Headlines

IMO scribe to tour NIMASA, Navy facilities in October visit to Nigeria

Funso OLOJO

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, is scheduled to embark on a three-day working visit to Nigeria from October 2nd to 4th, 2025.

The disclosure was made by the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, during a courtesy visit to the Agency’s headquarters by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Michael Gregory Oamen.

Dr. Mobereola commended the FOC for sustaining the long standing and productive collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA, describing it as a model for maritime sector development.

“The visit of the Flag Officer Commanding,Western Naval Command is yet another demonstration of the deep and successful partnership between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy, which has continued to yield positive outcomes for the maritime sector and the nation at large,” he stated.

The NIMASA DG emphasized that the successes achieved through this partnership, particularly the reduction of piracy and maritime crimes, not only in Nigerian waters but across the Gulf of Guinea, serve as a template that can be replicated by other government agencies and regional partners.

He further disclosed that during his visit, the IMO Secretary-General will tour Nigerian Navy installations as well as NIMASA facilities in Lagos, underscoring the significance of Nigeria’s efforts in enhancing maritime security and promoting international maritime cooperation.

In his remarks, Rear Admiral Oamen commended NIMASA’s current management for its sustained collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, noting that such synergy remains critical to the growth and stability of the maritime sector.

Headlines

Resident alleges threat to life over report of vandalized Lagos Water Corporation infrastructure

Our reporter

A middle aged man, Mayowa Alonge, has been accused of vandalizing a critical infrastructure belonging to the Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC).

The incident occurred at No. 9, Ago-Owu Street, off Kayode Street, Onipanu, Lagos State, where Alonge allegedly broke the bricks and removed the iron lid cover protecting a major pipeline interjection station along the railway axis connecting Ijora Olopa to Iju Waterworks.

According to Niyi Kolawole, the complainant and administrator of the affected family property, Alonge reportedly told some residents in October 2024 that he intended to remove the heavy iron lid of over a century-old interjection point of the LSWC pipeline in the area.

Few days later, it was observed that the bricks had been broken and the heavy iron lid over the manhole had been removed.

This incident reportedly occurred around October 2024.

On noticing that Alonge has allegedly went ahead with the removal of the iron , sparking safety concerns and due to the potential environmental and safety hazards posed by the vandalism, Niyi Kolawole promptly notified the Lagos State Water Corporation in January 2025.

Prior to this, on December 13, 2024, Kolawole had submitted a petition to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti,Yaba, Lagos, detailing the vandalism and requesting that the alleged culprit be investigated and held accountable.

Niyi Kolawole further said, he also wrote the Lagos State Governor on the issue, of which he later saw the letter minuted to the Lagos State Water Corporation for action , but nothing has been done up till now.

Kolawole further alleged that Mayowa Alonge was invited by the police and reportedly confessed to committing the crime and selling the iron for ₦133,000.

He also said Alonge later claimed to have bribed the officers in charge with ₦350,000 to have the case dropped.

He further alleged that during a visit to the State CID at Panti for verification, some police officers pressured him to drop the case, with one officer reportedly threatening to detain him if he returned.

Although petitions were sent to the Lagos State Government, the DCP, Panti and the Managing Director of Lagos State Water Corporation and agents visited the crime scene to verify the claims, no action has been taken to address the issue so far .

Furthermore, Kolawole said for being a good citizen by reporting such collateral damage to government asset and threat to human lives , instead of being commended, he is being threatened, including Mayowa Alonge and his relatives, lamenting that his life and that of his family is in great danger.

Kolawole is therefore urging the Lagos State Government to urgently secure the manhole with a durable lid like the old type to prevent flooding and potential accidents involving children and pedestrians, particularly as the culprit continues to evade justice and community safety being risked.

In response to our reporter phone call, the accused, Mayowa Alonge, said he removed the said Lagos State Water Cooperation manhole lid when they carried out renovation of their grand father’s house where they currently reside at No 9,Ago- Owu Street, off Kayode Street, Onipanu.

The renovation, he said, was jointly funded with Debo Kolawole who is his cousin and a brother to Niyi.

He further explained that the manhole lid is located at the setback between their house and the railway line known as railway axis interjection station running from Ijora Olopa to Iju Water Works, Lagos State.

Alonge further said Niyi petitioned the State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID), Musiliu Smith Street, Panti -Yaba, Lagos accusing him of taking the said lid and sold to scrap metal dealers.

“I never sold the water Cooperation manhole lid nor bragged of bribing the police.

“I told the police I sold the metal scraps removed from the renovated house for ₦133,000.

“The police however ordered me to go and replace the lid. I have not been able to do so because I presently do not have any job to enable me fund it. Am hopeful of doing so soonest”, Mayowa Alonge, the accused, told our reporter on phone .

On the other hand , when our reporter called the Chief Security Officer(CSO) of the Lagos State Water Cooperation, Mr Babajide Kassim and Mr Bimbo an independent security agent sent to investigate the vandalism, both declined to speak when contacted.

They both evaded answering the questions from our reporter that bothered on safety of Lagosians and criminality rather was seeking to know how our reporter was able to get their phone numbers regardless of the fact they are public figures. They however abruptly terminated the calls with our reporter.

Customs

Customs seeks to shorten goods clearance time to 48 hours under its One- Stop- Shop initiative

– Apapa, Tin Can, Onne as pilot commands

Funso OLOJO

The Nigeria Customs Service has initiated a process that will streamline its cargo clearance procedures at the ports that will ultimately reduce the clearance time from the present 21 days period to just 48 hours.

This initiative, dubbed One- Stop- Shop(OSS), was flagged off on Thursday, September 23rd, 2025, seeks to collapse all the customs units involved in cargo clearance procedures into one unified platform to carry out examination on a flagged declaration in a bid to eliminate duplication and minimize delays.

Addressing the gathering of Area controllers of Customs in Abuja on the novel initiative, the Comptroller- General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi described the OSS as a “transformative shift” in line with global best practices and the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy.

He stressed that the reform is designed to sanitise operations, reduce duplication of efforts, and ensure predictability in Customs procedures.

“The OSS initiative will not only shorten clearance time from 21 days to 48 hours, but it will also strengthen trader confidence, restore transparency, and make our operations more business-friendly,” the CGC said.

While acknowledging the role of technology in Customs operations, Adeniyi emphasised the importance of physical engagement with officers.

“As much as technology has helped us, it has its limits. There are moments when physical presence coming together under one roof adds weight and value to our deliberations.

“Meetings like this strengthen our unity of purpose and ensure we speak with one voice,” he noted.

Under the OSS framework, all Customs Units will work jointly on flagged declarations, eliminating multiple checks and reducing delays.

Consignments cleared under the OSS will not be subject to re-interception, a move aimed at reducing costs and enhancing trade facilitation.

The Abuja meeting also provided a platform to review the Service’s accountability framework, including a new central dashboard that tracks clearance times, interventions, and stakeholder satisfaction.

Adeniyi assured the Customs Area Controllers that the reform would be piloted at Apapa, Tin Can Island, and Onne Ports before being rolled out nationwide, adding that the initiative is fully supported by the NCS Act 2023 and aligned with the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

“This is not just a policy. It is a statement of intent that reflects our determination to build a modern, transparent, and trader-friendly Customs Service,” he concluded.

Following several responses and interventions on the OSS Initiative, the Customs Area Controllers pledged their full support, describing it as timely and necessary to reposition the Service for efficiency.

They assured the CGC of their readiness to drive the reform at their respective commands and to work in synergy toward achieving the 48-hour clearance target.

Headlines

Abuja–Kaduna train service resumes next week–NRC

Funso OLOJO

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced that the Abuja–Kaduna passenger train service is set to resume operations next week, following the successful completion of repair and safety checks on the affected section of track at Asham.

The service was temporarily suspended after the unfortunate incident of August 26, 2025.

Since then, the Corporation has worked tirelessly to ensure both the infrastructure and rolling stock are restored to the highest safety standards in line with global best practices.

As part of its commitment to passenger welfare, the NRC has refunded 512 passengers out of the 583 on board the affected train while efforts are ongoing to reach and process refunds for the remaining passengers to ensure that no one is left behind.

“The NRC appreciates the patience and understanding of our esteemed passengers and assures the general public that their safety, comfort, and satisfaction remain our top priority.

“We also acknowledge the invaluable support of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, security agencies, the media, and all stakeholders during this period of recovery” the NRC management declared.