Herald News

‎ ‎ ‎‎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 ...

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...

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...

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...

A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, for their involvement in the trafficking of 31.5 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria through the Apapa Seaport. The conviction comes barely six months after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted the vessel and discovered the illicit drug concealed in Hatch 3 of the ship at the GDNL Terminal in Apapa, Lagos. According to the NDLEA, the vessel arrived from the Marshall Islands and was arrested on January 2, 2026, following the discovery of the cocaine consignment. The crew members arrested alongside the vessel included the ship's master, Sharma Shashi Bhushan, and ten other Indian nationals: Bharati Manoj Kumar, Nevage Sandesh Suresh, Pandey Prashant, Nuttu Anand, Akash Babu, Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad, Melethil Insaf Rahman, Barla Chantanya Krishna, Prabhasukhan Singu, and Jai Parkash. The defendants were arraigned before Jus...

Victoria Silvanus The Nigeria Customs Service has reaffirmed its commitment to building stronger relationships with the media as part of efforts to improve stakeholder engagement, promote transparency, and support national development. This renewed commitment was highlighted during a media parley held on Monday, May 25, 2026, at the Kano/Jigawa Area Command Headquarters, Abdullahi Dikko Inde Conference Hall in Bompai, Kano. The event, organised by the National Public Relations Unit, carried the theme: “Building Synergy Between the Media and Customs for Enhanced Stakeholders’ Awareness and National Development.” The gathering brought together senior Customs officials, journalists, and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists from Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Katsina states to discuss ways of improving collaboration between the media and the Service. Speaking during the event, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, described the media as an essen...

Victoria Silvanus A new leadership era commenced at the Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Friday, May 22, 2026, as newly promoted Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Frank Okechukwu Onyeka officially handed over the mantle of leadership to Comptroller Joseph Anani. The handover ceremony, held at the command’s conference room, drew officers, stakeholders and well-wishers who showered encomiums on ACG Onyeka for what many described as his remarkable achievements and exemplary leadership style during his tenure as Customs Area Controller. Speaking during the ceremony, Onyeka urged officers and stakeholders to extend the same cooperation and support they gave him to his successor. According to him, the command achieved unprecedented milestones in revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations under his watch. “Through the dedication, professionalism, and commitment of officers and men of this command, we were able to generate a t...

Victoria Silvanus The Ports Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has welcomed a new Acting Controller, Deputy Comptroller Nura Ibrahim Miko, following the redeployment of Comptroller Joseph Anani to the Tin Can Island Port Command. At the official handover ceremony attended by customs officers, stakeholders, and representatives of sister government agencies, Miko pledged to uphold transparency, professionalism, and efficient service delivery while strengthening trade facilitation at the Command. Speaking after assuming office, Miko assured stakeholders of his commitment to teamwork, integrity, and due process. “Our administration will focus on faster cargo clearance and creating an enabling environment for legitimate trade,” he said. Describing PTML as one of the most organised commands within the Nigeria Customs Service, Miko promised to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor and deepen collaboration with agencies o...

Victoria Silvanus A key stakeholder in Nigeria’s maritime sector has urged the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, to revisit the controversial ban on vehicle importation through land borders, particularly the Seme Border, before leaving office. Speaking during a review of the policy, Alhaji Adetona Mubashiru, Chairman and CEO of Only God Is Wise Nigeria Limited, a bonded terminal operator, described the policy as one of the “sentimental decisions” of previous administrations that continues to negatively affect trade facilitation and economic activities. The ban was officially announced on December 5, 2016, through a press release issued by the then National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi. The directive, signed on behalf of the then Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, prohibited the importation of both new and used vehicles through Nigeria’s land borders effective January 1, 2017. Accordi...

Victoria Silvanus . The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, says it generated over ₦9.7 billion in revenue between March and May 2026, representing a 448 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025. Speaking during a media briefing held at the Seme Area Command  on Monday, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, said the Command recorded a total revenue of ₦9,798,938,969 within the review period, compared to ₦2,188,405,749 generated during the corresponding period in 2025. According to him, the significant increase was driven by strengthened compliance measures, improved stakeholder cooperation, intensified anti-revenue leakage strategies, and the deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System. Kaila said the Command remained committed to sustaining the revenue growth through institutional reforms, intelligence-driven monitoring, and transparent trade procedures designed to support legitimate...

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...