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At 2026 Shippers’ Council retreat, Anifowose calls for performance – driven strategy for efficient service delivery 

Gloria Odion in Abeokuta 
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has been challenged to translate its bold reforms in the maritime industry to measurable performance backed by clinical execution that will ensure efficient service delivery to port operators.
This admonition was given by Mr Rotimi Anifowose , the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of the NSC at its management retreat in Abeokuta on Thursday, March 5th, 2026.
Anifowose, in his welcome address at the event,  noted the bold vision of the Council as embedded in its 2030 strategic planning, saying such vision positions the agency as a credible port Economic Regulator, a technology-enabled institution, a proactive stakeholder partner and a measurable contributor to Nigeria’s trade competitiveness and marine economy development.
However, he warned that if this vision is not backed by performance and clinical execution, it will remain a dream.
“Strategy alone does not create impact, execution does. The difference between institutions that plan and institutions that perform lies in execution discipline” Anifowose observed.
He noted that one of the greatest risk a public institution can take in its strategic execution is to allow fragmentation of information, priorities and accountability.
He advised that under NSC 2030, fragmentation must give way to integration.
According to him, integration means that planning aligns with operations, operations align with regulatory objectives, regulatory outcomes align with stakeholder expectations and performance reporting aligns with measurable results collaboration must therefore be intentional and beyond cordial interaction.
He said innovation must also be deliberate within the Council to enhance regulatory efficiency, strengthen data analytics, simplify stakeholder processes, reduce turnaround times, and improve transparency.
“It must be practical, measurable and outcome-driven” he admonished.
 The NSC Director appealed that the agency could not afford to fail and disappoint the stakeholders whose expectations ‘are increasing and government priorities are becoming more performance-driven’
“The demand for efficiency, predictability, and transparency is rising.
” In this environment, execution is not optional, it is essential. If we execute effectively, Stakeholder confidence deepens, Institutional credibility strengthens, regulatory authority becomes respected and our contribution to national economic objectives becomes visible and measurable”
He further warned that if the NSC fails in the execution of its vision, the consequences will be grave that can lead to lose of momentum
“If we fail in execution, even a strong mandate can lose momentum” he noted.
The  2026 NSC management retreat was attended by Chairman of the Board, board members, management staff led by the Executive Secretary, Pius Akutah.
The 5- day event which started on March 4th will end on March 8th, 2026.
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Analyses

Beyond The Lagos Communique: Can West Africa’s $27 Billion Port Rhetoric Outrun Gridlock?

Ibrahim Nasiru
The Monday Discourse with NASIRU focuses on the take away from the just concluded PMAWCA board meeting in Lagos.
Last week, maritime leaders gathered in Lagos for the PMAWCA conference, celebrating a staggering $27 billion infrastructure boom and drawing up plans to replicate the seamless digital models of Rotterdam and Singapore.
But for the average importer, agent, or truck driver trapped in the chaos of Apapa or Tin Can, the disconnect is jarring.
West African Ports are masterful at planning, but historically abysmal at executing.
A multi-billion-dollar Deep Sea Port is just an expensive parking lot for containers if the surrounding rail and road infrastructure remains broken.
True competitiveness will not be won by the nation that signs the largest contract; it will be won by the nation that actually clears a container without corruption, extortion, or manual delays.
It is time to move past courtroom style policy curation and deploy an execution squad.
Read full details tomorrow on why West Africa’s maritime sector needs dockyard discipline over boardroom eloquence.
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Headlines

Sallah celebration: Osun govt offers free train ride to indigenes as NRC increases Lagos–Ibadan Train Trips for Sallah

Gloria Odion, maritime reporter 
The Osun State government has made full payment to the Nigerian Railway Corporation( NRC) for the use of its narrow gauge rail services to transport the indigenes of the state free of charge for the Sallah celebration.
The annual gesture was confirmed by the management of the Corporation while announcing a temporary increase  in train services on the Lagos–Ibadan Train Service (LITS) corridor for Tuesday, May 26, 2026, ahead of the Sallah celebration.
The NRC revealed that the Osun government free train ride will be on its narrow gauge corridor.
The special train will depart from Iddo Station, Lagos, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, while the return trip from Osogbo to Lagos will take place on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
The service, which is usually operated during festive periods, is being sponsored by the Osun State Government through a paid arrangement with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to convey Osun indigenes free of charge for the Sallah celebration.
Meanwhile, the Corporation has announced an adjustment to its schedule on its Lagos–Ibadan Train Service (LITS) corridor for Tuesday, May 26, 2026, ahead of the Sallah
The temporary adjustment is aimed at accommodating the expected increase in passenger movement as many Nigerians travel to celebrate the festive season with their families and loved ones.
Under the special arrangement, the Corporation will operate six train trips on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, instead of the usual four trips currently operated on the corridor.
For the day, train departures from the Lagos end will be at 7:45am, 1:40pm and 4:00pm, while departures from the Ibadan end will be at 8:00am, 10:50am and 4:30pm.
The Management clarified that this arrangement is strictly temporary and applies only to the Sallah travel period.
 Immediately after the celebration, the normal Tuesday timetable of four trips will resume.
Similarly, the recently introduced Thursday six-trip operations will be temporarily adjusted next week, as only four trips will operate on Thursday May,  28th during the period under review.
The regular six-trip Thursday schedule will however resume the following week.
The NRC reassured passengers of its commitment to providing safe, efficient and reliable rail transportation services across the country and wishes all Nigerians a peaceful and memorable Sallah celebration.
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Headlines

NRC expresses fresh concerns over consistent railway vandalism in the North 

Funso OLOJO,  Editor 
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has raised serious concern over renewed and coordinated attacks on railway infrastructure in parts of the country.
This followed fresh incidents of vandalism recorded in Plateau and Bauchi States.
The Corporation described the disturbing development as a direct attack on critical national infrastructure and an affront on public safety, economic growth and national security.
In one of the latest incidents recorded on May 21, 2026, a truck reportedly loaded with vandalized railway materials became stuck between Kuru and Science School, Kuru in Plateau State, exposing the dangerous activities of criminal elements involved in the destruction and illegal movement of railway materials.
Similarly, along Zango, in Bauchi State, between Kilometer 878 and 889, railway slippers were completely removed on both sides of a level crossing, leaving behind few disjointed rail pieces.
The Corporation warned that such acts could result in catastrophic train accidents, disruption of rail services, loss of lives and destruction of government investments worth billions of naira.
The NRC emphasized that railway tracks, slippers, clips, fastenings and signaling materials are critical national assets built with taxpayers’ money to facilitate transportation, trade, economic activities and national development, and should never be treated as scraps for illegal business.
The Managing Director/CEO of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, strongly condemned the persistent attacks on railway facilities, describing the trend as sabotage against national progress and a serious threat to the safety of passengers and railway personnel.
According to him, the increasing incidents of vandalism in the North Central and North East corridors indicate a dangerous pattern that requires urgent collective action from security agencies, state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders and residents living along railway lines.
Dr. Opeifa appealed to Nigerians to see railway infrastructure as a national symbol and strategic economic asset that must be protected at all times.
He warned vandals, scrap dealers and individuals involved in the illegal purchase, movement or destruction of railway materials to desist immediately, stressing that anyone caught would face the full weight of the law.
The Corporation also called on security agencies to intensify surveillance and enforcement operations around railway corridors nationwide, while urging members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities around railway facilities.
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