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NRC expresses regret over disruption in Port Harcourt – Aba train services, commences refund for stranded passengers

Gloria Odion 
The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has apologized for the inconveniences that arose from the breakdown of a train at IMO River on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025.
The breakdown has caused the passengers untold hardship as those who refused the alternative arrangement for evacuation made by the NRC resorted to treaking.
The corporation said it has commenced refund for the affected passengers.
“The train, which was on its way from Aba to Port Harcourt, suddenly developed a fault and stopped functioning.
” Despite the best efforts of our engineers to revive the locomotive, the fault persisted.
“Consequently, an alternative engine, Loco 2306, was quickly deployed to rescue the stranded train.
“While some passengers chose to take alternative routes to their destinations, others were conveyed back safely,”
” The train has since been returned to Port Harcourt and is currently undergoing thorough repairs to ensure it is fit to resume service.
“All passengers affected by this disruption are advised to visit our stations in Port Harcourt or Aba with evidence of payment for a possible refund or replacement train ride.
“We appreciate the concerns raised by the general public and deeply value the patience and understanding shown by our passengers during this period”, the statement said.
” The present NRC management remains committed to transforming the Corporation under the Renewed Hope Agenda, ensuring safer, more reliable, and customer-friendly rail services across the country.
“Normal train operations on the Port Harcourt–Aba corridor will resume on Tuesday, 9th September 2025” the NRC management said.
The attention of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has been drawn to a widely circulated video on social media showing passengers of the Port Harcourt–Aba Train Service trekking long distances and even crossing a stream in search of alternative means of transportation. This followed the breakdown of a train at Imo River on Wednesday, 3rd September 2025.
In an earlier statement, the management of the corporation had regretted the inconveniences experienced by our esteemed passengers on that day.
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Headlines

Resurgence of boat mishaps unsettles NIWA as Oyebamiji unfolds new measures to tackle waterways accidents 

Gloria Odion 
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has unfolded though measures aimed at curbing the resurgence of boat mishaps on the nation’s waterways.
The resurgence of waterways accidents, especially the fatality recently recorded in boat mishap in Niger State, has made NIWA to tighten safety measures on the waterways.
Addressing newsmen on Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 in Abuja, the Managing Director of NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, announced immediate ban  on all loading activities from unauthorised points across the country, insisting that only recognised and registered jetties may be used.
He also mandated all commercial operators to provide lifejackets for passengers, while every boat must clearly display its name and load line.
 Oyebamiji gave a directive that all unlicensed boats and watercraft  be removed from the waterways, while unlicensed drivers and operators are prohibited from carrying out any operations.
The Authority also called on riverine states to partner with NIWA in safety campaigns, training of operators, procurement and distribution of lifejackets, provision of landing platforms and deployment of modern ferries.
Oyebamiji reiterated his call for the establishment of Coast guards for inland waterways, describing it as an essential enforcement tool that would significantly strengthen NIWA’s safety drive.
The NIWA boss thereafter launched into past measures taken by the Authority to reduce boat mishaps on the waterways.
He noted that since the appointment of the current management in October 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, NIWA has implemented a number of far-reaching reforms and initiatives aimed at reducing accidents on the waterways.
He recalled that within the first six months of the administration, the long-awaited Water Transportation Code was gazetted and launched to regulate operators, passengers, and users of the waterways.
 Within the same period, Oyebamiji further disclosed,the Authority also inaugurated 15 new operational assets, including patrol boats, water ambulances, survey boats and passenger ferries, while also commissioning new facilities such as the NIWA Clinic and administrative building at its headquarters in Lokoja to improve efficiency.
To enforce compliance, he recalled that the Authority deployed Water Marshals, which have now increased from 80 personnel at inception to 350 across the country.
“Passenger safety has been enhanced through the introduction of a manifest system at recognised jetties to improve record-keeping, while Water Marshals also ensure that the “No Lifejacket, No Boarding” regulation is strictly enforced.
“In addition, the reactivation of Search and Rescue Stations has reduced NIWA’s emergency response time to less than 30 minutes.
“The Authority has also taken its safety awareness campaigns directly to loading points and jetties, reaching more than 300 communities in 2025 alone.
“These grassroots engagements are complemented by periodic campaigns in local languages on radio, television, newspapers and digital platforms.
On the technical side, Mr. Oyebamiji explained that NIWA has intensified channel maintenance for safer navigation.
Marine navigational buoys have been installed on the Lower and Upper Niger, while hydrographic surveys and profiling have been completed from Warri to Baro Port, covering 624 kilometres.
He said the Authority has continued to remove aquatic waste, logs and wrecks from waterways to further enhance navigability, while collaboration with sub national governments has also been strengthened.
He also recalled that in October 2024, NIWA convened a stakeholders’ meeting with state transportation commissioners and other maritime stakeholders in Abuja to deliberate on measures to eliminate boat accidents.
“That meeting produced a communique outlining responsibilities for both federal and state governments.
 According to the Managing Director, some states have already started acting on these commitments by providing ferries and lifejackets to their citizens, with Niger State standing out as a prime example.
Mr. Oyebamiji commended the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for his unwavering support.
“In the last four months alone, the Ministry has helped NIWA distribute over 45,000 standard lifejackets across twelve states, while also leading state-level safety campaigns in Niger and Bayelsa.
Looking ahead, NIWA intends to deepen collaboration with the Marine Police and the Nigerian Navy, especially in enforcing the ban on overloading, night sailing between 6 pm and 6 am, and compulsory use of lifejackets.
Oyebamiji disclosed that NIWA’s initiatives have already reduced accidents and deaths on the waterways by more than 70 percent compared to previous years, but stressed that more can still be done.
He described the safety of Nigerians on the waterways as a national duty requiring the collective efforts of all stakeholders.
 “Based on the innovations and renewed commitment to our mandates, we have reduced waterway accidents and deaths by more than 70 percent.
“But we must do more. Establishing Coastal Guards and deepening collaboration with states and security agencies will help us achieve an accident-free waterway system,” he said.
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Customs

Olomu recounts achievements as he bows out of Apapa Customs command amidst applause 

– hands over big shoe to Comptroller Oshoba
Gloria Odion 
For 15 performance – parked months,the newly promoted Assistant Comptroller- General of Customs, ACG Babatunde Olomu, bestrode the landscape of Apapa command of the Nigeria customs service like a Colossus.
His blistering performance saw him set revenue record of N2 trillion in 2024 while he handed over N1.8 trillion receipt collected so far in 2025, which was 60 percent of the N3 trillion annual revenue target of the command.
According to Olomu, who handed the baton of leadership of the command to Comptroller E O Oshoba on Monday, September 8th, 2025, the Apapa command under his watch also achieved a record-breaking single-day revenue of ₦17.9 billion on June 19, 2024, surpassed by ₦18.2 billion in October 2024, and later ₦18.9 billion on March 14, 2025.
For August 2025 alone, the command also generated ₦214.9 billion despite initial technical hitches that accompanied the introduction of B’Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS).
On trade facilitation, Olomu recalled that Apapa Port played a pioneering role in Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), including the first historic shipment under the Guided Trade Initiative in July 2024 and a subsequent shipment to Kenya in November of the same year.
He also stressed his administration’s success in promoting faster cargo clearance, dispute resolution, and compliance.
In anti-smuggling operations, the outgone CAC revealed that the command seized 75 containers of contraband within his tenure, comprising fake and expired medicaments, codeine syrup, tramadol, cannabis, used clothing, and other prohibited items.
With this impressive performance, Olomu, recently elevated to the management cadre of the Service as a ACG, bowed out from the leadership of the Apapa command command with a thunderous applause and commendations from stakeholders who believed he had left behind a big shoe for his successor,  Comptroller E.O.A. Oshoba.
The new Customs Area Controller pledged to sustain the achievements of his predecessor while bringing new energy into the command.
He commended Olomu’s record-breaking tenure and assured that he would build on the legacies of transparency, integrity, and modernization.
Oshoba outlined his leadership philosophy as “Look, Listen, and Learn,” noting that his immediate focus would be to understand the peculiar challenges of the command and collaborate with officers and stakeholders to address them.
The new helmsman called for renewed dedication and maximum cooperation, stressing that “no one succeeds alone.”
Comptroller Oshoba promised to deepen ongoing reforms under the Comptroller-General, especially in trade facilitation, ICT deployment, and global best practices.
He pledged to strengthen programs such as the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), Time Release Study (TRS), and Advanced Ruling (AR), while pushing the UCMS to greater heights.
“As Nigeria now chairs the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, we must uphold compliance, transparency, and innovation to maintain our leadership role in global customs administration,” Oshoba stated.
He assured stakeholders that his tenure would prioritize inclusiveness, innovation, and excellence, promising to “sustain the excellent records achieved and, by the grace of God, break new grounds for Nigeria through Apapa Port.”
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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.

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