Maritime
Cargo Tracking System’ II Save Nigeria N900bn In Revenue Leakages ……SEREC
The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) says implementing the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) will save Nigeria an estimated N900 billion annually in revenue leakages.
Head of Research at the Centre, Dr Eugene Nweke, stated this in a document on its policy commentary on
the Urgent Imperative of Implementing the ICTN in Nigeria, and made available to newsmen.
Nweke said that the system, when implemented, could cut cargo clearance time by 25 to 35 per cent and curb trade malpractices by 40 per cent within 18 months, boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness and credibility in the regional maritime economy.
The Director described ICTN as a trade facilitation system aimed at improving transparency, security and efficiency in Nigeria’s ports.
According to him, it enables pre-arrival processing of cargo data for faster clearance, reduces demurrage and documentation time, curbs illicit trade, closes revenue leakages and enhances Nigeria’s competitiveness in global maritime trade.
He disclosed that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, is the lead agency implementing the ICTN.
“The NSC would do it in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)”
He expressed concern that in spite of the Federal Executive Council approval of the implementation of the ICTN in 2023, it was yet to be implemented.
“Without this pre-verification system, Nigeria’s trade regulators would continue to operate in a reactive intelligence model, allowing room for cargo concealment, under-declaration and falsified manifests.
“Experts estimated that the delay in implementation could lead to an estimated annual loss from non standardised cargo declarations and transshipment concealment between N800 billion and N1.2 trillion.
“Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Angola recorded an 18 to 22 per cent rise in customs revenue and a 30 per cent drop in port clearance delays within two years of adopting ICTN.
“The countries also saw a 40 per cent fall in false declarations during the same period.
“The delayed implementation could also affect the smooth implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) projected for the first quarter of 2026 and the modernisation drive of the Nigerian Customs Service,” he explained.
Nweke added that with customs modernisation advancing rapidly and the NSC approaching rollout, Nigeria must not operationalise these systems without ICTN integration or risk reinforcing data fragmentation.
“Government must recognise ICTN not as a competing system, but as a strategic enabler of all other reforms.
“The ICTN should serve as the data feeder layer into the National Single Window, Customs modernisation and port efficiency frameworks,“ he stated.
The Director also noted that although various digital modernisation efforts were underway in the maritime sector, the ICTN remained the key missing link needed to fully integrate trade intelligence across the system.
He emphasised that the continued delay in ICTN deployment poses critical national risks, including revenue leakage, national security exposure, reputational deficit and a fragmented digital ecosystem.
“The absence of verifiable pre-shipment data weakens Nigeria’s ability to detect high-risk or illicit consignments (arms, drugs, waste cargo, etc.) before arrival.
“Nigeria remains among the few major trading nations in West and Central Africa without an operational electronic cargo note system, affecting investor confidence in its maritime sector.
“It has also impacted the country’s compliance ratings under the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) guidelines”, Nweke said.
By: Chinedu Wosu
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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting media growth and development as a critical tool for effective dissemination of government policies, especially as Nigeria pursues its $1 trillion economy target by 2030.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, stated this at the 2026 Annual Conference of the Finance and Business Online Publishers Association (FiBOP) held at Lekki, Lagos.
Adeniyi, who was represented by the Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, Abdulgany Oloro Usman, said the media has a vital role in ensuring government policies are well communicated to the public.
Also speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Revenue, Dr. Olufemi Olarinde, urged media practitioners to shun sensationalism and partner with government in communicating accurate economic data.
According to Oyedele, public trust is strengthened when citizens clearly understand government actions, the rationale behind them and the metrics for measuring progress.
“Enough of sensational news. Government must provide timely information, welcome constructive scrutiny, and explain its decisions transparently,” the Minister said.
Highpoint of the event was the conferment of the *”Transformative Reforms and Leadership Excellence” Award* on the Customs Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi, by FiBOP.
The award recognises Adeniyi’s exceptional stewardship which has catalysed a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s trade and border management landscape, particularly in trade facilitation, institutional transparency, technological innovation and modernisation of the Service.
The Association noted that since assuming office, Adeniyi has transformed the Service from a traditional revenue collector into a modern, globally compliant trade facilitator through dismantling of bureaucratic bottlenecks, streamlining of cargo clearance procedures, and championing the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) scheme and the Time Release Study (TRS).
It further cited his deployment of non-intrusive inspection technologies, enhanced inter-agency intelligence sharing, intensified anti-smuggling operations and the rollout of the Unified Customs Management System as key achievements that have reduced port congestion, lowered cost of doing business and boosted revenue generation
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), Dr Pius Akutah, has announced plans to introduce an Award of Honesty for three cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, annually, beginning from 2027.
Akutah said the initiative was aimed at promoting integrity, ethical conduct and professionalism among future maritime practitioners.
He made the announcement while delivering his goodwill message at the Academy’s 2026 Cadets’ Graduation Ceremony, last week where he congratulated the graduating cadets on successfully completing their academic training.
The NPERA boss described graduation as the beginning of a new phase of professional development, offering opportunities for career advancement, practical experience and meaningful contributions to Nigeria’s maritime industry.
He encouraged the graduates to approach their careers with dedication, discipline and a commitment to continuous learning as they transition from academic training into professional practice.
He stressed that professional competence must be complemented by integrity and responsible conduct to build a credible maritime industry and sustain public confidence in the sector.
According to him, the proposed Award of Honesty would promote a culture of integrity among young maritime professionals and reinforce the ethical values required for responsible leadership and professional excellence.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening maritime education, professional certification and sea-time training.
Oyetola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Fatima Sugra Mahmood, at the ceremony, also called for stronger collaboration between maritime training institutions and industry operators to prepare graduates for the demands of the maritime industry.
He emphasised the importance of equipping maritime graduates with the requisite professional qualifications, practical experience and industry-relevant skills to enhance their employability and effective participation in the sector.
The Minister also highlighted the need for closer collaboration between maritime training institutions and industry operators to bridge the gap between academic training and professional practice, thereby strengthening the capacity of Nigeria’s maritime workforce.
The ceremony also featured the formal launch of the Academy’s Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), an initiative designed to improve administrative efficiency, transparency and accountability in the institution’s operations.
The Academy graduated 314 cadets from its National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
The Network of Nigeria Maritime Journalists (NNMJ), the umbrella body of all maritime Journalists is set to host its Unity Conference later this month in Ikeja, Lagos.
The conference would bring together key policymakers, maritime regulators, industry leaders and other stakeholders to examine the future of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
In a statement jointly signed by Chairman and Public Relations Officer of NNMJ, Elder Dele Aderibigbe and Jerry Aguigbo respectively, the conference, scheduled to commence at 11:00 a.m., will focus on the performance, policy direction and operational efficiency of the maritime industry under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with particular emphasis on port modernisation, trade facilitation and revenue generation.
Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Barrister Temisan Omatseye, will chair the conference, while the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, will attend as the Special Guest of Honour.
Renowned maritime lawyer, Barrister Emeka Akabogu, SAN, will deliver the keynote address at the event, which is themed “Seaport Modernisation, Trade Facilitation and Revenue.”
The conference is expected to provide a platform for constructive engagement among government officials, maritime professionals and private-sector operators on practical strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s maritime industry and maximising its contribution to national economic growth.
Key areas of discussion will include the modernisation of seaports and the renewal of critical infrastructure, improved trade facilitation, enhanced ease of doing business, revenue growth and measures to curb financial leakages.
Participants will also examine opportunities for expanding the marine and blue economy, creating employment, strengthening maritime safety and security, and improving the overall competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The gathering is expected to attract heads of government agencies, managing directors of shipping companies, terminal operators, freight forwarders and other prominent stakeholders across the maritime value chain.
Through the Unity Conference, NNMJ seeks to encourage informed dialogue, strengthen collaboration between public and private-sector stakeholders, and promote policy initiatives that will enhance port efficiency, facilitate legitimate trade, improve revenue performance and unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The conference is also expected to reinforce the role of the maritime media in promoting accountability, providing informed industry analysis and advancing constructive engagement on policies and reforms affecting the nation’s marine and blue economy.
By; Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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