Maritime

Commercial Felling Of Trees Crime Against Nature – Group

Published

10 years ago

May 9, 2016

State Commissioner for Environment, Prof. Roseline Konya (left) briefing journalists at end of April 2016 Sanitation monitoring in the state. With her are State Director National Orientation Agency (NOA) Mr Oliver Worlugbum. Photo: Chris Monyanaga

Ghraizi and Partners, an
International NGO, has appealed to Nigerians to avoid felling trees for financial gain as it is a crime against nature.
The Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Mohammed Ghraizi, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Abuja while speaking on the 2016 World Earth Day.
He said that because climate change was real, the government must begin to implement “policies that have been put in place to help preserve the environment for our future generations’’.
“It is a crime to cut a tree because you want to use it for financial gain; it is a crime against nature.
“Before you even have to think about cutting down a tree why don’t you just take a good look at it and ask why it is there?
“Because I have seen some trees maybe hundreds of years old and if I had that in my home land I would preserve it.
“So why would you cut such a tree down? Try not to cut the tree down in the first place.
“We hope it would not fall on deaf ears and someone in the right authority, government stand will actually try and implement the policies that have been put there to help preserve the environment for our future generations.
“Global warming and climate change is real, so wake up people, wake up.’’
He also urged home owners to make provision for gardens and tress in their housing plans.
“It is really sad to see that land owners and home owners at the end of the day want to develop their land and they will maximise it, put the whole structure without allocating part of it for a nice garden and trees.
“The land is 700 square meters; they will build on 650 square meters, not even a parking lot, not even a flower. It’s such a sad thing.
“This is Africa; why don’t you integrate Africa into your living style; why can’t we be original in this, because what we have here in Africa nobody in the world has.’’
According to Ghraizi, Nigeria has the capacity to become one of the world’s best tourist destinations given the natural resources it has.
Also speaking Rosaline Agiamoh, the Co-founder of the organisation, said that there were more sustainable and cost effective ways of producing furniture without having to log trees.
Agiamoh spoke of the need to sensitise the public to the need to recycle furniture.
According to her, the recycling of furniture is better than cutting down trees and using the wood to produce furniture.
She said: “If you really have to log a tree, it has to be for a very unique job, not just let’s just log a tree to provide roofing.
“ It is sad when you see such trees being cut down for very mere purpose and you could use other sustainable materials.
“The whole world is pushing for more sustainability. There are a lot of other materials that do not cost us as much in terms of our environment and could be used in housing, construction and so on.
“So having policies that also support that, I think is important.’’

Maritime

ANLCA BOSS LAUDS NATIONAL SINGLE WINDOW READINESS DURING LAGOS TRAINING

Published

5 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

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

Maritime

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

Published

5 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

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.

Maritime

NSC COLLABORATES POLICE FOR STRONGER INTELLIGENCE SHARING

Published

5 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

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