Headlines

After years of locust, Onigbinde emerges president of MARAN

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter

After the locust years of the last administration which ravaged the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), a new era was ushered in to the association when Mr Oluyinka Onigbinde, the Assistant Editor of Shipping Position Daily, was elected to steer the ship of the group for the next three years.

Onigbinde was handed the mandate by the overwhelming majority of the members of MARAN in a keenly – contested election held on Thursday, May 7th, 2026, to lead the first and oldest maritime journalists association in the industry.

Onigbinde defeated veteran maritime journalist, Reverend John Iwori, by a margin of seven votes to clinch the presidency of the association.
Yinka Onigbinde polled 20 votes while John Iwori polled only 13 votes out of a total of 33 votes.

The election was conducted by the leadership of the Lagos state council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by its Chairman, Mr Adeleye Ajayi.

The other elective positions were occupied unopposed.

Emerging unopposed were Sylvanus Obasi as the Vice President, Fabian Anawo as General Secretary, Ojelabi Amina as Assistant General Secretary and Ayanfeoluwa Providence as the Public Relations Officer (PRO).

Others were Ruth Umuna as Treasurer and Ambrose Okehi as Financial Secretary.

The new members of MARAN cabinet were sworn in by the Lagos NUJ chairman, Leye Ajayi who was the election’s returning officer.

In his acceptance speech immediately after the swearing in ceremony, the new MARAN president, Mr Yinka Onigbinde, said he accepted the overwhelming endorsement of his members with humility and a high sense of responsibility.

He said there was no victor nor vanquished in the election as all MARAN members are victors.

He promised that now that the election was over, he and his cabinet will focus on governance.

Onigbinde however called on all MARAN members, irrespective of their political leaning, to rally round the new executive council in its onerous task of making MARAN greater and better.

He particularly reached out to his fellow contestant MARAN presidency, John Iwori, to join hands with the new leadership to usher in a new era in the association

“As I said yesterday, there is no victor and no vanquished in this election. The true winner is MARAN.

“The success of MARAN remains far bigger and more important than any individual ambition or personal interest.

“What matters most is that our association has once again shown its capacity to conduct itself with dignity, mutual respect, and brotherhood.

“To everyone who supported my aspiration, stood by me, encouraged me, prayed for me, and believed in our shared vision, I say a heartfelt thank you. Your trust and confidence mean a lot to me, and I do not take it for granted.

“I also extend my respect and appreciation to my fellow contestant (Rev. John Iwori) for his courage, commitment, and contributions to the democratic process.

“Contesting for leadership is itself an act of service and dedication to the association.

“Now that the election is behind us, this is the time to close ranks, heal every divide, and move forward together in unity and purpose.

“The task ahead requires collective effort, cooperation, and genuine commitment from all members because the progress of MARAN is a responsibility we all share.

“I pledge to serve with humility, fairness, openness, and dedication to the advancement of our association and the welfare of all members.

“My administration will remain inclusive, accessible, and committed to carrying everyone along” Onigbinde declared in a manner which demonstrated his humility and magnanimity in victory.

Headlines

Port Police lauds NPA for donating security equipment to boost port safety

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter

The Ports Authority Police (Western) Command has commended the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for donating operational security equipment aimed at strengthening security across the nation’s seaports and waterfronts.

The presentation, held on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, was made on behalf of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, by the Port Manager of the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Mr. Adebowale Lawal, alongside other senior officials of the Authority.

Speaking during the presentation, Lawal said the donation reflects the NPA’s unwavering commitment to reinforcing the security architecture of Nigeria’s ports.

He noted that the equipment would enhance the operational capability of the Ports Authority Police in protecting critical maritime infrastructure, safeguarding port users, and preventing security breaches within the port environment and adjoining waterfronts.

He explained that maintaining a secure port environment is essential to facilitating trade, attracting investment, and sustaining confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

The donated items included bulletproof vests, tactical helmets, raincoats, flashlights, handcuffs, operational boots, batons, and other essential security gear to improve the safety, efficiency, and operational readiness of police personnel.

Receiving the equipment on behalf of the Command, the Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police (Western) Command, CP Oluwatoyin Agbaminoja, expressed gratitude to the NPA Managing Director and the Authority’s management for what she described as a timely and strategic intervention.

She said the donation further demonstrates the strong partnership between the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigeria Police Force in securing the country’s maritime gateways.

Agbaminoja assured the NPA that the equipment would be effectively deployed to strengthen policing operations and enhance security across the nation’s ports.

She reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and business-friendly port environment that supports efficient port operations, trade facilitation, and national economic growth, while pledging continued collaboration with stakeholders to keep Nigeria’s seaports safe, secure, and globally competitive.

Commentaries

Two years of Dantsoho at NPA: The architecture of efficiency boom

Ibrahim Nasiru

This July, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho marks exactly two years as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), providing a vital opportunity to separate institutional noise from actual structural progress.

For decades, Nigeria’s maritime gateways were plagued by massive infrastructural deficits, manual gridlocks, and fragmented policies.

Today, through a deliberate blend of home-grown institutional experience and top-tier academic expertise in maritime technology, Dantsoho is rewriting that narrative from the inside out.

He has successfully shifted the NPA away from reactive firefighting and anchored it firmly on aggressive, infrastructure-led growth.

His two-year legacy is anchored on absolute automation and massive capital injection.

By securing a landmark $1 billion in dedicated modernization funding for the comprehensive rehabilitation of aging gateways and aggressively spearheading the National Single Window infrastructure, his office is systematically eliminating the human bottlenecks that feed desk corruption at the Ports.

This structural renaissance is not just about aesthetics; it is about rebuilding the foundational complexes of Apapa, Tin Can Island, Onne, and Calabar to withstand the demands of modern global trade.

The financial reward for this fiscal discipline is already evident, with the authority confidently pacing toward an unprecedented ₦1.489 trillion revenue peak for the 2026 fiscal year.

This massive revenue trajectory cements Nigeria’s role as West Africa’s undisputed trade hub and proves that the administration’s fiscal leaks are being blocked effectively through digital transformation.

By driving the final operational phases of the Port Community System (PCS) to anchor the newly approved National Single Window, Dantsoho is systematically transforming the clearing ecosystem from a manual bureaucrat’s playground into a highly transparent, hyper-efficient digital gateway.

While local operators and stakeholders continue to demand closer engagement, Dantsoho’s strategic blueprint demonstrates that his focus remains entirely on delivering the long-awaited structural environment where every maritime stakeholder can seamlessly thrive.

Sustainable stakeholder engagement isn’t about cosmetic public relations; it is about deploying top-tier technocratic expertise to build a Port ecosystem where trade flows seamlessly, predictably, and profitably.

With automated transshipment channels opening up to landlocked neighbouring countries via Lekki Deep Seaport, the foundation for total ease of doing business has finally been poured.

What makes Dantsoho’s career worth celebrating over the last twenty-four months is the climate in which he has delivered these reforms.

In an era where international shipping lines are highly sensitive to operational delays, the NPA has aggressively reduced ship turnaround times and improved cargo throughput.

This latest two-year milestone is a timely reminder that while maritime challenges are complex, the value of raw human integrity, deep institutional memory, and consistent high-quality output can never be replaced.

Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho has proven that he is not just a placeholder in office, but an architect building the future of Nigerian maritime trade.

Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja

Customs

Customs releases final recruitment list for ASC II, ends nearly one-year wait for applicants

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released the final list of successful applicants for the position of Assistant Superintendent of Customs II (ASC II), bringing to an end the nearly one-year wait for thousands of candidates who participated in the Service’s nationwide recruitment exercise.

In a public statement issued by the Service, shortlisted candidates were advised to visit the official NCS website to verify their status and obtain information on the next stage of the recruitment process.

Candidates may also check selected national newspapers where the list has been published.

The Service said successful applicants would receive further instructions through their registered email addresses and SMS notifications.

According to the statement, candidates who receive the notification are required to log on to the recruitment portal using either their National Identification Number (NIN) or registered email address to upload a valid Medical Certificate of Fitness obtained from a government-recognised hospital.

The NCS disclosed that the portal for uploading medical certificates will be activated on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, and successful candidates must complete the process within one week of the portal’s activation.

In addition, candidates are expected to update their current state of residence on the portal and formally accept the provisional offer of appointment by clicking the “Accept Offer” button.

The Service added that successful candidates would subsequently receive their Trainee Identification Number within one week after completing the required online procedures.

Further details on documentation, physical screening, including dates, venues and other requirements, will be communicated through the Service’s official channels.

The NCS urged all successful candidates to strictly adhere to the outlined instructions and timelines, warning that failure to comply with any of the requirements could lead to disqualification and forfeiture of the provisional offer of appointment.

“On behalf of the Nigeria Customs Service Board, the Comptroller-General of Customs congratulates all successful candidates on their success in the recruitment exercise and looks forward to welcoming them into the Nigeria Customs Service as they commence a career dedicated to professionalism, integrity and service to the nation,” the statement read.

The recruitment exercise began on December 27, 2024, when the Nigeria Customs Service opened its recruitment portal to fill 3,927 vacancies across various cadres.

The application portal remained open for about a week before closing on January 2, 2025, after attracting hundreds of thousands of applications from across the country.

Shortlisted candidates sat for the Computer-Based Test (CBT) examination in September 2025, while the final physical screening exercise was concluded on May 10, 2026.

The release of the final list marks the completion of one of the Service’s most extensive recruitment exercises in recent years and clears the way for the commencement of training for the newly recruited officers.