The portals are digital, but the greed remains completely manual.

The Monday Discourse with Nasiru Ibrahim  exposes the ‘Dual Clearing’ racket where manual verification loops completely neutralize the federal government’s National Single Window.

Read how deliberate extortion rings at the terminal gates are killing the ease of doing business and paralyzing Port efficiency.

The full strategic brief drops tomorrow morning!

Stay tuned

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.