Connect with us

Maritime

Sea Pirates Attack Boats, Strip Passengers Naked

Published

12 years ago

on

Three Port Harcourt bound
commercial speed boats with over 40 passengers on board were last Tuesday attacked by suspected sea pirates.
The hoodlums during the attack along Ekulama two at Kula River in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State also stripped naked all the occupants of the boats and ordered them to jump down into the mangrove forest.
The Tide correspondent gathered that both men and women were ordered to pull –off all their wears, load all their belongings into two of the passenger boats and drove off with two of the boats belonging to the commercial boat drivers.
According to my source, the sea armed robbers diverted the three boats into a creek before they carried out their nefarious activities.
One of the drivers of the all fated boats, Mr Ebimila Oputa, who narrated his ordeal with the pirates said it was like a nightmare, as the bad boys numbering five armed with guns and machete attacked them at about 7,20 am on that fateful day, while on their way to Port Harcourt and dispossessed them of everything on them.
Oputa said his boat, MV Pere Z-Z with 75 Horse-Power and 13 passengers was also snatched away by the pirates, leaving all the passengers at the mercy of God in the creek.
According  to him, their savior was that one of the passengers still had his handset on him which they used to call their base at Nembe waterfront, Port Harcourt, that quickly came to their  rescue.
He said although there was no casualty but the trauma they went through was unprecedented.
In his reaction, the chairman, Nembe Waterfront Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade David Teke, reiterated his call on government to provide gunboats with security personnel at strategic locations of the waterways, adding that a special taskforce should  be set up with some civilian volunteers to assist the Joint Taskforce (JTF) at difference checkpoints to checkmate the activities of the sea armed robbers.
Teke expressed dismay that the government had not given priority attention to the security of the people at the riverine communities in the state.
The incident had been reported to the Marine Police Division at Abonnema Wharf, Port Harcourt, he said.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Maritime

ANLCA BOSS LAUDS NATIONAL SINGLE WINDOW READINESS DURING LAGOS TRAINING 

Published

5 days ago

on

March 2, 2026

By

The National Vice President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Prince Olusegun Oduntan on Thursday paid an observational visit to the National Single Window End- User Training session held in Ikeja, Lagos.
The visit served as an assessment of the ongoing nationwide training program by the NSW committee, which is currently preparing stakeholders across Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt for the official launch scheduled for March 27,2026.
Prince Oduntan who participated during the live training also witnessed clearing agents and importers undergo hands-on session.
The Lagos hub, being the nation’s busiest maritime centre is a focal point for the NSW committee’s efforts to ensure that the March transition is seamless and free of operational hitches.
Speaking at the venue, Oduntan expressed satisfaction with the practical approach of the training.
He emphasized that the National Single Window would drastically reduced cargo clearance processing time and enhance transparency across the supply chain.
” Lagos is the heartbeat of Nigerian trade, and seeing our members here in Ikeja, mastering this system is encouraging. It will equip our members with the practical skills needed to navigate the digital platform. We are fully alligned with the March 27 launch date, ” he said.
The NSW committee has continued to urge all clearing agents and importers in the Lagos zone to participate in the remaining sessions of the training, which runs February 16 to March 13 to ensure no one is left behind in the digital shift.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Continue Reading

Maritime

NSC COLLABORATES POLICE FOR STRONGER INTELLIGENCE SHARING 

Published

5 days ago

on

March 2, 2026

By

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council ( NSC) Dr. Pius Akutah has again expressed concerns over the arrest of duly cleared containers by Port Police, stressing the need to strengthen collaboration through intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement strategies to avoid delays in cargo movement.
 Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Council by the Commissioner of Police, Port Authority Police (Western) Command, CP, Oluwatoyin Iyabode Agbaminoja, in Lagos on Thursday, Akutah emphasized that both the Council and the Police operate within the same port environment, making synergy essential for efficiency and national economic growth.
 Dr. Akutah called for improved intelligence sharing and stronger stakeholders engagement, noting that effective collaboration would help reduce cargo dwell time and eliminate unnecessary disruptions.
 He added that sustained collaboration would promote seamless cargo movement, enhance regulatory enforcement, and strengthen Nigeria’s port competitiveness.
 He urged both agencies to jointly review police alert mechanisms and work together to curb insecurity within the ports.
 Earlier speaking, the Police Commissioner, Agbaminoja, described the Council as a key institution in Nigeria’s maritime governance structure and reiterated the Command’s commitment to providing adequate security for port users and infrastructure.
 She assured the Council’s management of the Command’s readiness to enhance cooperation in tackling emerging security threats and operational challenges within the port system.
 According to her, the Command remains ready to support the Council in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities, particularly in dispute resolution, enforcement of lawful activities, port user protection and monitoring of cargo movement within the port corridor.
 Both institutions agreed that sustained collaboration would promote seamless cargo movement, enhance regulatory enforcement, and strengthen Nigeria’s port competitiveness.
[2/28, 11:43 AM] nmcdominic: SEME CUSTOMS EARNS N3.48BN IN FEBRUARY
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
28/02/2026
The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has generated over N3.48billion in revenue for February 2026, despite the month still being ongoing, signaling a sharp rise in trade activities along the Seme – Krake corridor.
Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Wale Adenuga, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting with cross-border traders and farmers held in Badagry recently.
The event was organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme and GIZ.
Adenuga, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the revenue performance marks a significant increase compared to the N743.70million recorded in February 2025.
“For this February that has not yet  ended, we have already generated N3.48billion as against N743,698,652.16 revenue generated in February 2025. This clearly shows that the flow of trade is getting better and people are building greater confidence in the Seme–Krake corridor,” he stated.
The CAC attributed the surge largely to improved and seamless trade facilitation processes introduced at the Command, as well as enhanced collaboration among security agencies operating within the Lagos – Abidjan corridor.
He noted that the reduction in checkpoints along the Seme – Gbaji axis was the result of sustained inter-agency cooperation, clarifying that only Agbara and Gbaji remain officially approved Customs checkpoints along the route.
Adenuga also linked the decline in crime rates within the corridor to monthly joint border security meetings involving all relevant agencies at the border post.
According to him, the engagements have strengthened intelligence sharing and improved coordinated responses to security challenges, thereby creating a safer and more enabling environment for cross-border trade.
Beyond revenue generation and trade facilitation, the Command recorded notable enforcement successes in February.
These include the interception of a Toyota Highlander conveying 22 packages of cocaine valued at over N1 billion, based on credible intelligence.
In addition, operatives seized 1,000 bags of 50kg parboiled rice within the month, reinforcing efforts to curb smuggling and protect the nation’s economic borders.
Adenuga reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to working closely with traders, farmers, security agencies and regional partners to sustain trade growth and security along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor.
By: Nkpemenyie mcdominic, Lagos
Continue Reading

Maritime

FOU ZONE “A” SETS TO BOOST PUBLIC TRUST,TRAIN OFFICERS ON REPUTATION MANAGEMENT 

Published

5 days ago

on

March 2, 2026

By

The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Lagos, of the Nigeria Customs Service has held a reputation management workshop to strengthen professionalism, stakeholder relations and public confidence among its officers.
The Comptroller in charge of the Unit, Gambo Aliyu, spoke on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, stressing the importance of reputation in modern public service.
“Public trust stands as our most precious asset. Reputation is far more than a personal virtue; it forms the bedrock of our institution’s integrity, effectiveness and long-term success,” he said.
Aliyu noted that officers operate under intense public scrutiny and must demonstrate professionalism at all times.
“A single act of misconduct, poor stakeholder engagement or insensitive public communication could erode years of institutional goodwill, while consistent transparency and responsiveness would strengthen public confidence,” he said.
He highlighted recent improvements in the Service’s integrity ratings, citing recognition from Transparency International assessments.
According to him, sustaining this progress requires continuous training, ethical discipline and proactive stakeholder engagement.
The Comptroller assured that reputation management would remain central to capacity-building efforts and urged participants to internalise the lessons from the workshop and serve as ambassadors of trust within and outside the Service.
Continue Reading

Trending