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Apapa Customs Seizes ₦26.5bn Cannabis Hidden in Imported Vehicles

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Victoria Silvanus The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted Cannabis Indica valued at ₦26.57 billion concealed in a container carrying imported vehicles at the Lagos Port. The seizure, which weighed 4,143.5 kilograms, was made during a joint examination conducted by officers of the Apapa Command and personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). According to the press release issued by the command public relations officer,Chief Superintendent of Customs Isa Suleiman the illicit consignment was discovered in a 40-foot container, FANU1933352, following credible intelligence that prompted a thorough inspection of the cargo. Speaking on the seizure, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, disclosed that the container contained three used vehicles comprising a red Nissan Micra (2015 model), a black Toyota Corolla S (2019 model), and a grey Toyota Corolla (2015 model). He explained that a detailed ex...
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NIMASA Takes Anti-Stowaway Campaign to Grassroots Communities in Lagos

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Victoria Silvanus The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has intensified efforts to curb stowaway activities by taking its public enlightenment campaign directly to grassroots communities, with a recent outreach held at Snake Island in Lagos. The sensitisation programme brought together community leaders, youths, and residents to educate them on the dangers, risks, and legal consequences associated with stowing away on vessels. Speaking during the engagement, the Head of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code Unit at NIMASA, Mr. Mudi Isa, said the campaign forms part of the Agency’s proactive measures to tackle the persistent challenge of stowaways within Nigeria’s maritime domain. According to him, stowaway incidents not only endanger the lives of individuals involved but also tarnish Nigeria’s image within the global maritime community. He noted that the country’s maritime sector continues to face reputational an...
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₦11 Trillion Customs Target: Is Nigeria Rewarding Importation Instead of Production?

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by concern citizen The Senate's approval of an ₦11.074 trillion revenue target for the Nigeria Customs Service may look impressive on paper, but it raises a troubling question about the direction of Nigeria's economy. Where exactly will this money come from? Customs is not a manufacturing agency. It does not produce goods. It does not create factories. It does not cultivate farms. Its primary source of revenue is trade, especially imports.  Therefore, when government continuously raises Customs revenue targets, it inadvertently raises concerns about whether Nigeria is becoming more dependent on importation rather than production. For years, Nigerians have been told that the country is pursuing industrialization, local content development, economic diversification, and import substitution.  We have heard repeated promises about supporting local industries, protecting manufacturers, creating jobs, and reducing dependence on foreign goods. Yet every year, Customs is h...
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₦11 Trillion Customs Target: Is Nigeria Rewarding Importation Instead of Production?

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by concern citizen The Senate's approval of an ₦11.074 trillion revenue target for the Nigeria Customs Service may look impressive on paper, but it raises a troubling question about the direction of Nigeria's economy. Where exactly will this money come from? Customs is not a manufacturing agency. It does not produce goods. It does not create factories. It does not cultivate farms. Its primary source of revenue is trade, especially imports.  Therefore, when government continuously raises Customs revenue targets, it inadvertently raises concerns about whether Nigeria is becoming more dependent on importation rather than production. For years, Nigerians have been told that the country is pursuing industrialization, local content development, economic diversification, and import substitution.  We have heard repeated promises about supporting local industries, protecting manufacturers, creating jobs, and reducing dependence on foreign goods. Yet every year, Customs is h...
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Apapa Flooding Grounds Business Activities at NPA Western Zonal Headquarters

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Victoria Silvanus Business activities around the Apapa port corridor were severely disrupted on Wednesday after heavy flooding submerged parts of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Western Zonal Office complex located beside the Customs Processing Centre in Apapa, Lagos. The floodwaters reportedly made it difficult for workers, port users, freight forwarders and other stakeholders to gain access to the facility, resulting in delays in official duties and commercial operations within the area. Eyewitnesses said the affected section of the complex became inaccessible as water covered major entry and exit points, forcing some staff and visitors to turn back while others struggled to navigate through the flooded environment. The situation also affected activities linked to cargo processing and other port-related services, raising concerns about the vulnerability of critical maritime infrastructure to seasonal flooding. Stakeholders expressed worries over the recurring challenge...
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AfCFTA Needs Secure, Efficient Maritime Transport System, Oyetola Tells African Leaders

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Victoria Silvanus Nigeria's Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has urged maritime administrations across West and Central Africa to strengthen Port State Control (PSC) systems as a critical tool for improving maritime safety, facilitating trade and unlocking the vast potential of the continent's Blue Economy. Speaking on Monday at the opening of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (Abuja MoU) Regional Workshop for Directors-General, Chief Executive Officers of Maritime Administrations and Heads of Port State Control in Lagos, Oyetola said effective maritime governance is essential to Africa's economic transformation, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The three-day workshop, which also marked the launch of the Abuja MoU Port State Control Capacity-Building Programme, was supported by the Lloyd's Register Foundation and attracted maritime regulators, technical experts and development pa...
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Apapa Drug Bust: NCS Intercepts 4.95 Tonnes of Cannabis, Thousands of Codeine Bottles

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Victoria Silvanus The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over narcotic drugs and expired pharmaceutical products with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦53.39 billion to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) following a series of major seizures at the Apapa Port. Speaking during the handover ceremony at the Apapa Area Command on Wednesday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the seizures reflected the Service’s commitment to protecting Nigerians from the dangers of illicit drugs and unsafe medicines. According to him, the seizures were made through intelligence gathering, scanning analysis, physical examination and collaboration with the NDLEA. The intercepted consignments comprised two containers loaded with Cannabis Sativa concealed alongside imported vehicles and household items, two containers carrying Codeine Syrup hidden among casserole prod...
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