Maritime
Committee Gived Utimatum on Shipping Documents
An Ad-hoc Committee of the House of Representatives investigating the performance and benefits accrued to the Federal Government from concessionaires operating air and sea port terminals and related shipping activities from 2006 to 2025 has given a seven-day ultimatum to them all, to submit all requested documents.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo, issued the directive during a public hearing in Abuja attended by key stakeholders including the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Also present at the hearing were major concessionaires and operators such as Dangote Group, Julius Berger, Joseph Dam, West Africa Container Terminal, Tincan (Tinker) Terminal, ECM Terminal, Ibeto Terminal, Apm Terminals, Intervention facilities operators and other industry players.
The committee had initially proposed a 72-hour deadline for submission of documents but, following appeals during the interactive session, resolved to grant agencies and concessionaires from Monday to Friday next week to comply.
Akinlayo stressed that the extension was granted in good faith and must be treated with urgency.
He explained that the committee already possesses extensive records and data from relevant government agencies covering the period under review, but requires corresponding submissions from concessionaires and stakeholders for verification and comparison.
“We have data from 2006 to 2025. What we need now is your own submission to compare with what has already been submitted to us by the agencies.
We cannot rely on one-sided information. You must also present your records,” he stated.
The chairman warned that failure to submit the requested documents by the close of work on Friday next week would attract consequences, including possible referral to relevant investigative and prosecutorial bodies.
It also directed that the heads and chief executive officers of the affected agencies and organisations must appear before the panel at the expiration of the ultimatum to account for their records and address any discrepancies.
“Any organisation that fails to comply within the stipulated period will leave us with no option. Once we adopt the information before us and you have not made your submission, we may refer the matter to the appropriate authorities for further action,” he cautioned.
Akinlayo reiterated that the investigation is not a witch-hunt but a constitutional oversight function aimed at improving transparency, accountability and efficiency in Nigeria’s maritime and aviation sectors.
“This is not a witch-hunt. We are here to work for the benefit of Nigeria. Asking for these submissions is even in your interest because it gives you the opportunity to clarify your position,” he added.
He noted that a standard template had been attached to the committee’s correspondence to guide submissions and urged all concerned to strictly adhere to it.
In his remarks, the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Hon. Harrison Anozie, stressed that the investigation would be strictly fact-based and guided by the concession agreements signed by the parties.
“When you speak, you must speak to documents.
We will rely on facts as contained in the agreements and your submissions. If you claim any agency stopped you from carrying out your obligations, show us the written evidence,” Anozie said.
He reminded concessionaires that the partnerships were voluntarily entered into and that due diligence should have been conducted before signing the contracts.
“No one forced you into these agreements. You signed them and committed to specific improvements in the facilities assigned to you.
Those obligations are clearly stated. Where you have done well in line with your agreement, you will be commended.
Where you have not, the facts will speak for themselves,” he stated.
Anozie added that the real hearing would commence after all submissions are received, analysed and benchmarked against industry data already in the committee’s possession.
The committee maintained that the probe is designed to ensure that concession agreements over the past 19 years have delivered value to the Federal Government and improved operations at the nation’s ports, airports and terminals.
[2/15, 7:11 PM] John Enyie: Urges Freight Forwarding Associations to Unite Amid Rejection of JACOFF
The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has made an urgent call for unity among freight forwarding associations in Nigeria’s maritime sector, warning that escalating conflicts and fragmentation are undermining the maritime sector’s credibility and its ability to contribute to national economic growth.
Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, National President of APFFLON in a press release on Sunday 15th February, 2026 said leadership rivalries and confrontations are weakening the freight forwarding industry at a critical time for Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
Otunba Ogunojemite’s appeal comes amid growing tensions within the sector, following recent developments that saw the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) distancing themselves from a group known as; Joint Action Committee of Freight Forwarders (JACOFF)
“Division, rivalry, and unnecessary confrontations among industry players only weaken our relevance and credibility. Leadership in this industry must be guided by maturity, vision, and responsibility, not actions capable of creating confusion or anarchy within the system.”
The APFFLON president warned that internal fragmentation threatens the sector’s ability to participate meaningfully in transformation opportunities under the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including port reforms, trade facilitation initiatives, and digitalization efforts.
“Posterity will judge each of us if we fail to come together and position our sector as a constructive partner in national development,” he said.
APFFLON outlined four key benefits of unity: strengthened negotiating power, enhanced policy influence, increased investor confidence, and sustainable growth through collective engagement.
The association emphasized that the maritime industry is too strategically important to Nigeria’s economy to be weakened by association rivalries.
“The freight forwarding profession thrives on coordination, structured engagement, and collective advocacy. When leaders fail to promote harmony, the entire industry suffers the consequences,” Ogunojemite stated.
He urged stakeholders to rise above personal interests and prioritize dialogue over division, noting that meaningful contribution to national development requires a united front.
“In unity, our voice is stronger. In unity, our industry is respected. In unity, we secure the future of freight forwarding in Nigeria,” Ogunojemite concluded.
[2/15, 7:20 PM] John Enyie: Ahmed takes command at NNS Victory, pledges continuity
COMMODORE Shuaib Ahmed on Saturday assumed duty as Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Calabar, pledging to sustain his predecessor’s gains.
The Tide reports that Ahmed sought the same cooperation given to Commodore Ajumobi Oride to advance the base’s mandate.
He said securing marine channels and enhancing personnel welfare would be his immediate priorities.
“Securing our maritime environment and improving staff welfare will remain paramount under my watch,” Ahmed said.
Following the formal handover, a farewell parade was held in honour of the outgoing commander, Oride.
In his remarks, Oride thanked God for the successful completion of his tour of duty.
He reflected on achievements recorded during his tenure and praised officers and ratings for their dedication and professionalism.
“I am proud of what we accomplished together in strengthening maritime security,” Oride said.
Deputy Governor of Cross River, Dr Peter Odey, representing Gov. Bassey Otu, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting the base’s operations.
He commended Oride for his steadfast efforts in securing Cross River’s maritime domain.
The event drew senior government officials, retired military officers, heads of agencies, service commanders and industry leaders.
[2/15, 7:30 PM] John Enyie: 18 ships discharge petroleum products, others in Lagos ports
Forty-six other ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive in Lagos ports between Saturday and 22 February.
byAgency Report February 15, 2026 Reading Time: 1 min read
A total of 18 ships are discharging petroleum products and other commodities at Apapa Lekki and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said on Saturday.
NPA explained that the ships were discharging buck fertiliser, general cargo, bulk sugar, gasoline, bulk urea and condensate, bulk gypsum and containers.
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The Tide reports that 46 other ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive in Lagos ports between Saturday and 22 February.
NPA said that the expected ships would bring general cargoes, bulk urea, bulk wheat, empty containers, crude oil, bulk gypsum, trucks, bulk gas, bulk pallets, containers of different goods, bulk salt and petrol.
It said seven ships had arrived at the ports and were waiting to berth with bulk urea, crude oil, diesel, aviation fuel, general cargo and petrol.
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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has held its 7th Retreat Medical Outreach in Daura, Katsina State,
Customs said the Free medical outreach is aimed at providing free healthcare services to residents of the area.
Speaking during the event, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Ahmad Tijjani-Abe, said the programme would provide general medical consultations, dental care, eye and ear care, as well as minor surgical operations for beneficiaries.
Tijjani-Abe said medical teams deployed for the exercise would also provide free medications to patients attending the outreach.
He added that the service would visit schools within the area to deworm students and distribute health kits and mosquito nets to help prevent malaria among children.
Also Speaking, Dr Ethelbert Ikechukwu, Medical Team Leader of the outreach said the exercise was part of the initiative of the Comptroller-General of Customs, which had been carried out in different parts of the country over the years.
According to him, the programme is designed to support communities where customs personnel operate by offering free medical consultations and medications to residents.
Ikechukwu further explained that patients whose conditions could not be fully managed at the outreach centre would be referred to appropriate medical facilities for further treatment.
Ikechukwu urged members of the public to take advantage of the exercise, noting that the medical teams comprised highly qualified healthcare professionals.
The outreach targets about 2,000 patients across various areas of medical care.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, says the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration has made significant progress in developing road, rail and water transportation infrastructure across the state.
Osiyemi made this known during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing in Lagos to commemorate the third year of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
He said the government remained committed to providing residents with an integrated multimodal transportation system that is seamless, safe, affordable, sustainable and inclusive.
According to him, the administration will continue to engage residents and invest in transport infrastructure to enhance mobility and support socio-economic development.
“Our promise to Lagos residents is to continue to provide and plan the best transportation system for all, in a manner that will boost the socio-economic development of the people and the state,” he said.
Osiyemi said the state was upgrading public transport infrastructure, including Bus Rapid Transit corridors and terminals, Quality Bus Corridors, rail projects and waterways facilities.
He said the Bus Rapid Transit BRT infrastructure from Doyin-Orile to Mile 2 along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway was 84 per cent completed, while the Iyana Ipaja Bus Terminal had reached 28 per cent completion.
According to him, the projects will improve mobility, reduce traffic congestion, enhance affordability and safety, and stimulate economic development.
Osiyemi said the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority was implementing several Quality Bus Corridor projects to improve mass transit efficiency and reduce travel time.
He listed the ongoing corridors as Mile 2, Alapere-Ketu, Ojuelegba, Cele and Abule Egba.
He said the projects feature dedicated and regulated bus lanes, modern shelters and terminals, improved pedestrian walkways and crossings, as well as traffic signal and junction improvements.
On rail transportation, the Commissioner said Phase II of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line would extend the corridor from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko, with track construction, station development and power installation ongoing.
He said the 37-kilometre Red Line rail project from Marina through Oyingbo to Agbado was being strengthened with the procurement of 24 new coaches arranged in three sets of eight-coach trains.
According to him, each train set will carry more than 500 passengers.
He added that a feasibility study was ongoing for Phase II of the Red Line from Oyingbo to National Theatre to connect with the Blue Line.
Osiyemi said the 68-kilometre Green Line rail project would connect Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone through Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah and Sangotedo, with about 17 stations.
He said the state had signed a Memorandum of Understanding MOU with China Harbour Engineering Company for the project.
According to him, the Green Line is designed to transport 35,000 passengers per hour, while the Federal Executive Council has approved funding for Phase I.
On water transportation, Osiyemi said the Lagos Ferry Services was nearing completion of a boat maintenance and dry dock facility at the Mile 2 Ferry Terminal.
He said boat trailers were also being constructed to facilitate dry-docking and repairs.
The commissioner added that solar-powered portable office cabins were being installed at Ijede, Ebute-Ero and Liverpool jetties to improve working conditions for staff.
He said the CMS Pontoon Jetty had also been upgraded to enhance passenger boarding and disembarkation.
By: CHINEDU WOSU
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has called for a human-centred approach to digital transformation, warning that the success of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies will ultimately depend on ethics, leadership, and institutional accountability.
Adeniyi made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the 4th Biennial International Conference organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences of University of Ilorin in collaboration with the Faculty of Philology, RUDN University.
The conference, themed “Disruptive Technology: Human and Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Economy,” brought together communication scholars, technology experts, researchers, policymakers, and heads of government agencies to examine the growing influence of artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and emerging technologies on governance, trade, education, and economic development.
Addressing participants at the University of Ilorin Main Auditorium last week , meAdeniyi argued that while artificial intelligence is reshaping institutions and economies globally, technology must remain accountable to society and aligned with public interest objectives.
“The digital age is, in the end, a human story, and the real test of our generation is not how powerful our machines become, but how wisely our societies choose to use them,” he said.
He noted that the world had already moved beyond the stage of anticipating disruption, stressing that digital payments, e-commerce platforms, artificial intelligence systems, and smart technologies had fundamentally altered global economic and governance structures.
According to him, the responsibility of public institutions is not merely to adopt new technologies, but to ensure that innovation strengthens transparency, efficiency, and public trust rather than weakening accountability mechanisms.
Drawing from the ongoing modernisation reforms within the Nigeria Customs Service, Adeniyi highlighted the deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System as a major milestone in the Service’s digital transformation agenda.
He disclosed that the platform generated more than ?230 billion at the PTML Command within its first eight months of deployment, while significantly improving cargo processing timelines and inter-agency coordination.
According to the Customs boss, compliant traders now complete cargo clearance procedures in less than eight hours under the digital platform, representing a major improvement in trade facilitation efficiency.
“The partnership, not the rivalry, between human and artificial intelligence is where the real value lies,” Adeniyi stated.
He maintained that while artificial intelligence can enhance operational efficiency, risk management, and data-driven decision-making, human expertise and institutional leadership remain indispensable in governance and enforcement operations.
“Technology changes processes; leadership and expertise still deliver the results,” he added.
The CGC further advocated deeper collaboration between universities, research institutions, and government agencies to develop practical, locally relevant solutions to emerging governance and digital economy challenges.
He urged academic institutions to move beyond theoretical scholarship and become active contributors to innovation, policy development, and institutional reform.
Adeniyi identified several areas where academia could support Customs modernisation efforts, including artificial intelligence-driven risk targeting systems, digital compliance mechanisms, governance of cross-border data flows, and public trust communication strategies.
He also challenged African governments to develop indigenous digital governance frameworks that reflect the continent’s legal systems, economic realities, and development priorities rather than relying solely on imported regulatory models.
The conference also provided a platform for high-level engagements between the Customs leadership, scholars, traditional rulers, communication professionals, and heads of government agencies on opportunities for collaboration in digital research, innovation, community development and capacity.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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