Herald News

pic 1: the consignment that damaged the bridge packed at exit gate of tincan , Abuja bus stop.  Pic 2: The damage pedestrian bridge at First gate Tincan gate Victoria Silvanus The pedestrian bridge at firstgate  Stop along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway has collapsed for the third time after it was struck by a truck conveying a cleared consignment from the port, leaving one person dead and raising fresh concerns about safety along the nation's busiest port access corridor. The victim reportedly sustained severe injuries during the incident and later died, while several commuters and motorists narrowly escaped what witnesses described as a major tragedy. Eyewitnesses said the truck's cargo hit the bridge while travelling along the expressway, causing part of the structure to come crashing down onto the roadway and disrupting traffic movement. Following the incident, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) reportedly seized the truck and the consignment and ...

Victoria Silvanus Freight forwarders under the aegis of the Nigeria Licensed Customs Brokers, Seme Border Chapter, have called on traders and other stakeholders to embrace compliance with trade regulations, engage only verified Customs professionals, and reject illicit trade practices, stressing that sustainable business growth depends on transparent and lawful trade procedures. The appeal was made during a sensitisation programme on trade facilitation procedures, anti-smuggling awareness, and the consequences of illicit trade held at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, Lagos. The programme attracted officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), market leaders, traders, freight forwarders, foreign business operators, particularly Chinese nationals, and licensed Customs brokers. Participants were e...

Victoria Silvanus I nternational shipping companies operating in Nigeria have welcomed the decision of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to remove the 12-year Condition of Entry (CoE) requirement on vessels departing Nigerian ports for the United States, describing it as a major vote of confidence in the country's maritime security and a development that could open new opportunities for businesses. For years, vessels that had called at Nigerian ports faced additional security scrutiny before entering the United States, a situation that often resulted in delays, extra costs and operational challenges for shipping companies and traders. Industry players believe the removal of the restriction could make it easier for Nigerian exporters to access the American market while encouraging more direct shipping services between both countries. Speaking on the development, Maersk's Terminal Planning Lead for West Africa, Srijesh Subramanian, said the decision sends a strong ...

Victoria Silvanus The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has successfully concluded the final phase of its 2025 recruitment exercise, with shortlisted candidates completing documentation, physical fitness tests, and medical screenings at the Service's Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Gwagwalada, Abuja. The two-week screening exercise, which began on September 7 and ended on September 19, 2026, covered candidates seeking appointment into the Assistant Superintendent of Customs II (ASCII), Inspectorate, and Customs Assistant cadres. The exercise was conducted in batches to ensure orderliness and reduce congestion at the screening centre. Speaking on the exercise, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resource Development, Frank Onyeka, said the Service introduced measures to address challenges observed during the initial phase of the screening process. According to him, the improvements helped ensure a more efficient and seamless exercise for c...

Victoria Silvanus The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR Ph. has called for deeper integration between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, stating that the Sèmè–Kraké Joint Border Post cannot operate effectively until both countries are connected through an integrated customs system. Speaking during the assessment and commissioning of the Joint Border Post on Friday, Adeniyi said Nigeria and Benin share longstanding economic, cultural and social ties, adding that border procedures should reflect the close relationship between the two neighbouring countries. “Nigeria and Benin have been one economic space for as long as there has been commerce on this coast. The border runs through families, markets and languages that were never divided by it,” he said. The Comptroller-General noted that the Sèmè–Kraké crossing is one of Africa’s busiest border corridors, handling a significant volume of trade along th...

Victoria Silvanus The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 13 containers loaded with cannabis, codeine syrup, security-sensitive drones, expired pharmaceuticals and other prohibited items at the Apapa Port, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦43.59 billion. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Apapa Area Command on Friday, describing the seizures as a major breakthrough in the Service's ongoing efforts to combat smuggling, protect public health and safeguard national security. Adeniyi said the seizures were the outcome of sustained intelligence-led operations and strengthened collaboration between Customs, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), NAFDAC, the Office of the National Security Adviser and international security partners. According to him, the intercepted consignments fall into three major categories: narcotics and controlled pharmaceuticals, security-sensitive equip...