Funso Olojo Editor

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Osun State, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, has pledged to revive key economic assets, including the Dagbolu Dry Port, Osun Free Trade Zone, Ido-Osun Airport, Osun-Osogbo Grove and Oba Hills National Park, as part of a comprehensive strategy to reposition the state as a leading investment, industrial and tourism destination.

Oyebamiji, a former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), made the pledge on Saturday, August 1st, 2026 while receiving members of the Coalition of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria during a courtesy visit to his campaign office in Osogbo.

The visit was facilitated by the Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria (WABOTAN) in recognition of Oyebamiji’s contributions to the development of Nigeria’s inland waterways sector during his tenure at NIWA.

Addressing the journalists, the APC standard-bearer in the August 15th governorship election in Osun state,unveiled his Osun Prosperity Agenda, themed “A Pact for Growth, Inclusion and Lasting Development,” describing it as a practical blueprint for accelerating economic transformation, promoting inclusive governance and delivering sustainable development across the state.

He said unlocking the economic potential of strategic assets such as the Dagbolu Dry Port, Osun Free Trade Zone, Osun-Osogbo Grove, Oba Hills National Park and the Ido-Osun Airport would stimulate commerce, expand tourism, attract domestic and foreign investments, strengthen entrepreneurship and create sustainable employment opportunities for the people of Osun.

According to him, reviving the Dagbolu Dry Port and the Osun Free Trade Zone would improve trade facilitation, enhance logistics services and position Osun as a competitive industrial and export hub within Nigeria.

“We will resuscitate strategic economic assets that have the capacity to transform Osun’s economy, stimulate private sector investment and create wealth for our people,” Oyebamiji said.

On poverty reduction and workers’ welfare, the APC candidate promised targeted social intervention programmes for vulnerable citizens while ensuring prompt payment of salaries, improved working conditions and the restoration of dignity within the public service.

He also pledged to tackle unemployment through public works programmes, enterprise support initiatives and strategic investments capable of generating sustainable jobs, particularly for young people.

To attract more investments, Oyebamiji said his administration would strengthen the Osun State Investment Promotion Agency, develop industrial parks with modern infrastructure, improve the ease of doing business and position Osun among Nigeria’s most attractive investment destinations.

He further assured micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of improved access to microcredit, grants and business development services, while expanding entrepreneurship and empowerment programmes for youths and women.

On education and healthcare, Oyebamiji promised to modernise educational infrastructure, recruit and train teachers, strengthen technical and vocational education, expand apprenticeship programmes and upgrade healthcare facilities across the state.

He added that strategic partnerships would be leveraged to advance universal health coverage and improve access to quality healthcare for all residents.

Reaffirming his commitment, Oyebamiji said the Prosperity Agenda represents a covenant with the people of Osun to deliver economic growth, social inclusion and lasting development through prudent leadership, strategic investments and private sector-driven development.

Speaking earlier, President of WABOTAN, Comrade Tope Fajemirokun, described Oyebamiji as a tested and result-oriented administrator whose achievements at NIWA demonstrated his capacity for effective governance.

Fajemirokun expressed confidence that, under Oyebamiji’s leadership, Osun State could emerge as a major player in Nigeria’s marine and blue economy by harnessing its tourism assets, including the Osun-Osogbo Grove and Erin-Ijesha Waterfalls, to drive maritime tourism, investment and economic growth.

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter

The Federal Government has approved the exemption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and certain electric vehicles from the payment of Customs import duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) as part of efforts to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy and sustainable transportation.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced the implementation of additional guidelines issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance under the Presidential Gas for Growth Initiative, a key component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s drive to promote cleaner energy alternatives and expand the adoption of environmentally friendly transportation solutions.

Under the approved fiscal incentives, the importation of specified gas-powered and environmentally friendly vehicles, equipment, and components will enjoy exemption from both Import Duty and VAT.

Eligible items include 100 per cent Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, 100 per cent Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vehicles, fully electric vehicles, Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) with a minimum pure electric driving range of 200 kilometres, as well as CNG and LPG conversion kits for petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.

The incentives also cover tricycles and motorcycles certified for resale by the Federal Ministry of Finance, in addition to semi-trailers equipped with skid-mounted CNG, LPG and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage tanks designed for gas distribution.

To benefit from the incentives, importers are required to obtain an Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC) issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance and comply with all applicable regulatory requirements governing the importation of eligible products.

However, the fiscal framework excludes certain categories of vehicles and equipment from the duty and VAT waivers.

These include hybrid electric vehicles such as electric-petrol and electric-diesel variants, dual-fuel internal combustion engine vehicles configured for CNG/petrol or CNG/diesel operations, luxury vehicles valued at $100,000 and above, CNG vehicles converted overseas without factory-fitted CNG capability, semi-trailers and flatbeds that are not self-propelled, as well as spare parts of all categories.

According to the Nigeria Customs Service, the incentives are aimed at supporting the Federal Government’s broader objectives of reducing transportation and energy costs, encouraging investment in clean energy infrastructure, expanding the adoption of alternative fuel technologies, and strengthening Nigeria’s energy security while advancing environmental sustainability.

The Service reaffirmed that under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, it remains committed to the transparent and effective implementation of the fiscal incentives.

The NCS also urged importers, licensed customs agents and other stakeholders within the trade ecosystem to comply strictly with the approved guidelines and all relevant regulatory requirements in order to benefit from the policy.

Ibrahim Nasiru

The recent courtesy visit of the new Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) headquarters in Marina, Lagos, has signaled a profound shift in the governance of Nigeria’s littoral assets.

On the surface, the high-level meeting presents as a traditional inter-agency military visit.

However, beneath the protocol lies the active execution of what industry analysts are calling the Dantsoho Doctrine: an aggressive, strategic alignment where the multi-billion dollar physical assets of the NPA are directly backed by the absolute kinetic and surveillance firepower of the Nigerian Navy.

By positioning the NPA not merely as a landlord of terminal complexes but as a key stakeholder in national security, Managing Director Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho is systematically building an ironclad environment where global trade can thrive without interruption.

During the deliberations, Rear Admiral Mustapha conveyed the deep institutional alignment of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, praising Dantsoho’s innovative leadership in driving rapid Port efficiency and structural reform.

This endorsement from the highest echelons of Nigeria’s maritime defense architecture is a massive validation of the current management’s fiscal and operational direction.

For an administrator currently steering the authority toward a historic ₦1.489 trillion revenue generation peak for the fiscal year, securing a secure, crime-free shipping lane is not an option—it is a baseline financial requirement.

Through this consolidated partnership, Dantsoho is directly plugging the NPA into elite defense networks, including the Falcon Eye Maritime Surveillance System and the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC), effectively creating an uninterrupted digital shield over Nigerian waters.

What sets Dantsoho apart as a premier technocrat is his ability to convert defensive military cooperation into aggressive trade facilitation advantages.

In his response to the Naval Command, Dantsoho moved completely past standard pleasantries to demand immediate, expanded operational deployments, specifically targeting the Eastern Zone.

This tactical request demonstrates a deep understanding of regional trade mechanics.

By demanding enhanced naval visibility around vital gateways like Onne, Port Harcourt, Warri, and Calabar, Dantsoho is actively de-risking the eastern shipping corridors.

This strategy will drive down the exorbitant war-risk insurance premiums that have historically frustrated international shipping lines, ultimately reducing the cost of doing business and curbing the marketplace inflation hitting everyday citizens.

Ultimately, this high-level naval alliance proves that the current leadership understands that true Port efficiency cannot exist in a security vacuum.

You can purchase the best automated terminal software and build the deepest berths, but if the shipping lanes are insecure, the entire investment collapses.

By integrating naval surveillance with Port operations, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho is building a hyper-resilient, globally competitive maritime gateway.

This latest milestone demonstrates that his administration is not just managing Ports; they are actively re-engineering the security and economic DNA of the entire West African sub-region, ensuring that Nigeria remains the undisputed capital of maritime trade.

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