Herald News

Abia State is gearing up for a major economic transformation as the long-anticipated Isiala Ngwa Inland Dry Port (IDP) project gains renewed momentum. Initially gazetted in 2006, the project is finally coming back to life, thanks to a fresh push from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC)—and it could soon place Abia at the center of regional trade in Nigeria's South-East. During a recent courtesy visit to Governor Alex Otti, OFR, the Executive Secretary and CEO of the NSC, Dr. Akutah Pius, MON, reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to revitalizing the dry port as part of its broader strategy to decentralize maritime operations and extend logistics infrastructure to inland areas. Dr. Pius praised the governor for his unwavering support, noting that the dry port once operationally has the potential to unlock immense economic value, not just for Abia but for the entire region. He highlighted the importance of strong collaboration between the state government and project conce...

  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has announced the seizure of smuggled goods valued at a staggering ₦1.26 billion between May 14 and July 24, 2025. The seizures underline the Command’s relentless fight against economic sabotage and cross-border smuggling. Speaking on the development, Comptroller Dr. Ben Oramalugo, PhD, described the operations as a “bold statement” that Seme will never serve as a haven for smugglers. He praised his officers’ determination and emphasized the Command's threefold mission: border security, revenue generation, and trade facilitation. Between July 1 and 19 alone, Customs operatives—acting on intelligence—intercepted five trucks along the busy Lagos-Abidjan corridor, loaded with: two thousand eight hundred (2,800) bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), two hundred fifty (250) bales of second-hand clothing, and the duty-paid value (DPV) of the intercepted trucks and their contents was put at Nine Hundred ...

In a vibrant celebration of community and commitment, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday, 17 July 2025, commissioned the newly renovated Christ Assembly Nursery and Primary School in Ajegunle, Lagos. The event marked a significant milestone in the Service’s growing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) portfolio, under its transformative "Customs Cares" initiative. Led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the ceremony drew together a distinguished group of stakeholders: traditional rulers, government officials, education leaders, and community members—all united in one purpose: supporting the future of Nigerian children through quality education. Standing before a crowd of beaming pupils, proud parents, and community leaders, CGC Adeniyi described the project as “a symbol of renewed hope” and “a deliberate investment in the nation’s future.” “We are happy that our intervention has provided a better learning environment for all our stu...

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) In a decisive move to reinforce maritime security has ordered the shutdown of ShellPlux and TMDK Terminals, both located in the Ijegun-Egba area of Lagos. The action comes after prolonged non-compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, despite repeated warnings. As Nigeria’s designated authority for ISPS Code implementation, NIMASA acted under Section 79(f) of the ISPS Code Implementation Regulations (2014), which mandates the closure of any port facility that fails to comply for over three months. Speaking on the enforcement, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, stressed the agency's commitment to upholding international maritime security standards: “We have exercised this measure only as a last resort. Our foremost priority is to uphold safety and security standards across all Nigerian ports and jetties.” He emphasized that maintaining high sec...

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has received a prestigious  Transparency and Accountability Award  from the Public Accounts Committees (PAC) of both the  Senate  and the  House of Representatives , in recognition of its unwavering commitment to  transparency, fiscal discipline, and audit compliance . The award was presented at the  National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance , held in  Abuj a a high-level forum that brought together lawmakers, anti-corruption agencies, civil society groups, and financial experts to explore strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s public finance framework. In their joint commendation, the leadership of the Senate and House PACs applauded the NPA’s consistent track record of financial discipline and cooperation with audit processes. “The Nigerian Ports Authority has set a benchmark for other public institutions,” said Hon. Bamidele Salami, Chairman of the House P...

 The Zonal Coordinator of Nigeria Customs Service Zone A, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Charles Orbih, recently paid a working visit to the Western Marine Command, commending the officers for their remarkable performance in anti-smuggling operations and maritime border security. The visit, filled with praise and reflection, underscored the critical role of the Command in safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests, especially as the nation ramps up efforts to curb illegal trade and protect its maritime borders. “Your work here is not just important, it is critical to our national survival,” ACG Orbih declared, addressing officers who have made notable seizures of contraband items worth over ₦352 million in Duty Paid Value in recent weeks. These efforts, he emphasized, are about more than statistics, they represent tangible acts of service in defense of Nigeria’s economy and public well-being. “The seizures you made go beyond mere numbers,” Orbih stated. “They tell t...

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, In a bold move to enhance trade facilitation and streamline port operations in Nigeria welcomed the National Executive of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) on Monday, July 7th, 2025, at the NPA Headquarters in Marina, Lagos. The visit, led by NAGAFF’s founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, was more than a courtesy call ,  it was a Partnership Reinforcement Mission aimed at deepening collaboration between the NPA and freight forwarding stakeholders for greater efficiency in the maritime sector. During the engagement, both leaders emphasized the importance of synergy in achieving seamless cargo movement, transparency, and accountability at Nigerian ports. Dr. Dantsoho reaffirmed the NPA’s commitment to an open-door policy and welcomed suggestions from industry stakeholders to further enhance service delivery. Dr. Aniebonam, in his remarks, praised the NP...

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has reiterated the agency’s commitment to fostering local shipbuilding and repair capabilities. This affirmation came during Dr. Mobereola’s recent inspection visit to Nigerdock, situated within the Snake Island Integrated Free Zone in Lagos, where maintenance work is currently underway on DB Lagos a special mission vessel under NIMASA’s flagship Deep Blue Project. According to a press release by Osagie Edward, FNIPR, Head of Public Relations at NIMASA, DB Lagos plays a vital role in Nigeria’s maritime surveillance and national security framework. The vessel is deployed to combat oil theft, smuggling, illegal immigration, and other maritime crimes within Nigeria’s territorial waters. During the visit, Dr. Mobereola expressed satisfaction with the progress and quality of work being carried out, commending the competence of the local workforce. “What I am seeing here t...

The Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, played host to a three-day reunion beginning Monday, June 31, 2025, celebrating its past and present Directing Staff in a landmark event that recognised their instrumental role in shaping the intellectual backbone of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The reunion kicked off with a Regimental Dinner at the College cafeteria, bringing together a distinguished mix of retired and serving senior Customs officers, military personnel, and invited guests. The event was aimed at fostering unity, camaraderie, and a renewed sense of purpose among current and former faculty of the College. In his keynote address, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who graced the dinner as Special Guest of Honour, recalled his formative years at the College where he served both as Directing Staff and later as Commandant. “The College played a central role in my professional development. It instilled in me the importance ...

The Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is off to a strong start in 2025, recording a revenue haul of N747.07 billion in the first half of the year remarkable 29.85% increase compared to the same period in 2024 In a statement by the Command's Public Relations Officer, Oscar E. Ivera, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, attributed this achievement to improved operational strategies, robust stakeholder collaboration, and the deployment of digital tools like the innovative B'odogwu clearance system. Break down on how the Revenue was ramped up over the first six months are as following in January 2025 N116.41 billion (up from N88.43 billion in January 2024),  for February: N103.25 billion (up from N100.25 billion), March: N128.27 billion, April: N145.02 billion, May: N128.45 billion, June: N125.68 billion (vs. N83.19 billion in June 2024). With these numbers, the Command hit 98.03% of its projected revenue target for H1 202...