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Why President Tinubu refused to sign NSC’s NPERA bill into law

– as NSC administers oath of secrecy on staff to engender ethical conduct 
Gloria Odion in Abeokuta 
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Pius Akutah, has given an insight into the reason why the much- awaited Nigeria Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill has still not being signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since last year the instrument was transmitted to him by the National Assembly.
It could be recalled that the bill, which seeks to transform the NSC  into a powerful, independent economic regulator for Nigerian ports, has obtained concurrent approval from the House of Representatives and the Senate before it was transmitted to President Tinubu for presidential assent.
However, Akutah, while speaking at the 2026 management retreat for the NSC in Abeokuta on Thursday, March 5th, 2026, disclosed that the President refused to sign the much awaited bill into law due to some of its provisions which conflict with 2025 tax law.
As a result, the President had to send it back to the National Assembly for amendment.
“As you are aware, the Bill had earlier been passed by the National Assembly and transmitted for Presidential assent.
“During the review process, however, certain provisions were observed to conflict with the Nigerian Tax Administration Act (NTAA) 2025.
“In line with the observations communicated by Mr. President, the Bill was returned to the National Assembly for the necessary corrections” Akutah disclosed.
He however stated that the House of Representatives had done the necessary corrections and sent it to the Senate for concurrence
“I am pleased to inform you that the House of Representatives has addressed the areas of conflict, amended the Bill in line with the President’s comments, and passed the revised version, which is now awaiting concurrence of the Senate”
” Once assented to, this legislation will provide the statutory foundation for strengthening Nigeria’s port economic regulatory framework and further reposition the Council for its expanded mandate.” the NSC boss assured.
Meanwhile, Akutah has charged the staff of the agency to imbibe ethical conduct, shun gossip, side- talks and misinformation, which he said are capable of destroying institutional integrity of the Council.
He disclosed that it was as a result to safeguard the sanctity and integrity of the Council that made the management to administer an oath of secrecy on the staff.
“The Nigerian Shippers’ Council is a regulatory institution of national importance.
“The reputation, credibility and authority of this institution depend greatly on the conduct, integrity and professionalism of its staff.
“Every member of this organisation must therefore uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline confidentiality and institutional responsibility.
“It is important to remind us all that last year, staff of the Council formally took an Oath of Secrecy and Allegiance, which remains binding on every staff member of this organisation.
“That oath was not merely ceremonial. It was a solemn commitment to uphold the principles of confidentiality, loyalty and integrity in the discharge of our duties as public servants.
“Let me therefore emphasise clearly that confidentiality in official matters is not optional; it is a core obligation of public service.
“Equally important is the need to avoid gossip, rumour-mongering and the spread of lies, falsehoods and misinformation within the organisation.
“Such behaviours create mistrust among colleagues, undermine teamwork and collaboration, distort management decisions, weaken morale and productivity and damage the integrity and reputation of the institution.
“No serious organisation can thrive where rumours replace responsible communication and professionalism
He however warned that the management of the agency will not hesitate to weild the big stick on any staff found culpable in any act of unethical conduct, no matter how highly placed.
Akutah reminded the participants of the need to imbibe the theme of this year’s retreat, “Advancing Strategic Execution: Driving Collaboration, Innovation and Excellence for a Future-Ready NSC.” which he said must shape the thinking and conduct of every staff.
“This theme highlights three strategic imperatives that must guide the next phase of the Council’s institutional development.
“Collaboration, because no regulatory institution can operate effectively in isolation within a complex maritime ecosystem.
“Innovation, because the dynamics of global trade and logistics require institutions that are adaptive, technology-driven and forward-looking.
“And Excellence, because the credibility and authority of a regulator ultimately depend on the professionalism, integrity and performance of its people.
“These three pillars must therefore shape how we think, how we lead and how we execute our responsibilities as an institution
He admonished the management staff, Directors and Unit Heads to back the Council’s  2025–2029 Strategic Plan which was produced in Ibadan  retreat in 2025 with measurable performance rooted in clinical execution.
Akutah therefore urged them to work in tandem with the vision of the council while there must be coordination across all the units and departments for harmonised results.
“The strength of any institution is not measured by the quality of its plans, but by the discipline with which those plans are executed.”
“Directors and Heads of Units must therefore see themselves not merely as administrators of departments but as drivers of institutional transformation.
“In practical terms, this transformation requires stronger collaboration across departments and units, greater innovation in the way we deploy technology and regulatory tools, and an uncompromising commitment to excellence in service delivery and institutional performance.
The NSC disclosed that the management considered the staff as critical components that will make the agency achieve its vision.
As a result, he said adequate incentives and welfare packages have been approved for the staff to motivate them.
Such incentives include review of staff salaries, enhanced allowances and benefits and capacity trainings
“Institutional transformation must also be supported by improved staff welfare and motivation.
 “I am pleased to inform you that the proposed salary review for staff of the Council has already received approval from the Ministry and the OHCSF.
“The proposal is currently undergoing vetting and clearance by the Budget Office of the Federation, after which it will be considered by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission for final approval prior to implementation.
“Management remains optimistic that the process will soon be concluded.
 “In addition, several welfare improvements have been introduced, including, Upward review of the Children Education Grant to per term, introduction of Health and Social Club allowances; and introduction of Proficiency Allowances to encourage professional development.
“These initiatives reflect management’s commitment to strengthening staff welfare and institutional morale.
“Last year also recorded a significant expansion in staff capacity development programmes.
“A larger number of staff were sponsored to attend international conferences,
professional meetings, specialised training programmes and local capacity development workshops.
“Indeed, the scale of staff participation in these programmes was unprecedented in the history of the Council.
“Our objective remains to build a workforce that is professionally competent, globally competitive and capable of supporting the Council’s expanding mandate” Akutah enthused.
He therefore charged all the staff to take full ownership of the council’s transformation agenda.
“This retreat is not merely an opportunity for discussion. It is a call to leadership.
“I therefore call on every Director and Head of Unit to take full ownership of the Council’s transformation agenda.
“Each department/unit must align its priorities with the strategic objectives of the Council.
“Each leader must inspire their teams toward higher performance. And each unit must commit itself to delivering measurable results.
“Let us remember that institutions do not transform themselves, people transform institutions, and the responsibility for that transformation begins with us” Akutah admonished.
The management retreat was attended by the Board Chairman of the Council, his members, management staff of the council, Directors and Heads of the various units.
The 5- day  event will end on March 8th, 2026.
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Analyses

The invisible toll gates:Why National Single Window is Nigeria’s ultimate economic battleground

Monday Discourse with  Ibrahim Nasiru
Walk into any market in Nigeria today, from the commercial hubs of Lagos to the roadside stalls in Yola, and ask why a bag of rice or an imported spare part costs three times what it did last year.
The typical public commentator will blame global inflation, floating currencies, or macro-economic shocks.
But those who understand logistics know the real truth lies buried under layers of paper, manual stamps, and artificial delays at our seaports.
Nigeria’s international trade is suffocating not from a lack of deep water, but from a deliberate design of convenience.
The recent operational rollout of the National Single Window (NSW) has triggered behind-the-scenes panic among Port cartels, and for good reason.
For decades, keeping our clearing processes fragmented, manual, and dependent on desk-to-desk human interaction was the perfect business model for syndicates.
When cargo dwell times drag on for 21 days, those delays are money in the pockets of the gatekeepers and a death sentence for local businesses.
Let us look at the raw field realities. The push by the Nigeria Customs Service to aggressively crash clearance times down to global 48-hour standards is meeting fierce internal resistance.
Why? Because a unified digital ecosystem means you cannot easily manipulate documentation, hide illicit cargo, or demand “mobilization fees” before signing off a container.
The outcry and protests from certain freight-forwarding syndicates aren’t about technical glitches; they are about the sudden closure of invisible toll gates.
This is exactly why governance at our national gateways can no longer be left to the mercy of transactional bureaucratic habits.
Building deep-sea infrastructure like Lekki Port is a massive physical achievement, but concrete and cranes are useless if the administrative processes at the gate remain backward.
 Real structural reform requires turning our Ports into automated, friction-free pipelines that prioritize production over rent-seeking.
If Nigeria wants to survive this fiscal squeeze, the National Single Window cannot just be treated as another glossy IT project launched in Abuja.
 It requires unyielding administrative enforcement to completely dismantle the corrupt cartels managing the manual desk chains.
The invisible toll gates at our Ports must be completely demolished, and that exact same structural discipline must be scaled across our border stations and trade corridors.
The era of managing international trade with 20th-century paper trails is dying. The future belongs to the builders of automated, transparent systems.
Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs analyst,  writes from Abuja 
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Headlines

NANTA Exco embarks on seven-day Ghana retreat, fam trip to deepen regional tourism partnership

Gloria Odion, Reporter

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has commenced a seven-day executive retreat and familiarisation (fam) trip to Ghana, hosted by Safari World, as part of efforts to strengthen regional tourism partnerships and expand cross-border travel opportunities.

The NANTA delegation was received at Safari World Homes in Accra by the Chairman of the Safari World Group, Mr. Ernest Gyekye, who expressed delight at hosting the Nigerian travel trade leaders.

He assured the delegation of a memorable experience throughout their week-long stay.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, NANTA President, Mr. Yinka Folami, described the retreat and familiarisation tour as a strategic initiative aimed at fostering stronger business relationships and promoting collaborative tourism development across Africa.

“This mission is not a leisure trip,” Folami said. “It is a deliberate step to implement and expand our association’s marketing advocacy for Nigerian brands across borders.”

He noted that Nigeria and Ghana share deep historical, cultural and commercial ties that should be leveraged to drive tourism growth on the continent.

“Nigeria and Ghana share history, culture, trade and people. The future of our tourism cannot be built in silos,” he said.

“This retreat is about moving from policy to practice—creating real products, real partnerships and real movement of travellers between Accra and Lagos.”

As part of the programme, the NANTA executives will engage in strategic business-to-business (B2B) meetings with their Ghanaian counterparts, tour key tourism destinations under the Safari World brand, and participate in cultural exchange activities designed to promote stronger bilateral tourism cooperation.

The itinerary spans Safari World’s three flagship destinations, including Safari Homes in Accra, the Aqua Safari riverfront experience, Safari Island Cruise, Safari Nautica, and Safari Recreation and Sports facilities in Ada, as well as the Safari Valley Eco Resort and Safari Eco Park in Dawu.

Operating under the brand promise, “One World, Three Destinations, Over 20 Unique Experiences,” Safari World is leveraging the visit to strengthen its footprint in the Nigerian travel market while positioning Ghana as a premier destination for leisure tourism, conferences, group travel, family holidays and premium tourism experiences.

A major highlight of the visit will be the Executive Dinner scheduled for July 21 at the Safari Valley Eco Resort, where key stakeholders from Nigeria and Ghana’s tourism industries will deliberate on strategies for deepening travel trade and advancing regional tourism development.

The familiarisation tour is expected to provide NANTA’s leadership with first-hand knowledge of Safari World’s tourism offerings, paving the way for the development of attractive travel packages and stronger business partnerships that will benefit Nigerian travellers and the wider West African tourism industry.

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Customs

Ogun Customs spurns claims of Smugglers’ takeover of Idiroko–Sango Ota trading Route

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed as false reports alleging that smugglers had taken over the Idiroko–Sango Ota trading route in Ogun State, describing the claims as a deliberate misrepresentation of a traffic incident.
In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs (SC) Chado, the Command clarified that the traffic gridlock on the route resulted from the breakdown of an articulated commercial trailer after it fell into a badly deteriorated section of Atan Road, temporarily obstructing the free flow of traffic.
According to the Command, the vehicles caught in the ensuing congestion were legitimate commercial trucks transporting red palm oil to various local markets and had no connection whatsoever with smuggling activities.
It explained that the large number of heavy-duty trucks trapped in the gridlock may have led some members of the public to wrongly conclude that smugglers had taken over the road.
“The reports that smugglers blocked the road are inaccurate. The disruption resulted from a road accident and poor road conditions. The vehicles involved were lawful commercial vehicles transporting red palm oil for legitimate trade,” Chado stated.
The Command urged journalists, social media users and the general public to verify information before disseminating reports capable of creating unnecessary panic or undermining public confidence in security agencies.
Observers within the border trade sector noted that the allegation does not reflect the prevailing security situation within the Ogun I Area Command, where anti-smuggling operations have been intensified under the leadership of the Acting Customs Area Controller, Comptroller O.O. Afeni.
Since assuming office, Comptroller Afeni has strengthened intelligence-driven surveillance, enhanced collaboration with other security agencies and host communities, and sustained pressure on economic saboteurs operating along the Ogun border corridors.
These measures, according to stakeholders, have resulted in significant seizures of prohibited goods and reinforced the Command’s resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s economy and territorial integrity.
Maritime and border trade stakeholders also cautioned against the spread of unverified information capable of undermining the efforts of security personnel or creating a false impression of lawlessness in border communities.
They stressed that while combating smuggling remains an ongoing responsibility, responsible and accurate reporting is equally critical to ensuring that operational achievements are not overshadowed by misinformation.
The Ogun I Area Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining its anti-smuggling campaign while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade in line with the statutory mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.

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