemented by the Nigeria Customs Service to support manufacturing operations.
“These include the development of one-stop shop frameworks designed to streamline regulatory processes and eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, systematic reduction of unnecessary checkpoints that add costs without corresponding value, and integration of digital solutions to accelerate legitimate trade processing as well as maintain security standards.
 “The Service also outlined initiatives aimed at providing real-time clearance capabilities and automated risk assessment systems that reduce compliance costs for legitimate operators” Adeniyi concluded.
However, both parties agreed to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement and pledge to sustain the consultation for the mutual benefits of the two parties and the Nigeria’s economy in general.
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Headlines

International encomiums pour in on Dakuku as two global literary icons endorse his book

Funso OLOJO 
Commendations  have continued to trail the release of ” Leading in a Storm”,  the latest book on Leadership by Dr Dakuku Peterside, the former Director – General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The latest endorsement came in from two international iconic figures,
Philipp Humm, the author of  bestseller books and Professor Andrew Sykes, a professor at the Kellogg School of Management and CEO, founder of Habitats at Work.
The duo commended Dr Dakuku’s book which they described as a masterpiece on Leadership.
Their endorsements underscore the book as an essential guide for leaders navigating real turbulence—appropriate for boardrooms, cabinet meetings, and high-pressure operational environments that require quick decisions based on incomplete information.
According to Philip Humm “Navigate chaos with confidence. This leadership guide provides powerful insights, stories, and tools for leaders to adapt, think creatively, and lead effectively during unpredictable times.”
Prof. Andrew Sykes supports this assertion, adding, “Leading is challenging even in the best circumstances.
“Leading during chaos demands a completely different skill set: a clear mind and a process for steering your team and your organisation toward calmer waters.
“This book offers perfect guidance, complete with anecdotes and stories illustrating its points. Given that we frequently transition from one crisis to another, this book is essential reading for the modern leader.”
“Leading in a Storm” serves as a practical roadmap through chaos, teaching leaders how to quickly interpret context, manage complexity, and communicate calmly and credibly when the stakes are high.
“The book does not idealise crises but equips leaders to balance speed with sound judgment, principles with pragmatism, and urgency with disciplined learning.
 Sykes and Humm highlight its unique blend of clarity and practical frameworks that can be implemented immediately, a language that resonates across sectors, and a leadership rhythm that maintains team alignment and confidence under pressure.
Building on the success of Dr Peterside’s earlier bestseller, “Strategic Turnaround: Story of a Government Agency,” this new book distils years of experience in public administration and transformation into key competencies for times of crisis.
It provides a playbook for leaders to convert confusion into priorities, turn meetings into actionable outcomes, and transform uncertainty into forward momentum—granting a sense of control and direction amid turbulent times.
Dr Peterside said if his book
“I wrote this as a practical companion for leaders who must perform even when the path isn’t clear.
“The goal is straightforward: to help people act with clarity, mobilise teams with purpose, and deliver results amid the storm.”
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Customs

Customs, MAN meet to resolve bottlenecks in clearing procedures at ports.

Funso OLOJO 
The Nigeria Customs Service has met with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN) to deliberate on the areas of friction and bottlenecks in the clearing process at the port with the aim of resolving them.
The two parties met on Friday, September 26th, 2025 when the President of MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye played host to the Customs High command led by the Comptroller- General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the association’ s office in Ikeja, Lagos.
Otunba Meshioye had complained of the soffocating atmosphere created for his members by the re- introduction of the 4 percent Free-on- Board (FOB) on imports as well as what he described as the teething problems thrown up by the newly introduced indigenous customs trade portal, B’Odogwu.
He said that the purpose of engaging with the customs is to ensure these problems are resolved amicably to enable the manufacturers have seamless customs procedures at the port.
In his response, the Customs CG said the service recognized the importance of  manufacturing sector as the backbone of Nigeria’s industrial development, adding that the success of that sector directly connects to  the nation’s nation’s prosperity.
Adeniyi said the recent developments, particularly that of the Ministry of Finance directive, regarding the suspension of the 4% FOB charge, have opened pathways for deeper dialogue between the two institutions.
” While this charge exists as a legal provision under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, effective implementation requires genuine consultations, like the ones we’re having today, with those that it impacts most directly.
” This process of consultation, therefore, balances fiscal responsibilities with industrial growth imperatives”
” Your voices matter, all our manufacturers, and your experience helps to shape our understanding of how customs procedures can either enable or constrain manufacturing excellence.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has consistently supported manufacturing through concrete initiatives that recognize the strategic importance of industrial competitiveness to our national economic objectives.
“Our support extends to structural trade facilitation improvements” he declared.
The CGC further disclosed that the service has concluded the process of developing a comprehensive framework for establishing one-stop shops that will revolutionize how manufacturers interact with customs and other regulatory agencies.
These initiatives, he noted, aim to eliminate bureaucratic processes that frustrate legitimate business operations as  customs continued to maintain robust security and compliance standards.
Adeniyi recalled some of the policies which the customs have implemented to further make clearing process seamless and less cumbersome
“We have also carried out systematic streamlining of checkpoints along our major highways, reducing unnecessary delays that hurt costs without adding value to revenue generation or our security outcomes” the CGC said.
” Digital transformations lies at the heart of our trade facilitation strategies.
“We have investments in systems like the B’ Odogwu platform that provide real-time clearance capabilities, automated risk assessments, and seamless integration with the supply chain system. Technology should eliminate friction in the supply chain.
“All of these technology initiatives complement our policy frameworks to create comprehensive support for manufacturing sector groups.
 “As we speak here, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we have commenced the integration of our B’ Odogwu system into the National Single Window Project, which is expected to come on stream in the first quarter of 2026.” the Customs helmsman declared.
Adeniyi outlined the role of customs which is to facilitate legitimate trade, as well as to continue to protect the nation’s borders and collect appropriate revenues.
He said the role of the manufacturer is to drive industrial production, create employment, and contribute to the  nation’s economic diversifications.
” These roles are complementary, and they require this kind of collaboration that we’re having to achieve optimal outcomes” the CGC concluded.
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