Herald News

Victoria Silvanus The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over several stolen luxury vehicles traced to Canada in a major breakthrough against transnational vehicle smuggling and organised auto theft. The official handover ceremony took place on Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, where the Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, formally presented the recovered vehicles to Canada’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Nasser Salihou. The recovery followed months of intelligence-sharing and operational collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), after Canadian authorities discovered that several stolen exotic vehicles had been illegally exported and shipped into Nigeria through international cargo channels. According to internal Customs documents dated May 5, 2026, the recovered vehicles include a 2019 Lexus RX350, 2019 Mercedes-Benz G5...

Victoria Silvanus The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded significant breakthroughs in its anti-smuggling operations across South-West Nigeria, reaffirming its commitment to protecting the nation’s economy and securing its borders. Comptroller Gambo Aliyu  disclosed this during a press briefing held on May 5, 2026,he  highlighted the unit’s achievements over an eight-week period, emphasizing a renewed offensive against economic sabotage and illicit trade. According to the Comptroller, the unit successfully intercepted 473 smuggling attempts through enhanced surveillance, intelligence sharing, and inter-agency collaboration. “Our resolve remains firm. We will not relent in our efforts to dismantle smuggling networks and safeguard the nation’s economic interests,” Aliyu said. The seizures included 8,794 bags of foreign rice (equivalent to 15 trailer loads), 22 used vehicles, 328 bales of used clothing, 31,705 litres of P...

Victoria Silvanus The Controller of Nigeria Customs, Lilypond Export Command (LEXC), Comptroller S.O. Ariyibi, has announced a strong performance for the Command in the first quarter of 2026, with export activities showing significant growth compared to the same period in 2025.  The announcement was made during a press briefing held on April 23, 2026, at the Command in Ijora, Lagos. Addressing members of the press, the Controller emphasized the importance of exports to Nigeria’s economy, noting that export trade remains a critical driver of foreign exchange earnings, economic diversification, and GDP growth. He stressed that while crude oil continues to dominate, non-oil exports—particularly agricultural produce, solid minerals, and manufactured goods—play a vital role in stabilizing the naira, creating jobs, and cushioning the economy against external shocks. Comptroller Ariyibi disclosed that under his leadership, the Command has intensified st...

Silvanus Victoria The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has taken a significant step toward strengthening accountability and performance in Nigeria’s maritime sector with the signing of its 2026 Sectorial Performance Bond. The agreement was signed by the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Akutah Pius, MON, during a stakeholders’ engagement held in Lagos. The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, conducted the signing and emphasized the importance of a results-driven approach across all agencies under the ministry. He described the performance bonds as binding commitments that will be closely monitored to ensure measurable outcomes and improved service delivery. “Performance Bonds are not ceremonial documents; they are binding commitments that will be closely monitored. We expect measurable results that will improve efficiency, accountability, and service delivery across all agencies,” the Minister stated. By signing th...

 Silvanus Victoria The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, improved performance, and sustainable growth in the maritime sector with the signing of its 2026 Sectoral Performance Bond. The exercise was overseen by the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, who stressed that performance and accountability remain central to the Federal Government’s expectations. Speaking during the event, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, described the Performance Bond as a critical governance instrument designed to ensure measurable results.  “The Performance Bond is not just a ceremonial document; it is a strategic tool for tracking deliverables, strengthening institutional accountability, and aligning our operations with national priorities,” he said. Mobereola added that ongoing reforms within the Agency are driven by purposeful leadership and strong ministeri...

Victoria Silvanus The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving trade facilitation and eliminating operational bottlenecks as Nigeria prepares for the official rollout of the National Single Window (NSW) This assurance was highlighted during the NSW pre-launch event held in Apapa on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The gathering brought together key government officials and industry stakeholders to explore the transformative impact of the digital platform on Nigeria’s trade ecosystem. Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, emphasized the Service’s pivotal role in driving the initiative through technology and collaboration. She noted that Customs has already made significant progress with its trade facilitation platform, B’Odogwu, which aligns closely with the objectives of the NSW. “We have been working tirelessly with all stakeh...