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Customs Marine Command Nabs Three Suspects

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10 months ago

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The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has arrested three suspects in connection to over a total of 1,658 loaves of Cannabis Sativa, weighing 788 kilogrammes intercepted by its operatives to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Speaking at a handing over ceremony and courtesy visit of the new Marine Commander, NDLEA, DNC Emmanuel Morrison, at the commands headquarters, Ibafon, Apapa Lagos, Customs Area Controller, Western Marine Command, Comptroller Kayode Bamisaiye, disclosed that the three suspects will be handed over to NDLEA officials for onward prosecution.
The arrests and seizures, he said, took place at Ijegun Waterside, Bar Beach, and Ekare Beach front in November 2024, adding that the actions were in direct enforcement of Section 233 of the NCS Act 2023.
Bamisaiye noted that “The seized Cannabis Sativa, illicit pharmaceutical products, and arrested suspects will be handed over to the NDLEA and National Agency for Food Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and prosecution.
The Customs boss reiterated that the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all the seized items is ¦ 182,196,000 and total weight of Cannabis Sativa is 788 Kilogrammes.
Bamisaiye noted that Customs and NDLEA have continued to work in synergy for decades, adding that the seized items include cannabis and pharmaceutical products.
On the 21st of November, 2024 , the Customs top brass affirmed that the Command also seized 295 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice and some seven bags of 50kg refined granulated foreign sugar at “Point of No Return” in Badagry and Panko Ere waterfronts.
He said, “Again, the Command today will be handing over 386 bottles of 300ml codeine syrup, confiscated along the Yekeme/Joforo waterways, to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) which is in line with the recent understanding reached at the last CGC Conference in Abuja.
“Additionally, the Command intercepted 900 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) which has been disposed in line with extant laws”.
Bamisaiye warned that the Western Marine Command will not hesitate to take decisive action against any individual or group attempting to undermine the government’s trade restrictions or fiscal policies.
“ The inordinate quest by citizens to get rich by any means fuels the menace of smuggling. Citizens must understand that smuggling is injurious to our economy and smuggling of hard drugs has even more devastating effect on our health and the economy.
“The Command under my watch is poised more than ever to rid our waterways of all acts of smuggling and economic saboteurs for the benefit of the growth of the economy of Nigeria”.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic,Lagos

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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