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At Portnews Summit, Captain Olubowale raises concern over protracted delay in disbursement of CVFF

Funso OLOJO 
Captain Ladi Olubowale, the President of African Shipowners Association(ASA) has expressed a grave concern over the  continued delay in the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessels Financing funds(CVFF), raising doubt if the fund is still available.
Captain Olubowale, who was the lead speaker at the Portnews 2025 Summit held in Lagos on Thursday, November 6th, 2025 ,lamented that for everyday the disbursement is delayed, Nigeria is losing and its shipyard industry is dying.
The President of African Shipowners Association, who spoke on the theme of the Summit” Nigeria’s Shipping Carriage Gaps, CVFF, and the Fading Manpower” said the the expectant indigenous Shipowners have suffered series of disappointments and failed promises from government whom he accused of insincerity on the disbursement.
“The question we will ask is, is the money still available? Is the money real?
” For every day we spend not using that money, there’s a loss. For every day we spend, our shipyard industry is dying.
 It could be recalled that the successive administration of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the agency charged with the disbursement of the fund, have made series of unfulfilled promises since the creation of the fund in 2003.
The latest of such failed promises was made by the incumbent Director- General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, who said he has secured the approval of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to disburse the fund in August,2025.
However Captain Olubowale said the non- disbursement of the fund has created the gap in Nigeria’s  shipping carriage.
According to him, the country carries less than 10 percent of its cargo due to lack of vessels owned by Nigerians.
“Today, Nigeria moves over 150 million tonnes of cargo annually; crude oil, gas, containers, and dry bulk.
“Yet, less than 10% of that trade is carried by Nigerian-owned  vessels.
Foreign shipping lines dominate our trade. This means billions of dollars in freight revenue leave our economy
every year.
” In 2023 alone, freight payments exceeded $9 billion, mostly earned by non-Nigerian operators.
“This dependence makes us vulnerable to global shocks and limits our economic sovereignty.”
“Nigeria exports oil, LNG, and agricultural
products. Yet our shipping presence is
minimal. We’ve become cargo owners without shipping power.
“This gap weakens our trade balance,
employment base, and technical capacity.
“Every vessel we don’t own represents lost jobs, lost taxes, and lost experience” Captain Olubowale lamented.
Prince Wale Oni, the Publisher of Portnews and the convener of the annual maritime summit recalled the cherry years of Nigerian National Shipping Line(NNSL) in the 80s when Nigeria was the proud owners of several sea- going vessels and vibrant Seafarers.
He however lamented that few years after, the NNSL and all its vessels have gone under while the Seafarers of those years have either died or old without much effort of replacement them.
“At the zenith of  its glory, the Nigerian National Shipping Line paraded about thirty ocean going vessels with brilliant and respected master mariners like our captain lheanacho resplendent behind the wheels. Good and shining ambassadors of Nigeria.
“Ironically, this only lasted from the pre oil boom years of the 60s through the 70s up until the 80s.
“But where are we today? Despite the survival stamina of our industry, the NNSL and all its vessels have gone under.
“Where are the hundreds of super trained staff of NNSL and other crew of MV Kudirat Abiola, MV Binta Yaradua? We all remember the fate of MV Abuja” Prince Oni recalled with nostalgia.
He however queried the propriety of keeping huge sum of accrued CVFF idle by NIMASA while indigenous shipping, which is supposed to benefit from the fund are suffering.
“NIMASA is  to superintend the Coastal and lnland Shipping Act of 2003 otherwise known as Cabotage Vessels Finance Fund.
“The Cabotage Vessels Finance Fund primarily  provides funds for indigenous ship owners for medium size coastal vessels acquisition and maintenance.
” The fund was to be sourced through 2 percent surcharge and other levies.
“Between 2003, it is being mouthed that about 800 million dollars has been realized into the CVFF purse
“Some rumour it to be one billion dollars.
“Why can’t government tell us the exact amount? Why this level of opaqueness.
“Why this humongous volume of public money remain idle for so long, especially now that virtually all the indigenous companies in coastal carriage business have gone under ?
” Ask Chief Jolapamo,  ask Otunba Sola Adewunmi of Nigeria l indigenous Ship Owners Association, (NlSA).
“Lets us imagine the volumes of cargo and the revenue being lost to smart foreigners in the West Coast.
“I admit that a few upstarts have taken advantage of  Dangote Refinery and big time tank farms. But on a scrutiny, are they really in charge?
 “Must we continue playing second fiddle even to our West African brothers in this trade?
“At this juncture, l will salute NIMASA for keeping such large sums unscathed in its vault for  over twenty years.
” It is a national record in fidelity.
But, why would a nation deem it wise to save about 800 million dollars for so long without finding it expedient to dispense it for the purpose it was generated?
“When thousands of its skilled seamen, master mariners, professionals trained at exorbitant costs in the best shipping schools around the world are loafing around, wasting away?” the Publisher queried
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Customs

Miko, new PTML helmsman, assumes duties as Comptroller Anani hands over with N181b revenue. 

Funso OLOJO, Editor 
The newly deployed Acting Controller of Nigeria Customs Service, Ports Terminal Multiservices Command( PTML) DC Nura Ibrahim Miko ,has formally assumed duties with a promise to operate with integrity, follow due process while ensuring seamless trade facilitation
He took over from Controller Joseph Anani, who has been redeployed to the Tin Can Command of the Service, as he declared that he collected over ₦181billion  revenue as at the time of handing over.
Assuring officers and men of PTML Command and stakeholders,  Acting Controller Miko said “I want you to know this: I am here to work with you, not merely to lead you.
“Under my watch, Integrity will be non-negotiable,trade facilitation will remain our priority.
“Due process will be strictly respected.Teamwork will be our greatest strength.
“Results will be achieved through collaboration, not fear.Together, we will take this command to greater heights”
Miko who stated this after taking over from Comptroller Anani, described the area as a well organised Command while promising to build on the achievements of his immediate predecessor.
He also sought continued cooperation and collaboration of all sister agencies and stakeholders operating within the Command while stating further that effective port operations depend on inter-agency synergy, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to trade facilitation, revenue generation, and national security.
According to him, the Command will remains open to constructive engagement while confirming his commitment to transparency, accessibility and a level playing field for all.
He added that together, the Command’s Stakeholders will sustain PTML’s position as a model command for efficiency and integrity.
While thanking the CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for the confidence and trust reposed in him,the Acting Controller said the nation’s number one customs officer’s policy thrust of Innovation, Consolidation, and Collaboration will be upheld as they jointly write the next chapter of the PTML Area Command.
Comptroller Anani who has since assumed duties at the Tin Can Island Command, described his eight months service period at PTML as an extraordinary privilege to serve as the Area Controller
He recalled the success of his predecessor who pioneered the roll out of the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) also known as B’Odogwu and started the process of addressing it’s initial challenges and how he (Anani) consolidated it to success
“When I first walked into this role, I carried a clear mandate: to steer this command through it’s modernisation transition stage to a more stable state.
“After my predecessor saw to the successful roll out of B’Odogwu and was addressing the teething challenges associated with such an innovative system, I came and with the support of my fellow officers, sister agencies and stakeholders, we took it to the next level.
” This could not have been possible without the support of all of you” Comptroller Anani said
Anani added that “On the enforcement side of our operations, we succeeded in seizing and handing over illicit drugs, arms and ammunition to the relevant government agencies like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW)domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA)
“On my watch,we launched  groundbreaking initiatives by achieving one hour clearance of compliant vehicle imports, and most importantly, built a culture where every one feels valued and encouraged to do more in terms of compliance.
“None of these would have been possible without the dedication, creativity, and resilience of each and every one of you” Comptroller Anani declared.
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Customs

Seme Customs cracks down on smugglers 

— intercepts prohibited items worth 
N501.8m
-rakes in ₦9.8b revenue in three months 
Funso OLOJO, Editor 
The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs service has renewed its onslaught on smugglers and other traders in illicit trade as its officers have intercepted various smuggled goods and other illicit products.
The Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, while giving the performance report of the command on Monday, May 25th, 2026, disclosed that the seized goods consist of narcotics, pharmaceutical products, edible items and petroleum products worth N501,845,772.
Giving the breakdown of the seizures made within three months of his assumption of office at the command, Comptroller Kaila said they included 1000 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, substantial quantities of unregistered pharmaceutical products, including codeine-based cough syrups and various sexual enhancement drugs lacking certification from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The products seized include one carton containing 55 bottles of Ultimate Plus Maca Syrup (100ml each), 88 packs of 99 Bullets Herbal Medicine (30ml each), 10 cartons of Ultimate Plus Maca Sildenafil Citrate 200mg, 14 cartons of Super Sexy Sildenafil Citrate 200mg, 14 cartons of Machine Man Sildenafil Citrate 200mg, quantities of Bottom Up Sildenafil Citrate 200mg, 100 packs of Tramaking, and 100 packs of Tempendol.
Others seized items include 2,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 340 kegs of 25 litres each of foreign vegetable oil, 103 kegs of 30 litres each of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 993 cartons of foreign spaghetti, and 250 bales of used clothing and the Duty Paid Value of all the aforementioned intercepted items is 501,845,772 Naira.
The seized narcotics and banned Pharmaceutical items have been handed over to the relevant authorities for further actions.
In a similar vein, the Command within the period under review grossed revenue in excess of N9.796billion which represents an increase of N7.610 billion collected with the corresponding period in 2025.
Comptroller Kaila attributed the achievement to strengthened compliance mechanisms, improved stakeholder cooperation, intensified anti-revenue leakage measures, enhanced operational efficiency, and the strategic deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.
He also praised the renewed dedication and vigilance demonstrated by officers and men of the Command which resulted to the commendation feat.
” We remain committed to sustaining these gains through institutional reforms, intelligence-driven monitoring, and transparent trade procedures capable of guaranteeing continuous revenue growth without obstructing legitimate trade activities.
“As one of Nigeria’s most strategic and busiest land border formations, the Seme Area Command occupies a critical position in regional and continental trade integration frameworks, particularly under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Area controller disclosed.
He however warned illicit traders to steer clear of the command which he said was not the hiding place for economic sabotage.
“Let me use this opportunity to issue a strong warning to smugglers and their collaborators that the Seme Area Command will not serve as a safe haven for illicit trade.
“The Command has significantly strengthened its intelligence network, enhanced surveillance capacity across land and maritime routes, and intensified collaboration with relevant security and regulatory agencies to combat trans-border crimes and economic sabotage.
“To compliant traders and legitimate business operators, I wish to reiterate that compliance remains the safest, fastest, and most cost-effective pathway for conducting international trade”
” At Seme Area Command, we remain resolute in our commitment to facilitating lawful trade while ensuring strict enforcement against illicit activities capable of undermining national economic interests” Comptroller Kaila declared.
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Headlines

Beyond The Communique: Can West Africa’s $27 billion port rhetoric Outrun gridlock?

The Monday Discourse with Nasiru 
The dust has settled on the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) conference hosted by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Lagos last week.
 For three days, 18th to 20th May 2026, Maritime Executives, Regional Ministers, and Portuguese Administrators traded optimism, signed agreements, and toasted to the future.
The headlines if not hallucinating, were intoxicating: a staggering $27 billion committed to Regional Port Infrastructure, grand declarations of transforming into sustainable “Blue Economy” engines, and lofty goals to replicate the seamless digital models of Rotterdam and Singapore.
Yet, for the average importer, shipping line agent, or haulage driver navigating the chaotic access roads of Apapa, Tin Can, or Luanda, the disconnect between boardroom rhetoric and dockyard reality remains jarring.
While the Lagos conference successfully demonstrated Nigeria’s diplomatic hosting prowess under the leadership of NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, it also exposed a deeper regional vulnerability.
West and Central African ports are masterful at planning, but historically abysmal at executing.
If this $27 billion infrastructure boom is to be anything more than a monumental paper tiger, regional leadership must pivot immediately from policy curation to aggressive, unforgiving execution.
On paper, the sub-region is undergoing a maritime renaissance. We are told of Guinea’s massive $20 billion Simandou-Morebaya project, Cote d’Ivoire’s $2 billion Port San Pedro expansion, and Nigeria’s own $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Sea Port, alongside fresh pledges to modernize aging brownfield terminals.
But a Port is not merely a collection of deep berths, breakwaters, and expensive gantry cranes. It is an intricate, living logistical ecosystem.
Building a multi-billion-dollar Deep-Sea Port while leaving the surrounding multimodal transport network broken is an exercise in futility.
Lekki Deep Sea Port, despite its state-of-the-art infrastructure, still struggles with optimal evacuation routes.
True regional competitiveness will not be won by the nation that signs the largest infrastructure contract; it will be won by the nation that successfully connects its berths to functioning rail lines, Inland Dry Ports (IDPs), and uncongested highways.
Until cargo can move from a vessel to an inland destination seamlessly, these multi-billion-dollar investments are simply monumentally expensive parking lots for containers.
The conference highly praised the “Rotterdam-Singapore data-exchange model” as the blueprint for eliminating West Africa’s notoriously high cargo dwell times.
 In Nigeria, officials proudly showcased the roll-out of the National Single Window initiative and the Port Community System.
But let us be objective: West African ports do not suffer from a lack of digital concepts; they suffer from a lack of institutional compliance.
For years, “Single Windows” have been launched, rebranded, and relaunched, yet manual interventions persist.
Why? Because automation directly threatens the lucrative, entrenched economies of corruption, extortive  human contact, and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
 Replicating Singapore requires more than buying expensive software; it requires the political will to strip corrupt agencies of their physical inspection monopolies.
If Customs administrations and border agencies can still demand the physical, manual opening of containers despite digital clearances, then the “Paperless Port” remains an expensive mirage.
A commendable takeaway from the Lagos summit was the celebration of Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project, which has successfully suppressed piracy in the Gulf of Guinea for three consecutive years.
This is a massive victory for regional security. However, security is only a facilitator of trade, not trade itself.
While the waters may be safer from pirates, the land corridors remain plagued by a different kind of piracy: systemic extortion at border checkpoints, overlapping regulatory charges, and severe cargo diversion.
It is an open secret that landlocked neighbors like Niger, Chad, and Mali often bypass geographically closer Nigerian ports in favor of Beninese, Togolese, or Ghanaian corridors.
 Why? Because the total cost of cargo clearance, measured in both time and bribes, makes Nigerian routes economically punitive.
Decentralizing operations to Nigeria’s Eastern Ports, as proposed by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, will fail to yield results if the same predatory regulatory culture is simply exported from Lagos to Port Harcourt, Warri, Onne, and Calabar.
If the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa wants to avoid meeting next year to lament the same old problems, the AGENDA must change today.
First, the NPA and its regional peers must tie Port Key Performance indicators (KPIs) strictly to cargo dwell times, not revenue generation.
A Port’s primary job is efficiency, not tax collection. Second, the implementation of the National Single Window must be backed by executive enforcement that legally penalizes any agency insisting on manual intervention outside automated channels.
Finally, regional integration must move past the ECOWAS protocol paperwork. There must be a unified, digitized tracking system that allows a container cleared in Lagos to move to Niamey without facing a dozen predatory checkpoints.
The Lagos communique was a beautiful piece of literature. But literature does not offload vessels, clear containers, or lower the cost of doing business.
 West Africa’s maritime sector does not need more summits, boards, or committees. It needs an execution squad.
Until we match our boardroom eloquence with dockyard discipline, the “Ports of the Future” will remain a luxury we can only read about in conference brochures.
Chief Ibrahim Nasiru , a Public Affairs Analyst, writes from Abuja
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