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ICTN, CISS fees will make Nigeria’s ports more expensive, uncompetitive — Segun Musa

Funso OLOJO 
Dr Segun Musa, one of the vocal freight forwarders in the country and the Managing Director of Widescope Nigeria Limited, Dr. Segun Musa, has decried the reintroduction of  International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) at the Nigerian ports, lamenting it will further add to the cost of doing business at the ports.
Similarly, he believed continued payment of Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS)  will further make Nigerian ports uncompetitive within the subregion.
Dr Musa, who was giving an overview of Port operations in the country while interacting with the leadership of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria(MARAN), described these levies and charges as fraudulent in nature, meant to further impoverished Nigerians.
He was particularly upset with the continued payment of the CISS  which was a fee meant to fund the operations of the inspection agencies but is it still been collected years after the era of pre-shipment inspection regime has gone.
“Agents should have gone to court to challenge it. It is illegal. The CISS money was meant for inspection agencies to run their operations.
“EFCC should have investigated the government over the trillion of Naira of CISS.” Musa declared.
On the ICTN, the National Vice President of the Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), said the it was not different from the Customs Risk Assessment Report that profiles all cargo coming into Nigeria.
He believed that the reintroduction of ICTN would further add up to the cost of cargo clearance, narrating that with the intervention of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) acting on his petition, the ICTN was suspended at the airport.
He wondered why the ICTN, already jettisoned by the government, is being reintroduced by the government.
“ICTN is a fraud. This is a fastest way of killing the economy. We are waiting for them,” vowed Musa.
The foremost freight forwarder called the Nigeria Customs Service to implement automation of cargo clearance and delivery, stating that the Customs had promised that the B’Odogwu would address cargo clearance and facilitate trade.
“I want to believe it is achievable. What we need is the full automation; we are against use of companies but rather individuals with their identity number in cargo clearance.
“Everything from inspection to delivery should be automated. This is where the integrity of the Nigeria Customs Service will come to play,” said Musa.
Whether Customs will allow the automation to work or Customs agents will declare correctly, Musa averred that the world is changing and Nigeria cannot be left behind.
 “Nobody wants a change. The world is migrating away from analog. This is why investors do not want to come to Nigeria. To advance our economy, we must embrace change – automation.”
Still speaking on the Customs operations, Dr. Musa said there is nothing special in the revenue collection by the Customs but what we need from the Service is transparency.
“I was the lone voice calling for the privatisation of the Customs; anybody can generate revenue. The PIDA did it during the administration of General Sanni Abacha.
“Customs generating revenue is not special; a consortium can generate revenue while Customs is saddled with a border patrol.
“We did it before and we can do it again. If the Customs is not transparent enough, I will not hesitate to call on the government to privatise the customs,” Musa vowed.
He averred that incessant increase in customs duties and revenue target is an indicator that the national economy is not working and is also a lazy way by the politicians to run the economy.
Musa disagreed with the belief that foreigners have taken over freight forwarding in Nigeria, adding freight forwarding is an international job and everyone is free to practice it.
 “Foreigners have not taken over freight forwarding in Nigeria. People need to understand that we live in a global neighborhood.
“You must have strength and capacity if you want to participate in freight forwarding, an international job.
” Government should create a level playing field for all actors. We collect a lot of revenue for the government but we get nothing.
“Chinese government provide funds and enabling environment for her citizens to thrive everywhere. But it is not the case here in Nigeria,” said Musa
The freight forwarder further noted  the land border was closed because of rice, a decision which he described as irrational when the nation does not have the capacity to produce rice enough to feed her citizens.
He maintained that no nation closes her border against goods it lacks capacity to produce enough, expressing fears that the nation may become a dumping ground for other countries as Nigeria does not have capacity and infrastructure to compete competitively in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
“We don’t have production capacity to tap AfCFTA. We may likely become the dumping ground. We don’t have manufacturers again who can produce for enough for local consumption and for export under AfCFTA,” said Musa
On the National Single Window (NSW), Dr. Musa hinted that his fears about the National Single Window (NSW) had been allayed that NSW would not be handled alone by an agency, calling on the government to set up a committee of trustworthy actors to supervise the Single Window.
Assessing the performance of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under Adegboyega Oyetola as the Minister, Musa said there is nothing new in marine and blue economy.
“It has been with us for long. We cannot harness natural resources in our ocean if we don’t put the right person in the right places.
“The Minister loves talkshows and  globetrotting. How do we harness the blue economy when you don’t have ships, equipment,” said Musa, who said year 2024 was filled with a lot of challenges and opportunities.
“In 2024, we had a lot of challenges – inconsistent in government policies, fluctuations in Forex that plummeted volumes of cargo traffic and the Customs putting pressure on importers with various ideas to meet its revenue target.
” We had a lot of opportunities to change the narratives but we never had associations strong enough to protect our interests.
“Hike in the cost of transportation dues to incessant increase in diesel did not help the situation. The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) was handicapped by its teething problem as every freight forwarder bore his cross,” Musa said while highlighting 2024 but hopeful for a better 2024.
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Open Letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the need to assent to the Nigerian Shipping and Ports Economic Regulatory Agency(NSPERA) bill

By Elder Asu Beks

Mr President,on behalf of the  Maritime Elders Forum and  entire maritime stakeholders, i respectfully send you  season’s greetings.
There is no doubt, Mr President, that 2025 has been one of the most turbulent and challenging years in the history of our nation.
 From the wave of insecurity ,which you have tackled squarely,to the far reaching  economic reforms  which has translated to the tax reform bills , are all  pointers to the fact that you are taking the challenges head on.
Mr President , your modest achievements in the Oil and Gas sector are also there for all to see.
From the bold decision to abolish fuel subsidy to the increase in daily production levels to an average 1.8m bpd ,from about 1mbpd daily output as at May ,2023, and the complete disapperance of fuel queues, it is certain, Mr President, that you are building a legacy of renewed hope, unprecedented in the life of our nation.
 We cannot thank you enough, Mr President.
 For us in the maritime sector, the most profound of your score card remains  the creation of a specialised Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
The demand for a Ministry to oversee Nigeria’s vast  maritime domain is as old as Nigeria’s Independence.
For us as critical stakeholders, this couldnt have come at a better time.
 In just two years of the creation of this specialised Ministry, Nigerians are already reaping bountifully from this innovative move.
Only last month,Nigeria won an election into the elusive category ” C” of the International Maritime Organisation, (IMO).
This victory  is coming after  nine unsuccessful  attempts, spanning 14 years.
With this victory , which couldn’t have been posible without  your fatherly role,our fortunes as one of the greatest maritime nations in sub saharan Africa  has  been solidified.
 Mr President, another milestone recorded under your watch ,since the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is the introduction of the game changing National Single Window platform which comes into effect  in the first  quarter of 2026.
The National Single Window is a trade facilitation tool designed  to eliminate multiple entries by various regulatory bodies in business transactions in our seaports.
In other words, it is a digitalized platform that allows importers and exporters to submit all necessary documents, permits , and data to multiple government agencies through a single entry point.
Mr President, with these developments, you have etched your name as “the President who saw  tomorrow” by demonstrating in concrete terms, the enormous  potentials which this sector holds as your administration continues to look at a Nigeria beyond oil.
In this regard, Mr President ,we the  Maritime Elders Forum urge you ,without delay  to  sign into law, the Nigerian Shipping and Port Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill .
The NPERA Bill aims to transform the Nigerian Shippers Council, (NSC) into a powerful, independent economic regulator for Nigeria’s Ports,creating a strong  frame work for tariffs,fair competition and efficiency after port concession.
The Bill, a brain child of  Dr Tajudeen Abass, Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, is  aimed  to fill the vacuum created by an absence of  a  regulatory  agency in such a critical sector of our national economy ,as against other sectors such as  banking, petroleum , energy and  communication.
This critical Bill seeks to repeal the old Nigerian Shippers Council Act and empower the Council to manage port economic activities, boosting the Blue Economy.
Mr President, the laudable objectives of this Bill include;establishing an independent  regulation to create a strong legally backed economic regulator for our ports; Control tariffs, charges and regulate port charges  in such a manner as to prevent arbitrariness  and ensure fairness; to promote fair competition by improving overall port operations and attract investment; Support the Blue Economy to align with our national goals for developing Nigeria’s Marine Economy.
 Your Excellency Sir, this Bill was given an accelerated hearing ,and was passed by both chambers of the National Assembly on April 10, 2025 upon which it was forwarded to you for assent.
 Mr President sir, the delay or your failure to assent to this  Bill is coming at huge cost and has resulted in significant economic losses for Nigeria, primarily by perpetuating an unregulated and inefficient port system that has led to huge financial leakages that deter investment.
 Mr President, sir, it is estimated that the nation is losing billions of dollars dailly to the absence of a strong legal frame work for port economic regulation.
We have on good authority, Mr President, that this obvious lack or absence of a regulated ports industry is also taking a huge toll on local and foreign investments as an estimated $250b is said to be lost annually, aside arbitrary charges by terminal operators and Shipping Lines .
 In a nutshell, Mr President, the envisaged benefits of this brand new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has been eroded on account of the absence of a legal regulatory frame work.
As it stands, sir ,a Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy without an Economic Regulator is akin to a football game without a referee.
it means anything goes and the out come of a game without an official umpire could be better imagined.
 Mr President sir, consequently ,the time to sign the NPERA Bill is now.
Thank you Mr President for listening to this passionate appeal.
 Let this be your new year present to Maritime Stakeholders.
ELDER ASU BEKS, CONVENER, MARITIME ELDERS FORUM, LAGOS
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Tantita intercepts stolen crude on escort of  Delta Marine Police, arrests four suspects 

Funso OLOJO 
Tantita Security Services Limited, a pipeline surveillance operations company, has intercepted a tanker vessel, MT Thor, laden with suspected stolen crude oil.
The interception, which occurred on December 15th, 2025, around the Koko–Excravos axis of Delta State, happened while the vessel was allegedly being escorted by personnel of the Police Marine Unit, Delta State, who reportedly claimed they were acting on directives from the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja.
Four suspects have been apprehended in connection with the incident and are currently facing investigation for possible prosecution.
The arrest was announced during the handover of the suspects at Koko Port in Delta State by Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSNL), a firm engaged in pipeline surveillance operations.
Speaking at the handover of the vessel and the suspects at Koko Port, Delta state, the Executive Director of Operations at Tantita, Captain Warredi Enisouh, said the suspects were apprehended with an unspecified quantity of suspected illegally sourced petroleum products aboard the vessel.
According to a situation report made available by the Special Prosecution Team (SPT) of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Product Theft, Tantita alerted the Head of Investigation of the SPT after intercepting MT Thor, which was allegedly laden with crude oil obtained through illicit means.
Preliminary investigations by law enforcement agencies revealed that the vessel, now classified as an exhibit in an ongoing criminal investigation, is linked to a jetty operated by Ebenco Global Services Limited.
Investigation officers disclosed that documents and correspondence connected to the jetty were obtained and are currently under review.
“The owner of the jetty, Mr. Ebenezer, was contacted by investigators and reportedly provided additional documents, including court orders, which are also being analysed as part of the investigation.
“On December 16, a joint investigation team led by the Head of Investigation of the SPT conducted a Joint Inspection Visit in Koko.
The team first met at Tantita’s corporate headquarters in Warri for a briefing, which was also attended by the jetty owner.
“During the inspection, investigators attempted to obtain samples from MT Thor but were unable to do so immediately as the vessel had not yet arrived at the jetty, having been towed from an earlier location by security operatives.
“While awaiting the vessel’s arrival, the team inspected other containers suspected to be carrying crude oil within the premises of Ebenco Global Links Limited, where samples were taken from a storage barge.
“MT Thor eventually berthed at about 8:30 p.m. on 16 December, prompting the joint team to adjourn sampling and other procedures until the following day.
 As of 17 December 2025, investigators were reported to be en route to Koko to continue sample collection and complete investigation formalities,” the report read.
Receiving the suspects, the Head of the Special Prosecution Team of the Inter-Agency Task Force, Omar Sini, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to dismantle crude oil theft networks in the Niger Delta, assuring that all findings would be thoroughly examined and prosecuted in line with the law.
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Mobereola, NIMASA DG, reflects on year 2025 with satisfaction, says 2026 holds promising opportunities for maritime industry 

Funso OLOJO
The Director -General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has expressed his satisfaction over the achievements recorded in the maritime industry in the outgoing year of 2025, while looking forward to a promising 2026 with hope.
In his Christmas message to the stakeholders in the maritime industry, Dr Mobereola noted that the 2026 ended well with the election of Nigeria into the category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) after 14 years of failed attempts as well as zero occurrence of piracy attacks on Nigeria’ waters.
“The year 2025 has been a good one for our industry as once again, we have not recorded a single piracy attack in our waters in a whole calendar year, Nigeria was also able to deposit three Instruments of Accession to IMO Conventions that were signed by President Bola Tinubu ,we have been able to maintain industrial harmony in the sector all of which culminated to Nigeria’s election into the category C Council of the International Maritime Organization.
“We couldn’t have done this without our stakeholders who have contributed in various ways in the course of their operations during the year. We see you, we thank you and we felicitate with your during this yuletide season”Mobereola observed.
He however assured that the Agency will re-double efforts in ensuring that 2026 is even better for every stakeholder.
While calling on industry operators to brace up for the new year with hope of better times, Dr. Mobereola noted that “at NIMASA, we appreciate the weight of our renewed responsibility by virtue of Nigeria’s membership of the IMO Council because to whom much is given, much is definitely expected.

” You can therefore be sure of an increased momentum in our resolve to sustain maritime safety, security, environmental protection and adherence to relevant conventions and protocols with renewed vigour.”

The DG concluded by acknowledging the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, industry stakeholders, management and staff of NIMASA as well as all Nigerians and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

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