Herald News

Victoria Silvanus The Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho has continued to give Ports Managements everything to do excellent jobs, his blueprint is what is being implemented at the various Ports. The need to improve on efficiency in line with international best practices has usually been advocated by the Managing Director and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola. One of the success stories of the NPA MD is the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Sea Port which commenced operations in April 2023 with a capacity to process about 1.2 million cargoes annually as it continues to gain commendation for its various operational milestones. The Port which has the deepest draught of all the ports in Nigeria with a level of minus 16.5 metres and sits on a 19 hectare land area is one of the ports under the Nigerian Ports Authority with Emmanuel Anda as the Port manager. The Lekki Port has successfully transhipped over 62,000 twe...

Victoria Silvanus Two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) are battling for their lives after suspected armed drug traffickers launched a violent attack on a patrol team in Ogun State during an anti-smuggling operation. The incident occurred on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at about 4:00 p.m. in the Akokoro area of Iwoye, Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State. Officers of the Ogun I Area Command were acting on credible intelligence when they intercepted a 12-tyre truck suspected to be conveying a large consignment of illicit drugs and other prohibited items. According to a press release issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Zakari Chado, before reinforcement teams could arrive, the suspects mobilised a large number of armed hoodlums and launched a coordinated attack on the officers. The attackers reportedly mounted heavy barricades at nine strategic points along access routes, effectively blocking reinforcements from reaching the scene. In the en...

Victoria Silvanus Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 30-year-old Brazilian national, Ms. Ingrid Rosa Benevides, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, with 30.09 kilograms of white heroin concealed in factory-sealed coffee packs valued at over ₦3 billion. Benevides, a private security officer in Brazil, was arrested on Friday, January 23, upon arrival on Qatar Airways flight QR1431, following processed intelligence. A search of her two checked-in bags revealed 21 sealed packs of Brazilian coffee, which, upon examination, were found to contain heroin instead of the beverage. The seizure represents the largest single heroin interception at the Abuja airport to date. The suspect claimed during interrogation that she travelled to Nigeria under the guise of a holiday. Drug Interceptions at Airports and Waterways At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, Jan...

Victoria Silvanus The Kirikiri Lighter Terminal is fighting a growing battle against expired imports, false declarations, and revenue leakage. one that the Nigeria Customs Service says it is beginning to win. At the centre of this effort is the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Area Command, which in 2025 not only intercepted dangerous and improperly declared goods but also recorded one of its strongest revenue performances in recent years. During a media briefing in Lagos on January 23, 2026, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller B.L. Adigun, revealed details of enforcement operations that underscore how routine inspections are increasingly becoming a frontline defense for public health and economic protection. One of the most striking cases involved a 20-foot container (GESU3900612) intercepted during routine cargo examination. Declared as raw materials, the container was discovered to be carrying 440 bags of 25kg expired Triple Pressed Stearic Acid imported from...

Victoria Silvanus The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched a comprehensive enforcement initiative aimed at strengthening compliance with maritime laws and regulations across Nigerian waters. The enforcement drive, tagged “Operation Zero Tolerance for Non-Compliance,” was announced through an official Marine Notice issued under the Agency’s statutory powers as provided by the NIMASA Act 2007, Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003, Merchant Shipping Act 2007, and other applicable maritime regulations. The announcement was contained in a press release signed by Osagie Edward, FNIPR, Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations at NIMASA. Under the new directive, all maritime operators and stakeholders—including vessel owners and operators, shipping companies and agents, charterers, oil and gas companies, offshore installation operators, Free Trade Zone (FTZ) vessel operators, as well as masters and officers of merchant vessels—are ...

Victoria Silvanus The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt II Command, has exceeded its 2025 revenue target, recording a total collection of ₦731.2 billion and strengthening its contribution to Nigeria’s economic growth. The Command had been assigned a revenue target of ₦700.01 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, following its strong performance in 2024. By the end of the year, it surpassed the target by ₦31.19 billion, achieving 104.46 per cent of the expected revenue. The Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Aliyu M. Alkali, attributed the milestone to effective leadership, strict adherence to operational standards, and the successful implementation of the Nigeria Customs Service’s policy direction. “Our performance reflects disciplined operations, adherence to standard procedures, and the effective implementation of Customs policies,” Alkali said. A major driver of the improved revenue performance was the deployment of the Unified Customs Management System (...