Maritime

NIWA Assures On River Benue Dredging Completion

Published

11 years ago

July 10, 2015

Acting Managing Direc
tor of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr Danladi Ibrahim, has said the dredging of the Lower River Benue, awarded at a cost of N26 billion, would be completed in two years..
Ibrahim made the disclosure when he visited the Lagos Area Office of NIWA, as maritime activities closed last Friday.
He said the contract was awarded to Messer Oyins Oil and Gas Ltd.
“We have awarded the dredging of Lower River Benue to the tune of N26 billion.
“Also, the dredging of the Lower River Niger is completed and quite a number of boats and jetties are under construction.
“We are all aware that we have completed the Onitsha river port and it will be concessioned to the private sector to operate anytime from now.
“Baro is 95 per cent completed; Lokoja is about 50 to 60 per cent as well as Oguta port. We have awarded the construction of Makurdi river port and any moment from now it will take off,” he said.
Ibrahim also said that NIWA would colllaborate with the riverine states to maintain efficient inland waterways services in the country.
He said that to checkmate over-loading and over-speeding, a code of operation would soon be gazetted and enforced to regulate inland waterways traffic.
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) said it would audit the operations of private terminal operators to attain efficiency.
The Executive Secretary of the NSC, Mr Hassan Bello, made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to Ports and Cargo Handling Services Ltd, the port operations arm of the Sifax Group.
Our correspondent reports that Ports and Cargo Handling Services, operating in ‘Terminal C ’ of the Tin-Can Island port, Lagos, is among the 26 private terminal operators given the concession to run ports in Nigeria.
Bello said the idea of auditing the terminal operators was meant to ascertain their equipment and find out the challenges facing them.
In his response, Mr John Jenkins, the Managing Director, Port and Cargo Handling Services Ltd, commended the council for its good policies.
Jenkins said the council’s policy had given terminal operators the hope to remain in operations in Nigeria in spite of the inability to have constant power supply.
“This year, our dwell time has reduced drastically. We will like the council to partner with the terminal operators.
“We have introduced online billing system to reduce human traffic at the port and fast track cargo clearance,’’ Jenkins said.
Our correspondent reports that the Nigerian ports were handed over in a concession exercise to 26 private terminal operators in 2006.

Maritime

Weak Shipping Line Regulation Undermines Customs Reforms —-Says SEREC

Published

6 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) says poor regulation of shipping lines could undermine the credibility of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reforms.

Head of Research SEREC, Dr Eugene Nweke made this Known to Newsmen in Abuja

Nweke said that customs efficiency was linked to the performance of the Nigeria’s maritime and trade ecosystem.

Hr described the NCS as central to the success of the National Single Window (NSW) risk-based clearance and trade facilitation reforms.

“However, Customs efficiency gains are systematically eroded when upstream shipping practices introduce artificial delays, speculative charges, remote cargo release approvals and opaque cost structures”.

“In effect, weak regulation of shipping line conduct externalises inefficiencies into the Customs clearance process, inflates transaction costs, distorts compliance behavior and undermines the credibility of customs-led trade reforms,”

Nweke said that SEREC had submitted a white paper to the government advocating that shipping line governance, port economic regulation, and customs trade administration should be treated as inseparable policy domains.

SEREC said Nigeria’s Port challenges were not only infrastructure-driven but governance-related, warning that weak regulation, missing oversight reports and unchecked discretion in systems like the NSW could undermine reform efforts.

SEREC recommended reforms for Nigeria’s shipping sector, including public release of committee findings, statutory refund timelines with penalties, banning speculative demurrage billing, mandatory local cargo release and alignment of shipping practices with the NSW among others.

Nweke said that the aim of the white paper was to draw attention to sharp practices and regulatory weaknesses that had evolved beyond operational inconveniences into macroeconomic and governance risks.

“For NCS trade reforms to deliver their full impact in 2026 and beyond, shipping practices must align with the same principles guiding Customs modernisation: transparency, predictability, automation, accountability and local control.

Nweke said that by 2026, stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime industry hope to transition from opaque and arbitrary port operations to a transparent, rules-based system managed through digital technology.

He stressed that the shift should align with ongoing reforms and international best practices, facilitated by the government through providing enabling environment and enforcing regulations

“These include predictable costs, enforceable service standards, transparent billing, time-bound cargo release, and institutional accountability particularly as Nigeria advances the National Single Window (NSW), port economic regulation, and revenue optimisation objectives.

“The expectation is not the creation of new laws, but disciplined enforcement of existing instruments, public disclosure of regulatory outcomes, and insulation of regulators from political and commercial capture,” Nweke said.

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Maritime

Tinubu Approve Take Off Of Olokola Deep Seaport In Ogun State

Published

6 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate take-off of the Olokola Deep Seaport project in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area

The approval brings to an end years of delay surrounding the multi billion dollar Port.

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun made this Known to Journalists during an interactive session

Governor Abiodun said the Seaport would help decongest Lagos ports, while oil drilling at Tongeji Island would boost economic activities and inclusion in coastal communities.

“The Olokola deep seaport project, which has been on the drawing board for several years, has been revived following a series of meetings with the President”.

“I want to sincerely thank Mr President because this is solely his initiative. In the last two weeks alone, we have held several meetings on Olokola, and he has clearly expressed his desire to see the port become a reality,” he said.

The Governor said the seaport would be known as the Blue Marine Economic Zone, would leverage the coastal road as an alternative logistics corridor and further ease pressure on the Lagos ports.

He commended the Nigerian Navy for establishing a Forward Operations Base at Tongeji Island, saying the move would enhance security and prevent infiltration from neighbouring Benin Republic.

The Governor said that the state government was working to provide basic amenities for residents of the island to improve living conditions and support emerging economic activities.

Abiodun thanked the Navy for its contribution to security in the state, attributing the relative peace in Ogun to collaboration among security agencies.

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Maritime

Gov Eno Vows To Actualise Ibom Deep Seaport Project

Published

6 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno says his administration is commitment to deliver the Ibom Deep Seaport project as a critical infrastructure to boost the state’s economy and transform the region.

The Governor said this during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and the Interaf Group Consortium at the Government House, Uyo.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Enobong Uwah, Eno emphasized on the project’s significance.

“The project is a necessity for the people of the state as my administration is fully committed to putting the necessary requirements in place to get it on course,” Eno said.

The Governor urged the consortium to work closely with the Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, AKICORP, and the government’s representatives to ensure its timely execution.

He commended the organisation for its interest in ensuring the actualisation of the project

The Governor thanked the former Petroleum Minister, Mr Don Etiebet, for being a part of the team, and for working toward the actualisation of the facility.

Earlier,Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Interaf Group Consortium, Mr Ezinwa Ibekwe commended the government for the confidence reposed in the company.

Ibekwe assured the government of the consortium’s readiness to deliver on its mandate, promising a collaborative approach to ensure the project’s success.

By: CHINEDU WOSU