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Seme Customs Earns N8.39bn In Exports …Surpasses 2023 Revenue Target 

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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Command, says it has it facilitated a total of 41,867.88 metric tons of export products worth N8.2billion from January to October 2023.
It also recorded a total of N3.050billion revenue within the period under review, exceeding the allotted 2023 target of N1.96billion by N1.084billion, representing 55.1 percent increase.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Seme-Krake Border Command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Hussein Abdulahi, who attributed the successes recorded by the command to strategies adopted by the leadership of the Command to checkmate revenue loopholes, in partnership with stakeholders to ensure compliance.
Bomodi also handed over seized cannabis to the representative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He said, “Upon my assumption of duty on the 18th of September, 2023, I pledged to adopt sustainable ways and means of dealing with smuggling, while the focus will be on using administrative and strategic levels to block revenue leakages.
“I also promised to encourage compliant traders and our host Communities along the corridor bearing in mind the challenges of the Joint Border Post as one that is still adjusting to the reality of the border closure.
“We have kept faith within government as talks are ongoing at the highest level to regularize the situation.
“The Command under my watch has made notable impacts in our key performance indicators which are revenue collection, anti-smuggling operations, and facilitation of legitimate trade.
“The Command continues to sustain tempo in harnessing all revenue components to achieve desired goals. The target for the Command for the year 2023 is N1.96billion only.
“As at the end of October 2023, the Command has collected N3,050, 100, 912.28 only. The revenue figure collected exceeded the allotted target of N1,966,000,000 by N1,084,100,912.28 only, which represents a 55.1% increase.
“Under Export, the Command facilitated a total of 41,867.88 Metric Tons involving 1048 trucks of export products with Free On Board (FOB) of N8,299,767,340.57..
“The Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) paid was N41,504, 608.45, only. The surcharge paid for the period under review was N40,531,580.00, only”.
On anti-smuggling operations, Bomodi recalled the headline seizures of 168 live Parrot birds and a Hawk, which are prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which Nigeria is a signatory.
He disclosed that between September and October, the Command’s operatives intercepted 1,756 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) equivalent to 52,680 liters or about 2 petroleum tankers, and 3,805 units of 50kg bags of rice equivalent to 7 trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice.
Other seizures within the period, he said, include; 1,379 of general merchandise goods, 40 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 2 used vehicles, 3 live porcupines with a Duty Paid Value of N326million.
He added that six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.
Bomodi continued that the seized cannabis sativa and suspects will be handed over to NDLEA for further investigation.
He expressed appreciation to the Comptroller General of Customs for his support to the Command and the Seme Badagry Community for their cooperation.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

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Association Woos Govt, Coys On  Boat Operators  Employments

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7 days ago

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June 12, 2026

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The leadership of Bonny Maritime Boat Association has called on Rivers state Government and oil companies operating in the state to provide sustainable employment to unemployed boat Operators.
The Association also want the government, companies and other relevant employers of labour to provide trainings for boat Operators to enhance their skills
Safety Officer of the Association, Comrade Kingdom Kingsley made this known in  a  telephone interview with  The Tide.
He noted that most of the boat Operators and owners plying Bonny route lacks jobs due to the fleets of boats introduced by Bonny Road Transport that had taken over the passengers to the Island
He noted that passengers are no longer patronizing boats owned by the Association, thereby rendering the operators redundant
“Most of our operators can not afford to feed their families due to no jobs, we don’t want to indulge in crime, government should fix our members with  sustainable jobs to take care of their immediate needs”
He called on oil companies operating in the state to engage their skilled boat Operators in their companies to reduce the sufferings faced by the Association.
The Safety Officer called on the state government  to made funds available to unemployed youths in the state to start up business than roam the streets.
He noted that provision of funds to youths would reduce crime rates and reposition their mindsets for a better life
“The  youths of Rivers state are suffering, have no job to feed their families, thereby indulging in criminality daily”
“The youths need empowerment,  jobs,  recreational facilities and better things of life as citizens of this Nation”, Kingsley said.
CHINEDU WOSU
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FG Approves $1 Bn AFCFTA Credit Facility For Nigerian Exporters

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7 days ago

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June 12, 2026

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The Federal Government has approved a whooping $1bn credit facility to support Nigerian exporters and small scale businesses to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in order to boost production, competitiveness and intra-African trade.
The $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility is also expected to address some of the financing gap being faced by Nigerian exporters and enhance the competitiveness of African businesses within the continental market.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed this  during the second quarter 2026 meeting of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee held in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Obilor-Duru Okechi, Oduwole said the financing facility represented a major opportunity for Nigerian businesses seeking to expand operations, modernise production processes and increase exports to African markets.
The statement partly read, “?The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s export-led growth agenda under the African Continental Free Trade Area, unveiling opportunities for businesses to access a US$1 billion AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility aimed at boosting production, competitiveness, and intra-African trade.”
She noted that despite the progress Nigeria had made in implementing the continental trade agreement, many local businesses continued to face obstacles that limited their ability to take advantage of the single African market.
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“Many businesses still face challenges relating to export documentation, certification, standards compliance and market access,” the minister said.
She explained that the Federal Government was addressing these bottlenecks through enhanced trade facilitation measures, simplified AfCFTA guidance tools, stakeholder engagement programmes and stronger collaboration with institutions such as the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
Oduwole stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework by domesticating key AfCFTA protocols, particularly the Digital Trade Protocol, to position the country as a major player in Africa’s growing digital economy.
The minister also highlighted some of the gains recorded in Nigeria’s AfCFTA implementation efforts.
According to her, the expansion of Nigeria’s Air Cargo Corridor Initiative to Rwanda, increased collaboration with development partners and private sector players, as well as sustained engagement with state governments, were helping to deepen awareness and participation in the continental market.
In her welcome address and first-quarter update, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mrs Patience Okala, provided details of the financing initiative.
Okala said the $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility was targeted at large African businesses with a minimum financing capacity of $10m.
She revealed that the National AfCFTA Coordination Office was working closely with fund managers to facilitate access for eligible Nigerian companies and had begun assembling a pilot group of businesses to ensure that Nigeria maximised the opportunities provided by the facility.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NIWA Harps On  Avoidance Of Leaking Boats

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7 days ago

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June 12, 2026

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The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has advised Nigerians against boarding boats that require constant bailing of water in the interest of their safety.
 NIWA Area Manager for Cross River and Ebonyi, Mr Stanley Onuoha gave this warning in an interview with Newsmen in Calabar.
Onuoha who spoke on waterway
safety, said that passengers should take responsibility for their safety by inspecting boats before embarking on any journey.
According to him, repeated scooping of water from a boat is a clear indication that the vessel may be leaking.
“If you are entering a boat and see people using a bailer to remove water, it is the first signal that the boat is leaking,” he said.
He urged passengers to check the integrity of boats, including seating arrangements and other visible safety features.
The Manager restated the importance of using safety jackets, saying that damaged jackets may fail during emergencies.
He further said that passengers should ensure that safety jackets were appropriate for their body sizes in order to guarantee effective flotation.
 Onuoha reiterated the need for passengers to fill manifests before departure to aid accountability during emergencies.
The NIWA official further advised travellers to monitor weather conditions and avoid boarding boats when the weather is unfavourable.
According to him, poor weather conditions can trigger strong tidal waves capable of affecting small boats commonly used on inland waterways.
He said that waterway journeys should be embarked upon between 6.00a.m and 6.00p.m for clearer visibility.
Onuoha said  the Authority had continued to sensitise riverine communities to the need for safety precautions during waterway journeys.
He stated that sustained awareness campaigns and enforcement measures had contributed to safety waterway safety in Cross River.
CHINEDU WOSU
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