Connect with us

Headlines

NIWA seeks collaboration with private sector operators to revive Oguta River Port

Funso OLOJO 
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has commenced the process of reviving the Oguta River Port in Imo State.
The Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority(NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, disclosed this in a meeting with the Technical Team of the Orashi Special Energy Free Trade Zone, led by its Managing Director, Dr Chioma Nwachukwu, at its Liaison Office in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr Oyebamiji disclosed that the Oguta River Port is central to the development of the South East region and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Federal Ministry of Marine Economy.
According to the Oyebamiji ,NIWA is open to a public-private partnership for the quick revitalisation of the port facility.
At the meeting, Dr Chioma Nwachuku, the Managing Director of Orashi Special Energy Free Trade Zone, expressed the readiness of her company to work with the Authority in actualising the potential of the port facility to attract investments and promote industrial activities, and generate employment opportunities.
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Headlines

Dominguez, IMO Scribe, warns that human activities put ocean at risk 

– as Nigeria joins global community to commemorate World Maritime Day 
Funso OLOJO 

Arsenio Dominguez, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has warned about the enormous pressure which human activities have place on the world marine ecosystem.
He lamented that self- induced activities such as pollution, warming, acidification, and overfishing are putting the ocean at great risk.
The IMO Scribe was speaking ahead of the annual commemoration of the World Maritime Day holding on Thursday, September 25th, 2025.
Dominguez, in his message, underscored the essential role of the ocean in regulating the climate, sustaining life, and supporting global trade.
According to him, urgent global cooperation is required to reduce pollution, protect marine life, and adopt sustainable practices.
 “While human activity has caused the damage, it also holds the key to restoring the ocean—presenting both a responsibility and an opportunity for a healthier, safer future,” the IMO chief declared.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy,  Adegboyega Oyetola, while speaking on the Day with the theme ” Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity.”
emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between the citizenry and the Federal Government to harness the vast opportunities within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
The event, which is an annual ritual, is aimed at highlighting the shared responsibility of citizens to utilize the ocean in a sustainable manner, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
 It underscores the transgenerational importance of protecting ocean resources, while also recognizing the immense opportunities the oceans portend for humanity.
Continue Reading

Headlines

Dantsoho woos foreign investors at UNGA as he flaunts NPA achievements at global stage 

Funso OLOJO

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, has enumerated the landmark achievements of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) aimed at stimulating the Nigerian economy and meant to build a smart port system that facilitates trade.

Dantsoho disclosed this while delivering a paper titled, “Optimising Nigeria’s Port Infrastructure, Enhancing Trade Facilitation and Global Competitiveness,” at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

 He told the global audience that the NPA is working to build a globally competitive port system that will enhance trade facilitation, attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and boost investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic future.

Dantsoho stated that the authority would launch the Port Community System (PCS) by the first quarter of 2026.

According to him, “We are building a globally competitive port system that will strengthen trade facilitation, attract Foreign Direct Investment, and boost investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic future. We look forward to continued collaboration to achieve these goals.

“NPA is also implementing a digital, collaborative, and all-encompassing platform connecting stakeholders, data, transactions, and initiatives to improve NPA’s digital footprint.

“This platform (Port Community System) was seen as viable in the first quarter of 2026.”

The NPA boss further stated that all the nation’s seaports’ digital platforms allowed for paperless transactions, which minimises waste.

He stated that the nation’s seaports efficiency have contributed to a 19.6% growth in non-oil exports in the first half of 2025.

“The NPA is using smart digitalisation to achieve lean and green operations.

” We’ve deployed a new electronic barrier system at all Lagos Port Complex terminals to improve traffic and control access.

“This system is integrated with the “Eto Electronic Call-Up System’ (a call-up truck system developed in collaboration with several truck parks) manages truck entry and eases congestion.”

“We are optimising cargo processes by introducing e-Tag verification, Joint boarding apps, electronic send systems, and others to reduce cargo dwell time and turnaround time in our ports.

” Our digital platforms allow for paperless transactions, which minimise waste.

“The NPA is infusing sustainability into its operations to boost efficiency and long-term viability. We are improving intermodal connectivity to reduce reliance on road transport and lower emissions.

Speaking on reducing emission, the NPA helmsman, said the authority is spearheading the shore-to-ship emission reduction, starting with the Lekki Port.

“We are improving intermodal connectivity to reduce reliance on road transport and lower emissions.

“We are currently working on automating our Barge, Truck, and Railway applications.

“The Authority is spearheading the shore-to-ship emission reduction, starting with the Lekki Port.

“NPA is spearheading the collaborative one-stop shop (OSS) ref hed oil export/local crude payment to enhance seamless approvals and revenue generation for the government,” he added.

He stated further that the authority is dedicated to modernising the nation’s seaport infrastructure and streamlining their services.

“This multi-purpose port in the Lekki Free Zone is a key collaboration between the NPA and other partners.

“The port’s capability to handle super post-Panamax vessels is essential for achieving economies of scale and enhancing the competitiveness of Nigerian exports.

“We have commissioned and dedicated a state-of-the-art fleet of tug boats and allied Marine Crafts to service the ever growing operations at the Lekki Deep Seaport, the Dangote Refinery, which is the largest single-train refinery in the world and the Dangote Fertilizer Plant, which is the largest granulated urea fertiliser plant in Africa.”

“The Nigerian Ports Authority is dedicated to modernising our port infrastructure and streamlining our services. We look forward to continued collaboration to achieve these goals,” he stated.

Continue Reading

Customs

Oshoba preps up Customs officers, stakeholders for increased operational activities at Apapa Port

— as Apapa command receives four scanning machines 
Funso OLOJO 
The Customs Area Controller of the Apapa command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Oluwadare Oshoba, has urged the officers of the command, importers and exporters who ply their trade at the command, to brace up for a busy working schedule ahead as the command has taken delivery of three fixed scanning machines and additional mobile one to fast track cargo clearance procedures at the port.
Following the delivery and installation of the scanners, one of which was donated by the APM Terminals, the command said it has the capacity to scan a minimum of 200 containers per hour.
Speaking shortly after inspecting the location for the installation of three out of the four scanners at the port, Comptroller Oshoba said Apapa Port Command is ready to surpass expectations as the scanners would be examining 200 containers per hour.
While describing the quayside location for the scanners as an operational masterstroke, the Customs chief said no consignment will escape high-tech driven, non-intrusive inspection at Apapa port as the scanners would be strategically positioned close to the berthing area.
Comptroller Oshoba ,who commended CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for his relentless commitment to NCS modernisation, also urged officers to prepare for intensive train -the -trainer sessions as the next phase after installation would be training ahead of full deployment
He also advised NCS ICT officers to improve on capacity building for tier one and tier two levels of maintenance of the scanners, which are first of its kind in the West and Central Africa subregion
Comptroller Oshoba described the feat as a great milestone about to happen and advised port users, especially importers, exporters and their agents to uphold the tenet of sincere declaration as all false declarations and concealment would be exposed by the technology.
In expression of gratitude to the CGC, Comptroller Oshoba said, ” I want to on behalf of our officers and men, thank the CGC for leading us through an era of revolutionary customs modernisation.
” The coming of these scanners is one of the many great fruits we shall be harvesting from the modernisation project.
“Our partners, the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), have assured us that the installation would last for 45 days, and we are expecting two units of scanners from them with an additional one from APM Terminals.
“These three scanners would ensure that there is no downtime for cargo examination here and reinforce our position as the number one destination for port activities in Nigeria.
“All hands must be on deck to see to the full realisation of this dream which would save time, increase revenue, enhance national security, promote trade and prevent port related crimes from the earliest point of entry” the CAC said.
Also speaking on the development, Aliyu Suleiman, TMP Team Leader at the site, gave details on the scanners produced by Nuctech in China.
 He described them as the NUCTECH FS6000 with a high-throughput, non-intrusive, drive-through X-ray inspection system for cargo and vehicles.
He added that the scanners use high-penetration dual-energy X-ray transmission technology to inspect trucks and containers in one pass at speeds up to 15 km/h, allowing for non-stop inspection at busy locations like ports and border crossings.
According to the expert, the system provides detailed images that help identify concealed contraband and dangerous materials, and its compact, modular design allows for easy relocation and integration with other systems like License Plate Recognition (LPR) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
In addition to the three fixed scanners about being installed, APM Terminals has also promised to provide a mobile scanner to serve as support in the event of unexpected downtime.
Continue Reading

Trending