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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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*‎REPORTER'S DIARY: How Lagos State Task Force Made Me 'Igbobi Landlord' For Filming Operatives Extorting Suspected 'Okada' Operators In Apapa*

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‎ ‎ ‎‎By OBIAJULU AGU ‎ ‎‎The National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi Lagos (NOHIL) occupies more than enough land space along the Igbobi section of the arterial Ikorodu Road that it is rightfully referred to simply as Igbobi. ‎ ‎‎Established in 1945, NOHIL's standing as a centre of excellence near and far has also served to consolidate its recognition. With commercial motorcycles operations gaining ascendancy in Nigeria's transportation system, there has emerged the popular coinage "Igbo landlord" in street lingo, notably in Lagos, referring to the upsurge in the admission at NOHIL of victims of road accidents involving motorcycles. In the often chaotic traffic situation of Lagos, "Igbobi landlord" is an insult routinely and mostly hurled by commercial bus drivers in consternation at the presumably reckless motorcyclists weaving in and out traffic delivering their fares to their destinations in quick time. Ironically, even motorcyclists frequently ...
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Stakeholders Call for Stronger Maritime Policies to Unlock Africa’s Blue Economy

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Victoria Silvanus The President of the Women's International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, Dr. Odunayo Ani, has called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators and industry stakeholders to ensure that Africa’s maritime and Blue Economy policies deliver measurable outcomes that drive inclusive growth, trade expansion and sustainable development. Ani made the call at the 8th WISTA Africa Regional Conference, hosted by WISTA Nigeria in Lagos under the theme, “From Policy to Progress: Women Delivering Africa’s Shipping and Trade Energy Future.” She noted that Africa’s Blue Economy presents significant opportunities to strengthen trade corridors, improve maritime connectivity and unlock economic prosperity through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “Policy must translate into measurable impact, while collaboration must drive innovation. Together, we can build a more resilient, competitive and inclusive maritime i...
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NIMASA Introduces Automated Discharge Book Management Portal

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Victoria Silvanus The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched the Seafarer Discharge Book Management Portal, a digital platform designed to streamline the application, verification, processing and issuance of Seafarers’ Discharge Books. The portal was unveiled during the 2026 Day of the Seafarer celebration in Lagos, themed “Carrying the World Trade. Carrying the Risk.” The initiative reflects NIMASA’s commitment to improving service delivery, strengthening maritime safety standards and enhancing the global competitiveness of Nigerian seafarers through digital innovation. Speaking at the launch, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, described the platform as a major milestone in the Agency’s ongoing digital transformation agenda. “As we celebrate the men and women who keep global trade moving, it is imperative that we also provide them with efficient and secure systems that support their professional development. The Seafarer D...
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FOU Zone C Deals Blow to Smugglers, Seizes Vegetable Oil Valued at ₦403.5m

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Victoria Silvanus The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, has seized smuggled vegetable oil valued at over ₦403.5 million in a major anti-smuggling operation aimed at protecting local industries and strengthening the nation's economy. The seizure was announced by the Comptroller of Customs and Officer in Charge of FOU Zone C, Bishir Balogun, during a press briefing held on Monday in Owerri, Imo State. According to the Area Controller, the operation was driven by strategic intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination, and sustained enforcement efforts by officers of the Unit. The seized products include 3,310 jerrycans of 25-litre "Super Delicious" vegetable oil, 10 jerrycans of 10-litre "Super Delicious" vegetable oil, 20 cartons of 5-litre sunflower vegetable oil, and 20 cartons of 3-litre sunflower vegetable oil. Balogun disclosed that one of the trucks conveying the contraband was intercepted at ab...
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