Business
N77.3bn Customs Revenue Underscores Eastern Ports Economic Importance -ANLCA
The Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Onne Seaport Chapter, has described the record-breaking N77.3 billion revenue generated by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Onne Command in April 2026 as a strong indication of growing economic activities across Nigeria’s eastern maritime corridor.
Chairman of ANLCA, Onne Chapter, Mr. Ifeanyi Isikaku, said this during a courtesy visit by executives of the Coalition of Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (COMJAN) to the association in Onne, recently.
Isikaku said the impressive revenue performance reflected increased vessel traffic, improved port operations and rising commercial activities at the Onne Port complex, which continues to attract major shipping lines and cargo volumes.
He noted that terminals within the port, particularly the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), have witnessed steady patronage from large container vessels carrying hundreds of containers on weekly schedules.
According to him, some vessels arriving at the terminal berth with between 500 and 800 containers, adding that the port had at certain periods accommodated as many as four large vessels simultaneously.
The ANLCA chairman said the development demonstrates the enormous potentials of eastern ports in contributing significantly to national revenue generation and economic growth if provided with the necessary infrastructure and policy support.
He maintained that the increasing volume of maritime businesses in the region justifies renewed calls for greater Federal Government investment in roads, logistics facilities and port infrastructure to enhance operational efficiency.
Isikaku also urged maritime journalists to sustain objective and proactive report of activities within the sector, stressing that accurate information dissemination remains vital to the growth of the nation’s maritime industry.
He encouraged media practitioners to pay closer attention to developments at ports in Onne, Rivers, Warri and Calabar, noting such coverage would help to draw attention to the opportunities and challenges facing the eastern maritime axis.
The Nigeria Customs Service, Onne Area Command, had recently announced a record revenue collection of N77.3 billion for April 2026, describing it as the highest monthly revenue generated in the history of the command.
Customs Area Comptroller of the command, Aliyu Mohammed Alkali, disclosed that the command generated a cumulative revenue of N258.2 billion within the review period, underscoring the growing capacity of the port to support national economic objectives.
President of COMJAN, Mr. Ralph John, assured stakeholders of the association’s commitment to promoting responsible maritime journalism and fostering collaboration with industry players, while urging stakeholders to regard journalists as partners in development rather than adversaries.
King Onunwor
Continue Reading
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.
?
“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
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
-
Politics4 days ago
I DIDN’T PROMISE YOU TICKETS, AKPABIO TELLS APC SENATORS WHO FAILED PRIMARIES
-
Rivers4 days agoPolice arrest 3 suspects over killing of driver in Rivers
-
News4 days agoFUBARA ASSURES NUT OF SECURITY OF SCHOOLS IN RIVERS
-
News4 days agoNDLEA Arrests Four Notorious Female Drug Dealers In Four States
-
Politics4 days ago
POST PRIMARIES: IKWERRE MONARCHS ADVOCATE ISSUES-BASED POLITICS IN RIVERS
-
Politics4 days ago
Court Dismisses Rivers PDP Members’ Suit Over LG Election Candidates
-
Sports4 days agoOkpekpe Road Race Gets Mobility Solutions, Fan Engagement
-
Politics4 days ago
Don’t Risk Your Legacy, Citizen Begs Jonathan Against 2027 Presidential Race