Maritime
Stakeholders Advocate Legal Framework For NSW Project
Ahead of the March 2026 takeoff of the National Single Window (NSW) project, maritime industry stakeholders have called for a robust legal framework to ensure the seamless rollout of the unified digital project.
The stakeholders who made the call at the 10th Annual Seminar for Maritime Journalists and launch of the Centre for Maritime Media and Capacity Development in Lagos on Wednesday warned that without a unifying law, the NSW project risked being stifled by the conflicting mandates of various government agencies and the high cost of previous digital failures.
Speaking at the event organised by First Mediacon Network Limited, CEO of Wealthy Honey Investment and former Vice President of ANLCA, Dr. Kayode Farinto emphasized that the NSW must submerge the individual acts of various government agencies into a unified legal structure to prevent jurisdictional clashes.
He said, “SON has its act. NAFDAC has its act. Quarantine and Customs have theirs. For us to house these government agencies, there must be a legal framework so that it will be sacrosanct and everybody will know that this is the armbit of law with which we must operate.
“In the legal framework, there must be punishment for CEOs who deliberately circumvent, delay cargo and make officers to exploit traders or freight forwarders unnecessarily.
” Farinto also highlighted additional burdens imposed by regulatory agencies, citing examination fees charged by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) despite offshore certification. He noted that the NSW must address such problems including teething challenges of previous digital transitions such as the B’Odogwu platform failure, which he said cost importers over N7 billion due to connectivity issues.
“Importers are charged between N3,000 and N7,000 per container for examinations, even when conformity certificates have already been issued. This discourages trade and encourages circumvention.
“The NSW must not come with the same teething problems we suffered with B’Odogwu, which cost importers over N7 billion and nobody is saying anything. There must be attitudinal change among government agencies and licensed customs agents,” he said.
Also speaking, Vice President of ANLCA, Prince Segun Oduntan represented by Suleiman Ayokunle, Chief Executive Officer of SULA Logistics Limited noted that operators still contend with several government regulatory agency platforms, alongside multiple internal windows covering enforcement, scanning, gate operations, and cargo clearing processes.
He cautioned that unless the NSW effectively harmonises agency roles and processes, such financial losses could persist, undermining the very efficiencies the reform seeks to achieve.
In his remarks, maritime lawyer Dr. Emeka Akabogu SAN pointed out that Nigeria continued to perform poorly on the Global Logistics Index due to excessive manual intervention.
He praised the Nigeria Customs Service Act of 2023 for domesticating WTO trade facilitation agreements but stressed that the NSW was the only way to achieve a single digital approval. In his remarks, the Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), represented by Director of Special Duties Moses Abere, stated that as the sector digitalizes, journalism must evolve to ensure transparency and accountability.
“As the maritime sector grows more complex, driven by digitalisation, new trade realities, regulatory reforms, and global logistical shifts, journalism must evolve accordingly,” Akutah said.
He reiterated the Council’s commitment, as the Port Economic Regulator, to promoting efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness in the sector. He added that the theme of the seminar—“A Decade of Collaboration for Impact: Strengthening Maritime Journalism for the Future”—reflects the critical role of partnerships in building a stronger maritime industry.
“Over the years, maritime journalists have worked closely with regulators, operators, policymakers, and stakeholders to illuminate challenges and opportunities in the sector,” he said.
“The media remains an essential partner in informing stakeholders, shaping public understanding, and strengthening accountability.
” In his welcome address, CEO of First Mediacon Network Limited, Sesan Onileimo highlighted the urgent need for maritime journalists to upscale their knowledge, particularly in an era dominated by artificial intelligence, digitalisation, and social media.
“All of these developments have combined to put journalists under intense pressure to report factual information promptly while remaining relevant.
“The Centre has been established to bridge this gap, ensuring maritime journalists, regardless of experience, remain equipped to deliver accurate, impactful reporting, ” he said.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) says poor regulation of shipping lines could undermine the credibility of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reforms.
Head of Research SEREC, Dr Eugene Nweke made this Known to Newsmen in Abuja
Nweke said that customs efficiency was linked to the performance of the Nigeria’s maritime and trade ecosystem.
Hr described the NCS as central to the success of the National Single Window (NSW) risk-based clearance and trade facilitation reforms.
“However, Customs efficiency gains are systematically eroded when upstream shipping practices introduce artificial delays, speculative charges, remote cargo release approvals and opaque cost structures”.
“In effect, weak regulation of shipping line conduct externalises inefficiencies into the Customs clearance process, inflates transaction costs, distorts compliance behavior and undermines the credibility of customs-led trade reforms,”
Nweke said that SEREC had submitted a white paper to the government advocating that shipping line governance, port economic regulation, and customs trade administration should be treated as inseparable policy domains.
SEREC said Nigeria’s Port challenges were not only infrastructure-driven but governance-related, warning that weak regulation, missing oversight reports and unchecked discretion in systems like the NSW could undermine reform efforts.
SEREC recommended reforms for Nigeria’s shipping sector, including public release of committee findings, statutory refund timelines with penalties, banning speculative demurrage billing, mandatory local cargo release and alignment of shipping practices with the NSW among others.
Nweke said that the aim of the white paper was to draw attention to sharp practices and regulatory weaknesses that had evolved beyond operational inconveniences into macroeconomic and governance risks.
“For NCS trade reforms to deliver their full impact in 2026 and beyond, shipping practices must align with the same principles guiding Customs modernisation: transparency, predictability, automation, accountability and local control.
Nweke said that by 2026, stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime industry hope to transition from opaque and arbitrary port operations to a transparent, rules-based system managed through digital technology.
He stressed that the shift should align with ongoing reforms and international best practices, facilitated by the government through providing enabling environment and enforcing regulations
“These include predictable costs, enforceable service standards, transparent billing, time-bound cargo release, and institutional accountability particularly as Nigeria advances the National Single Window (NSW), port economic regulation, and revenue optimisation objectives.
“The expectation is not the creation of new laws, but disciplined enforcement of existing instruments, public disclosure of regulatory outcomes, and insulation of regulators from political and commercial capture,” Nweke said.
By: CHINEDU WOSU
Nigeria President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate take-off of the Olokola Deep Seaport project in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area
The approval brings to an end years of delay surrounding the multi billion dollar Port.
Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun made this Known to Journalists during an interactive session
Governor Abiodun said the Seaport would help decongest Lagos ports, while oil drilling at Tongeji Island would boost economic activities and inclusion in coastal communities.
“The Olokola deep seaport project, which has been on the drawing board for several years, has been revived following a series of meetings with the President”.
“I want to sincerely thank Mr President because this is solely his initiative. In the last two weeks alone, we have held several meetings on Olokola, and he has clearly expressed his desire to see the port become a reality,” he said.
The Governor said the seaport would be known as the Blue Marine Economic Zone, would leverage the coastal road as an alternative logistics corridor and further ease pressure on the Lagos ports.
He commended the Nigerian Navy for establishing a Forward Operations Base at Tongeji Island, saying the move would enhance security and prevent infiltration from neighbouring Benin Republic.
The Governor said that the state government was working to provide basic amenities for residents of the island to improve living conditions and support emerging economic activities.
Abiodun thanked the Navy for its contribution to security in the state, attributing the relative peace in Ogun to collaboration among security agencies.
By: CHINEDU WOSU
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno says his administration is commitment to deliver the Ibom Deep Seaport project as a critical infrastructure to boost the state’s economy and transform the region.
The Governor said this during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and the Interaf Group Consortium at the Government House, Uyo.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Enobong Uwah, Eno emphasized on the project’s significance.
“The project is a necessity for the people of the state as my administration is fully committed to putting the necessary requirements in place to get it on course,” Eno said.
The Governor urged the consortium to work closely with the Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, AKICORP, and the government’s representatives to ensure its timely execution.
He commended the organisation for its interest in ensuring the actualisation of the project
The Governor thanked the former Petroleum Minister, Mr Don Etiebet, for being a part of the team, and for working toward the actualisation of the facility.
Earlier,Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Interaf Group Consortium, Mr Ezinwa Ibekwe commended the government for the confidence reposed in the company.
Ibekwe assured the government of the consortium’s readiness to deliver on its mandate, promising a collaborative approach to ensure the project’s success.
By: CHINEDU WOSU