Herald News

FROM LAGOS TO KANO: CHINESE TRADERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT AS NIGERIAN MERCHANTS DEMAND PROTECTION OF LOCAL BUSINESSES More than 50 years after Nigeria’s indigenisation policy, traders are asking a familiar question: Who should control the Nigerian market? Victoria Silvanus A fresh battle over the control of Nigeria’s commercial markets is unfolding, from Lagos to Kano, as Nigerian traders increasingly question the growing presence of Chinese business operators in the country’s retail sector. What began with protests by auto spare parts dealers at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex has now taken on a wider dimension, following reports that phone traders in Kano confronted Chinese nationals over allegations that they were selling directly to consumers at prices local retailers  At the centre of the dispute is a demand that Chinese traders should remain within their warehouses, manufacturing and wholesale operations rather than compete directly with Nigerian traders in ...

Victoria Silvanus A new chapter has begun at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Area Command as Comptroller Murtala Mu’azu officially assumed office as the 33rd Customs Area Controller, promising to build on the achievements of his predecessor while tackling delays that frustrate legitimate businesses at the nation's busiest seaport. The handover ceremony, held on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, brought together government agencies, security services, terminal operators, shipping companies, customs brokers and other port stakeholders who gathered to bid farewell to retiring Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, and welcome the new helmsman. For Mu’azu, the assignment comes with both opportunity and pressure. Apapa Command is not just Nigeria’s flagship Customs command; it is also the country's biggest revenue-generating command. Under Oshoba's leadership, the Command set remarkable records, collecting ₦323 billion in July 2026 and achieving a single-day rev...

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...