Herald News

A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, for their involvement in the trafficking of 31.5 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria through the Apapa Seaport. The conviction comes barely six months after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted the vessel and discovered the illicit drug concealed in Hatch 3 of the ship at the GDNL Terminal in Apapa, Lagos. According to the NDLEA, the vessel arrived from the Marshall Islands and was arrested on January 2, 2026, following the discovery of the cocaine consignment. The crew members arrested alongside the vessel included the ship's master, Sharma Shashi Bhushan, and ten other Indian nationals: Bharati Manoj Kumar, Nevage Sandesh Suresh, Pandey Prashant, Nuttu Anand, Akash Babu, Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad, Melethil Insaf Rahman, Barla Chantanya Krishna, Prabhasukhan Singu, and Jai Parkash. The defendants were arraigned before Jus...

Victoria Silvanus The Nigeria Customs Service has reaffirmed its commitment to building stronger relationships with the media as part of efforts to improve stakeholder engagement, promote transparency, and support national development. This renewed commitment was highlighted during a media parley held on Monday, May 25, 2026, at the Kano/Jigawa Area Command Headquarters, Abdullahi Dikko Inde Conference Hall in Bompai, Kano. The event, organised by the National Public Relations Unit, carried the theme: “Building Synergy Between the Media and Customs for Enhanced Stakeholders’ Awareness and National Development.” The gathering brought together senior Customs officials, journalists, and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists from Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Katsina states to discuss ways of improving collaboration between the media and the Service. Speaking during the event, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, described the media as an essen...

Victoria Silvanus A new leadership era commenced at the Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Friday, May 22, 2026, as newly promoted Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Frank Okechukwu Onyeka officially handed over the mantle of leadership to Comptroller Joseph Anani. The handover ceremony, held at the command’s conference room, drew officers, stakeholders and well-wishers who showered encomiums on ACG Onyeka for what many described as his remarkable achievements and exemplary leadership style during his tenure as Customs Area Controller. Speaking during the ceremony, Onyeka urged officers and stakeholders to extend the same cooperation and support they gave him to his successor. According to him, the command achieved unprecedented milestones in revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations under his watch. “Through the dedication, professionalism, and commitment of officers and men of this command, we were able to generate a t...

Victoria Silvanus The Ports Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has welcomed a new Acting Controller, Deputy Comptroller Nura Ibrahim Miko, following the redeployment of Comptroller Joseph Anani to the Tin Can Island Port Command. At the official handover ceremony attended by customs officers, stakeholders, and representatives of sister government agencies, Miko pledged to uphold transparency, professionalism, and efficient service delivery while strengthening trade facilitation at the Command. Speaking after assuming office, Miko assured stakeholders of his commitment to teamwork, integrity, and due process. “Our administration will focus on faster cargo clearance and creating an enabling environment for legitimate trade,” he said. Describing PTML as one of the most organised commands within the Nigeria Customs Service, Miko promised to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor and deepen collaboration with agencies o...

Victoria Silvanus A key stakeholder in Nigeria’s maritime sector has urged the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, to revisit the controversial ban on vehicle importation through land borders, particularly the Seme Border, before leaving office. Speaking during a review of the policy, Alhaji Adetona Mubashiru, Chairman and CEO of Only God Is Wise Nigeria Limited, a bonded terminal operator, described the policy as one of the “sentimental decisions” of previous administrations that continues to negatively affect trade facilitation and economic activities. The ban was officially announced on December 5, 2016, through a press release issued by the then National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi. The directive, signed on behalf of the then Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, prohibited the importation of both new and used vehicles through Nigeria’s land borders effective January 1, 2017. Accordi...

Victoria Silvanus . The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, says it generated over ₦9.7 billion in revenue between March and May 2026, representing a 448 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025. Speaking during a media briefing held at the Seme Area Command  on Monday, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, said the Command recorded a total revenue of ₦9,798,938,969 within the review period, compared to ₦2,188,405,749 generated during the corresponding period in 2025. According to him, the significant increase was driven by strengthened compliance measures, improved stakeholder cooperation, intensified anti-revenue leakage strategies, and the deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System. Kaila said the Command remained committed to sustaining the revenue growth through institutional reforms, intelligence-driven monitoring, and transparent trade procedures designed to support legitimate...