Herald News

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...