Herald News

The Murtala Muhammed Airport Command (MMAC) of the Nigeria Customs Service has entered a new chapter as Comptroller Godwin Otunla officially took over leadership on Thursday, 27 November 2025. He succeeds Comptroller Michael Awe, who bowed out of service after a distinguished career marked by discipline, dedication, and exceptional contributions to national revenue growth. During the handover ceremony, Comptroller Otunla praised his predecessor’s remarkable legacy, describing Awe as “an excellent officer with high standards of discipline.” He emphasized that the foundation laid by Awe would serve as a springboard for the command’s future achievements.  Comptroller Otunla In his inaugural address unveiled a strategic agenda anchored on three key pillars: Enhanced trade facilitation Improved revenue generation Strengthened anti-corruption measures He pledged to uphold professionalism, integrity, and transparency, noting that the command must continue to be a model of...

Nigeria is not, and will never be, your footholds.... Marwa  In a powerful display of Nigeria’s escalating war against international drug syndicates, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted yet another vessel carrying illicit cargo this time a shipment of 20 kilograms of cocaine smuggled from Brazil. The ship, MV Nord Bosporus, slipped into the Apapa seaport in Lagos on November 16, 2025, unaware that NDLEA operatives were already watching. What began as a routine inspection quickly transformed into a high-stakes operation when officers uncovered cocaine expertly buried beneath the ship’s cargo. Within hours, the ship’s Master, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, and all 19 Filipino crew members were taken into custody as suspects in the transnational trafficking scheme. A Federal High Court in Lagos has since granted the NDLEA a 14-day detention order for the vessel and its crew, enabling deeper investigations into the cartel behind the shipment. ...

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing efficiency and global competitiveness in the maritime sector with the rollout of its new Maritime Labour E-Platform. The Agency expressed this optimism during a sensitization workshop held in Lagos for users of the portal. The workshop featured hands-on demonstrations on how to register, verify, and issue identity cards to seafarers and dockworkers through the NIMASA portal. Participants also received guidance on cybersecurity measures, training support, and the Agency’s phased implementation plan aimed at ensuring seamless nationwide adoption of the platform. According to Mr. Jibril Abba, Executive Director for Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services at NIMASA, the introduction of the digital system represents a strategic advancement aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness on the global stage. This message was delivered on his behalf by the Director of the Maritime...

A major drug bust has been recorded at the Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), where officers intercepted a cocaine shipment valued at ₦29.4 billion. The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Joe Anani, disclosed this during a press briefing on Tuesday, noting that the interception was made after terminal operators discovered suspicious packages inside one of 39 empty containers meant for export. The 1x20ft container, numbered GCNU1332851, reportedly arrived from Freetown, Sierra Leone, and was flagged on October 7, 2025, during a routine disinfection exercise. The operator immediately alerted customs officials. A joint examination involving officers of the NDLEA, DSS, Police Anti-Bomb Squad, and other security agencies led to the discovery of 50 packages containing 20 parcels each, all confirmed through rapid testing to be cocaine. The illicit substance weighed a total of 1,000 kilograms (one tonne). Comptroller Anani...

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has added another feather to his cap as he emerges the newly elected President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF). His victory marks another milestone in a distinguished career defined by service, innovation, and commitment to national development. The election, held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the Gymnasium Hall, Package B, Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, was supervised by the National Sports Commission. It attracted widespread praise from athletes and sports administrators across the country, who hailed the outcome as a positive and strategic step for Nigerian sports. Before venturing into wrestling administration, CGC Adeniyi had already made his mark in the nation’s sporting ecosystem. Under his leadership, the Nigeria Customs Service Sports Unit evolved into one of the country’s most formidable sports institutions producing national champions, Olympians, and inspiring role models across var...