Herald News

F Victoria Silvanus The two-day Annual General Meeting (AGM) and conference of the League of Maritime Editors ended on Thursday, August 20, 2026, with Felix Kumuyi emerging as the new President of the association. The conference, held at BWC Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, brought together maritime journalists, regulators, port operators, government representatives and other stakeholders to deliberate on the imbalance in cargo vessel calls between Lagos and the Eastern ports. The event was chaired by Captain Iheanacho Ebubeogu, while the election of new executives was conducted at Virgin Rose Resort ahead of the final day of the conference. The conference had as its theme: “Lagos/Eastern Ports: How to Reverse Existing Imbalance in Disproportionate Cargo Calls.” In her welcome address, the immediate past President of the League, Pastor (Mrs.) Remi Itie, described journalists as agenda setters with a critical responsibility to inform, educate and enlighten the publ...

Victoria Silvanus The Apapa Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has recorded its highest-ever daily revenue collection, generating ₦28.1 billion within 24 hours and further strengthening the Federal Government's revenue drive for national development. The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, disclosed that the Command collected a total of ₦28,102,000,914.61 on August 18, 2026, surpassing its previous single-day revenue record of ₦20.1 billion achieved in September 2025. The latest feat comes just weeks after the Command posted a historic monthly revenue collection of ₦323 billion in July 2026, underscoring the impact of ongoing reforms, improved compliance, enhanced trade facilitation measures, intelligence-driven operations and the growing efficiency of digital customs processes. Speaking on the achievement, Comptroller Oshoba said the milestone was not merely about breaking records but about the Customs Service's co...

Victoria Silvanus Nigeria’s port sector has entered a new regulatory era following the formal transition of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) into the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), a development expected to reshape the governance and economic oversight of the nation’s ports.  The transition follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency Act, 2026, which establishes NPERA as the statutory authority responsible for the economic regulation of ports and related services across the country. Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Chairman of the NPERA Governing Board, Dr. Ibrahim Shema, described the development as a landmark institutional reform designed to create a more transparent, predictable and competitive port environment. According to him, the agency will oversee the economic regulation of port services and related activities, including tariff administration, licensing, service standards,...

Victoria Silvanus The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has lifted the Condition of Entry (CoE) imposed on vessels arriving in the United States from Nigeria, ending a 12-year maritime security restriction and marking a major boost for Nigeria’s shipping and port industry. The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, announced the development, describing it as a significant achievement that reflects Nigeria’s improved maritime security framework and compliance with international standards. The Condition of Entry, which took effect on June 25, 2014, required vessels bound for the United States that had previously called at designated Nigerian ports to comply with additional security measures and undergo enhanced scrutiny before entering U.S. waters. According to Oyetola, the removal of the restriction follows years of sustained efforts by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and o...

Victoria Silvanus The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has led the handover of 399 pump-action rifles and component parts to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, as well as cannabis-infused products valued at ₦373.8 million to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), reaffirming the Nigeria Customs Service's commitment to national security and the fight against illicit trafficking. The handover ceremony brought together senior customs officers, representatives of security agencies and members of the media, highlighting the growing collaboration among law enforcement institutions in tackling transnational crimes and safeguarding the nation. Speaking at the event, Adeniyi described the exercise as a demonstration of the Service's determination to protect Nigeria's borders and support the Federal Government's efforts to combat the illegal trafficking of arms, ammunition and narcotics. He explained ...

Victoria Silvanus Barely 24 hours after destroying illicit drugs valued at over ₦380 million in Lagos, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded another major success with the dismantling of an international drug trafficking syndicate and the arrest of suspected cartel members in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The latest breakthrough underscores the Agency's sustained offensive against drug trafficking and organised criminal networks operating within and outside Nigeria. Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), disclosed the development while commending the Agency's officers and international partners for their role in the successful operation. Marwa described the achievement as a significant milestone in international law enforcement cooperation, noting that the near-simultaneous arrests carried out in Nigeria and the United Kingdom demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence sharing and...