Herald News

Victoria Silvanus The Federal Government has taken a significant step towards the development of the proposed Badagry Deep Seaport with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with APM Terminals in Denmark. The agreement was signed during an official visit by a Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola. The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, was also part of the delegation that witnessed the signing of the MoU. The proposed Badagry Deep Seaport is expected to enhance Nigeria’s port capacity, improve trade facilitation, and position the country as a leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa. According to officials, the agreement underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding and modernizing the nation’s port infrastructure in line with the objectives of the Marine and Blue Economy sector. The partnership with APM Terminals, one of the world...

Victoria Silvanus The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has urged staff of the agency to consolidate on the achievements recorded in recent years and intensify efforts towards advancing Nigeria's maritime sector. Mobereola gave the charge during a two-day Senior Management Strategy Session on the NIMASA Medium-Term Strategic Plan (September 2025 – August 2028), held at the Nigeria Maritime Resource Development Centre, Apapa, Lagos. According to a statement issued by the Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations, NIMASA, Osagie Edward, the DG highlighted several milestones achieved under the supervision of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, including four consecutive years without piracy incidents in Nigerian waters, Nigeria's successful election into Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) after 14 years, and the recent lifting of the 1...

Victoria Silvanus A new chapter has begun at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Lilypond Export Command, following the retirement of Comptroller Samuel Ariyibi and the appointment of Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DC) Olusola Salako as the Acting Customs Area Controller (CAC). The leadership transition was formally conducted during a handing-over ceremony held at the Command on Monday, in line with the administrative procedures of the Nigeria Customs Service. A statement issued by the Command's Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, Bukola Olusola-Oke, said the ceremony marked the end of Ariyibi’s tenure and the commencement of Salako’s leadership of the export-focused command. Addressing officers and stakeholders at the event, Ariyibi expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the management of the Service, officers and men of the Command, and stakeholders for their support and cooperation th...

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,...