Headlines

NIMASA, MARAN renew partnership for enhanced mutual performance

-as MARAN condoles with agency over death of staff

Gloria Odion, maritime reporter

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) have renewed their commitment to sustaining their age- long partnership for enhanced mutual performance that will drive the blue economy.

This commitment was made on Monday, June 1st, 2026, during the visit of the new executive council of MARAN to the NIMASA headquarters on Victoria Island.

During the visit, led by the President of MARAN, Oluyinka Onigbinde, different areas of collaboration to improve the partnership were explored between the two parties and pledges were made for improvement.

However, the agency called on maritime journalists to uphold ethical journalism, embrace constructive reporting, and partner with stakeholders in promoting Nigeria’s growing blue economy.

Speaking on behalf of NIMASA, the Deputy Director, Public Relations of the agency , Mr. Osagie Edward, said the call became necessary in order to position the maritime industry in Nigeria in a better stead in international community.

He believed that ethical reporting will promote the vast maritime potential in the country which will attract foreign investors to develop the industry.

The visit, which was the first official engagement between the new MARAN leadership and NIMASA, also served as a platform to discuss areas of collaboration, particularly capacity building for maritime journalists, information dissemination, and support for the Federal Government’s blue economy agenda.

Earlier in his remarks, the President of MARAN , Onigbinde, conveyed the association’s condolences to NIMASA over the death of one of its staff members, Ifenyinwa, who reportedly passed away over the weekend.

The MARAN President expressed sympathy with the management and staff of the Agency and prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul, while asking God to grant her family and colleagues the strength to bear the loss.

He noted that the purpose of the visit was to further strengthen the cordial relationship that has existed between MARAN and NIMASA over the years, while seeking deeper collaboration in advancing the maritime sector through responsible and informed journalism.

According to him, there was a need for more structured capacity development programmes for maritime journalists to enhance their understanding of issues in the industry and improve the quality of reportage within the sector.

Responding, Osagie Edward congratulated the newly-elected executives on their emergence, describing their election as a reflection of the confidence reposed in them by members of the association.

Edward acknowledged the longstanding relationship between MARAN and NIMASA, noting that the association has remained a key stakeholder in the growth and development of the maritime industry for more than two decades.

“We have known MARAN for over 20 years, from the days when press releases were physically distributed to the present digital era.

“You are now leading a digital MARAN and I encourage you to build on the achievements of your predecessors,” he admonished.

He assured the association of NIMASA’s readiness to continue collaborating with maritime journalists for the advancement of the industry and the country’s economy.

According to him, the media occupies a strategic position in projecting the vast opportunities available within Nigeria’s blue economy and attracting the investments needed to unlock its full potential.

“The Nigerian blue economy presents enormous opportunities. If the sector is properly projected and branded, the world will become more aware of the potentials we have and investors will come seeking opportunities. This will ultimately benefit the country,” Edward said.

He further disclosed that the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, is leading a team committed to positioning Nigeria as a leading maritime nation globally.

“As a maritime administration, the DG believes Nigeria should be a global leader in maritime administration, and we are working towards that objective.

” We can only achieve it by working together in the interest of the country,” he added.

On MARAN’s request for increased training opportunities, Osagie assured the association that capacity development remains a priority for NIMASA.

“Capacity building is very dear to NIMASA management. We have noted your request and discussions are already ongoing regarding training opportunities for the media.

“We will continue to engage because informed and constructive reporting is beneficial to the industry,” he stated.

Also speaking, Assistant Director, Public Relations, Daniel Kajo, urged members of MARAN to remain committed to the ethics of journalism and continue to promote professionalism in their reportage.

Kajo emphasized the importance of constructive criticism and balanced reporting, noting that the media remains an indispensable partner in the development of the maritime sector.

He encouraged maritime journalists to continue holding institutions accountable while ensuring that their reports are factual, objective, and geared towards national development.

Analyses

The National Single Window Illusion: Why phase two cannot succeed on paper

Monday Discourse with Nasiru Ibrahim

The official rollout of Phase One of the National Single Window (NSW) was heralded as a monumental leap toward a paperless, automated trade ecosystem.

On paper and within executive dashboards, the achievements are clear: the serialization of Licenses, Certificates, and Permits (LCPO), streamlined electronic manifest transmissions, and integrated risk management for primary regulators like SON and NAFDAC.

Yet, as the steering committee aggressively prepares for the imminent deployment of Phase Two, a severe operational reality check is required.

The claim that the Single Window has successfully “taken off” remains a purely administrative illusion when measured against the brutal, manual friction remaining at our terminal gates.

The core vulnerability of the current transition is the absolute failure to align digital front-end clearances with physical back-end enforcement.

Importers are successfully navigating the centralized National Single Window Portal, obtaining official electronic green lights, only to watch their consignments get trapped by manual human greed the moment the cargo hits the access roads.

Phase Two promises end-to-end electronic customs clearance, full payment digitization, and automated interoperability with the Nigeria Customs Service’s new B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.

However, if the federal administration continues to pour billions into software updates while leaving parallel manual check-points unpunished, Phase Two will simply become a highly expensive digital facade masking an archaic extortion regime.

True trade facilitation is not a technological achievement; it is a direct function of political will.

The integration of advanced platforms like B’Odogwu across major commands like Apapa and Tin Can proves that our regulatory arms possess the technical capability to automate. The problem is cultural and financial.

Entrenched administrative empires are deliberately preserving parallel manual structures because documentation loops, artificial delays, and manufactured compliance flags remain incredibly lucrative.

For the National Single Window to transition from a policy delusion into a genuine economic catalyst, the state must move past cosmetic celebrations.

The presidency must deploy the executive power required to completely outlaw physical interventions outside the approved digital framework and enforce severe punitive consequences for any agency chief who authorizes parallel verification processes.

Until the gate complies with the portal, the National Single Window project remains grounded.

Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja

Customs

Customs’ reforms, modernisation project excite Senate

Gloria Odion, Maritme reporter

The Senate Committee on Customs and Excise has commended the far-reaching reforms being implemented by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, describing them as evidence of prudent investment of government resources to reposition the Service for greater efficiency, transparency and improved service delivery.

The commendation came on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a two-day retreat organised by the NCS in collaboration with the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise to strengthen legislative oversight and review the Nigeria Customs Service Act.

As part of the retreat, members of the Committee toured the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja, where they were briefed on the Service’s ongoing modernisation programmes, technology-driven operations and institutional reforms.

Speaking after the tour, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise, Senator Isah Jibrin, said the visit offered lawmakers an opportunity to witness first-hand the transformation taking place within the NCS.

“We have heard about these reforms from afar, but today we have seen them ourselves.

“The transformation taking place in the NCS is remarkable, particularly in the deployment of technology, modern infrastructure and operational innovations that are repositioning the Service for greater efficiency,” he said.

Jibrin said the retreat had also enabled members of the Committee to gain a clearer understanding of how appropriated funds were being utilised by the Customs Service.

“When the NCS comes before the National Assembly seeking approval for capital expenditure, we now have a clearer understanding of what those resources are being used for.

“The reforms we have seen today clearly demonstrate that government funds are being invested responsibly to strengthen Customs operations, improve trade facilitation and enhance national revenue,” he stated.

Responding, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, attributed the progress recorded by the Service to the deliberate deployment of technology across various aspects of Customs administration and operations.

He said technology had become central to the NCS strategy for improving efficiency, transparency and service delivery.

“Technology helps us to work faster and more efficiently. We started by deploying digital solutions into personnel administration, postings, staff matters and pensions before extending them to our core operational responsibilities, and we will continue until virtually every aspect of Customs operations is technology-driven,” Adeniyi said.

The Customs chief also highlighted the deployment of advanced technology in the Service’s enforcement operations, including virtual shooting simulators, geospatial intelligence and digital surveillance systems.

“We are deploying geospatial intelligence to map our patrol routes and position our checkpoints more efficiently across the country.

“Combined with modern training facilities such as our virtual shooting range, these innovations will significantly strengthen our enforcement capabilities,” he explained.

Adeniyi further disclosed that several of the Service’s modernisation initiatives were backed by provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, stressing that the NCS remained committed to implementing reforms that align its operations with the Federal Government’s broader economic agenda.

“The law requires us to modernise our operations. Initiatives such as the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, Advance Ruling, Time Release Study, scanner deployment and other technology-driven reforms are all backed by the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act.

“Our responsibility is to continue implementing them to support the Federal Government’s reform agenda,” he said.

The Senate Committee’s commendation is expected to further strengthen legislative support for the NCS modernisation programme as the Service intensifies efforts to leverage technology, strengthen enforcement, facilitate legitimate trade and boost revenue generation.

The retreat also provided an avenue for lawmakers and Customs management to deepen their understanding of the operational realities of modern Customs administration and the legislative framework required to sustain ongoing reforms.

Analyses

The National Single Window illusion: Why phase two is dead on arrival

Chief Nasiru Ibrahim

Tomorrow on Monday Discourse with Nasiru Ibrahim, I am dropping part three of my maritime audit, ‘The Single Window Illusion: Why Phase Two is Already Grounded.

For months, our regulatory class has hidden behind the glossy public relations of automated portals, celebrating the ‘take-off’ of Phase One.

But a cold look at the raw data reveals a terrifying truth: we are running a digitised facade over a broken, manual rent-seeking ecosystem.

Tomorrow , I shall be exposing the massive operational disconnect between the new B’Odogwu Customs System and the brutal, manual greed at the terminal gates.

You cannot claim to master trade velocity when parallel checkpoints, erratic human intervention, and bridge shakedowns are hardcoded into the Apapa corridor.

Tomorrow, we strip away the illusions and confront the structural arithmetic holding our supply chains hostage.

Lock your dials on this platform. The clock is ticking.