YOUTH LEADERSHIP: NDIC, NILE UNIVERSITY HOST IMMERSION CHALLENGE FOR BUSINESS SCHOOL STUDENTS

YOUTH LEADERSHIP: NDIC, NILE UNIVERSITY HOST IMMERSION CHALLENGE FOR BUSINESS SCHOOL STUDENTS

Bisi Akingbade 

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC,  has reaffirmed its commitment to talent development and stronger industry-academia collaboration, through the platform of the Executive Industry Immersion Challenge, EIIC,  programme that was conducted in partnership with the Nile Business School, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 4-day programme at the Corporation’s Head Office in Abuja, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the NDIC, Mr. Thompson Oludare Sunday, described the initiative as strategic in addressing the widening gap between the academia and the business community.

According to the NDIC Chief Executive, the rapidly evolving global work environment requires professionals who possess both theoretical knowledge and practical insight into the realities of the corporate world.  In his words, “the Executive Industry Immersion Challenge has provided the NDIC with the opportunity of a practical platform to expose participants to real-world experience in policy formulation, institutional governance, and public sector management.”

Head, Communication & Public Affairs Department, Hawwau Gambo stated in the press release that the Managing Director reiterated the commitment of the NDIC as a critical financial safety-net institution, to the promotion of financial system stability and enhancement of depositor confidence in the financial system. He urged participants, who are students of the executive NBA programme of the University, to embrace the positive values that will be learnt during the programme and adopt them as guiding principles for leadership and national development. He stressed that institutions can only command public confidence when their actions consistently reflect honesty, sound ethical conduct, good governance and transparency.

The Project Coordinator of the programme for the NDIC and Director, Research, Policy & International Relations Department, Mr. Ibrahim Aliyu, explained that the EIIC had been consciously designed as an experiential learning initiative aimed at bridging the gap between theory and industry practice.

In his remarks, the Dean of the Nile Business School, Prof. Hauwa Lamido, represented by a senior faculty member, Dr. Festus Ekechi stated that, the choice of the Corporation for the Industry Immersion Programme was informed by its footprint of sound corporate governance, professionalism and integrity in the nation’s financial landscape. He assured that the School would take conscious steps toward integrating all the learning points from the exercise into its curriculum with a view to ensuring practical application the knowledge by the participants in their places of work.

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FG to Expand Deep Blue Project to Bakassi, Other Vulnerable Maritime Corridors — Oyetola

FG to Expand Deep Blue Project to Bakassi, Other Vulnerable Maritime Corridors — Oyetola

*CAPTION* 

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola (left) presenting certificate to a graduating security personnel at the Graduation Ceremony of the Advanced Combat Personnel and Capability Presentation of the Deep Blue Project Task Group held at the 5th Battalion Army Barracks in Elele, Rivers State, on Thursday, as the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola (right) watches.

...As NIMASA Graduates 492 Advanced Combat Personnel for Deep Blue Project

The Federal Government has announced plans to expand the Deep Blue Project to vulnerable coastal and maritime corridors across the country, including the sensitive Bakassi axis, as part of efforts to further strengthen Nigeria’s maritime security architecture.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this on Thursday during the 2026 Graduation Ceremony of 492 Advanced Combat Personnel and Capability Presentation of the Deep Blue Project Task Group held at the 5th Battalion Army Barracks in Elele, Rivers State. 

Dr. Oyetola said the planned expansion would target critical coastal areas such as Bakassi Peninsula, Igbokoda and other vulnerable maritime corridors across the country.

According to him, the initiative is aimed at consolidating the gains already recorded under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, popularly known as the Deep Blue Project.

“Building on the significant strides already made, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is currently evaluating strategic frameworks for the expansion of the Deep Blue Project to further strengthen our maritime security architecture in critical coastal areas such as Igbokoda, Bakassi, and other vulnerable maritime corridors,” the minister said.

He explained that the move would further curtail maritime insecurity, enhance operational capacity, improve maintenance systems and ensure maritime security assets remain fully functional and effective in safeguarding Nigeria’s waters.

The minister stated that Nigeria had recorded zero piracy incidents within its territorial waters over the past four years due to the sustained implementation of the Deep Blue Project and collaboration among security agencies. He also said that piracy incidents across the Gulf of Guinea had declined by more than 70 per cent within the same period.

According to him, prior to the establishment of the Deep Blue Project in 2021, the Gulf of Guinea had become one of the most dangerous maritime corridors globally, accounting for nearly 45 per cent of reported global piracy incidents and over 90 per cent of crew kidnappings at sea during peak periods.

He said the project had significantly transformed Nigeria’s maritime security framework through the deployment of integrated air, land and sea assets supported by advanced surveillance systems and rapid response capabilities.

The Minister linked the successes of the project to the Federal Government’s broader economic agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying maritime security remained critical to economic growth, trade facilitation, investment promotion and national development.

He urged the graduating personnel to uphold professionalism, patriotism, teamwork and respect for the rule of law in the discharge of their duties.

Oyetola also commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Armed Forces, security agencies and training partners for their contributions to the success of the initiative. 

The Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Bolaji Akinola stated that the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr Dayo Mobereola, described the event as a major demonstration of Nigeria’s “operational readiness, institutional resilience, and determination to maintain a safe, secure, and economically viable maritime environment”.

According to him, the graduating officers completed 33 specialised training programmes covering multiple operational units within the Deep Blue architecture. 

He said the graduates comprised 232 Maritime Security Unit operatives, 19 armoured vehicle drivers, 13 armoured vehicle mechanics, eight special mission helicopter pilots, eight helicopter technicians, five special mission aircraft pilots, six aircraft technicians, 49 special mission vessel crew members, 28 interceptor boat mechanics, 62 interceptor boat drivers, 52 Command, Control, Communication, Computer and Intelligence (C4I) operators, and 10 Vertical Take-Off and Landing Unmanned Aerial Systems operators.

The NIMASA boss said the personnel underwent advanced security and operational training in several countries, including Syria, Italy, Swaziland, Australia, and Nigeria, exposing them to global best practices in maritime security operations.

He said the operational assets of the Deep Blue Project include two special mission aircraft fitted with maritime surveillance sensors, two special mission helicopters for over-sea operations, two special mission vessels for deep-sea operations, eight unmanned aerial vehicles for real-time intelligence gathering, 16 fast interceptor boats, and 15 armoured coastal patrol vehicles.

The NIMASA Director-General thanked the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy for providing strategic leadership and support for maritime security reforms. 

The event was attended by representatives of the Minister of Defence, Minister of State for Defence, and service chiefs, all of whom delivered goodwill messages.

Highlights of the ceremony included the commissioning of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Workshop and Training Centre by the Minister, inspection of Deep Blue Project assets, tactical demonstrations and the presentation of certificates to the graduating security personnel.

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Oyetola Flags Off PMAWCA Board Meeting

Oyetola Flags Off PMAWCA Board Meeting

*CAPTION* 

L-R: Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority and President of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas, during the opening ceremony of the Mid-Year Session of the Board of Directors of PMAWCA hosted by NPA in Victoria Island, Lagos, on Monday.

... Says Nigeria Expanding Port Capacity to Lead Regional Trade

Bisi Akingbade 

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has said that Nigeria is expanding its port capacity and implementing major maritime reforms aimed at positioning the country as the leading trade and logistics hub in West and Central Africa.

Dr. Oyetola said this while declaring open the Mid-Year Session of the Board of Directors of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) in Victoria Island, Lagos. The meeting is themed, “Ports of the Future: Combining Logistical Resilience with Inclusive Community Development.”

The minister said the Federal Government had approved the development of additional deep seaports across the country to strengthen supply chain resilience and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global maritime industry.

“Approvals have therefore been granted for the development of additional deep seaports across the country to complement existing infrastructure, strengthen supply chain resilience, and reinforce Nigeria’s position as the preferred maritime and logistics hub for West and Central Africa,” Dr. Oyetola said.

He added that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to modernising the nation’s ports through infrastructure upgrades, digital transformation and improved operational efficiency.

In the press statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Bolaji Akinola indicated that coordinated policy interventions and stronger inter-agency collaboration had significantly reduced logistics bottlenecks at major seaports. 

“These efforts have contributed to improved cargo evacuation, reduced vessel waiting time, greater operational efficiency, and a more predictable business environment for port users and investors,” he said.

Oyetola described the Federal Government’s National Single Window initiative as a landmark reform designed to streamline cargo clearance through digital integration of government agencies and port operations. 

He also disclosed that existing seaports would undergo comprehensive upgrades, including channel deepening, to attract larger vessels.

“These upgrades are critical to ensuring that our ports remain globally competitive and capable of supporting larger volumes of trade in the years ahead,” the minister stated.

On maritime security, Dr. Oyetola said the implementation of the Deep Blue Project had eliminated piracy in Nigerian waters and drastically reduced maritime crimes across the Gulf of Guinea. He noted that the achievement had restored investor confidence and strengthened the region’s attractiveness as a secure maritime corridor for international commerce.

The minister charged delegates to advance initiatives that would “strengthen logistical resilience in port operations and regional supply chains,” while also promoting sustainable port management, innovation, digital transformation and inclusive community development linked to maritime activities.

In his welcome address, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority and President of PMAWCA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, said West and Central Africa was witnessing a major resurgence in maritime infrastructure investment, with more than $27 billion worth of port projects underway or recently announced across the sub-region.

Dantsoho cited major projects including the $20 billion Simandou-Morebaya Deep Sea Port project in Guinea, the $2 billion Port San Pedro project in Côte d’Ivoire, the $1.5 billion Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, and port developments in Ghana and Senegal. He also highlighted ongoing investments in Nigeria’s Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, alongside a $600 million investment by APM Terminals.

He said ports in West and Central Africa must move beyond their traditional role as cargo gateways and become drivers of broader blue economy growth. 

According to him, “the future of the sector lies in areas such as renewable marine energy, aquaculture, sustainable fisheries, coastal tourism and marine biotechnology.” 

The event, scheduled to hold from 18 to 20 May 2026, was also attended by the Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Kefas Agbu; the Governor of Lagos State represented by the Commissioner of Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi; Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; and Special Adviser on Policy Coordination to the President, Hadiza Bala Usman, among many others. 

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Customs Launches Smart Declaration Platform to End Airport Delays

Customs Launches Smart Declaration Platform to End Airport Delays

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has officially launched the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System,  SCADS, at the International Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in a move aimed at improving passenger clearance, compliance and Customs operations.

The platform, designed to simplify baggage declaration for inbound international passengers, is expected to reduce manual bottlenecks, improve transparency in revenue assessment and enhance operational efficiency at Nigeria’s international airports.

Speaking at the official launch, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, said the deployment marks another major step in the Service’s digital transformation agenda under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

DCG Adebakin said the initiative became necessary following operational challenges encountered on the Service’s previous passenger declaration platform earlier this year, stressing that, rather than allow the setbacks to slow operations, the Service chose to develop a stronger, more efficient alternative.

“When the earlier platform experienced operational challenges, we chose not to see it as a setback. We saw it as an opportunity to build something better, stronger and more efficient,” she said.

According to her, the newly introduced SCADS platform allows passengers to declare items before arrival, thereby reducing clearance time while improving compliance and operational integrity.

“For passengers, this system creates the opportunity for advance declaration before arrival. It means faster clearance, easier compliance and smoother movement through our airports,” she added.

The DCG further explained that the system will eliminate subjective revenue assessment by ensuring that duties are automatically generated based on declared items, their quantities, and their actual values.

“When we talk about revenue collection, it is not about collecting more or less. It is about collecting the right revenue. With this system, assessment will now be more objective, accurate and driven by data,” she stated.

She commended officers of the Non-Intrusive Inspection Unit, members of the deployment team and technical partners whose efforts made the pilot rollout possible.

Earlier, the Customs Area Controller, FCT Area Command, Comptroller Victoria Alibo, described the selection of the Command for the pilot phase as a vote of confidence in its operational capacity.

She said the new platform integrates passenger baggage and e-commerce declarations into a single digital framework designed to support global Customs best practices.

“SCADS is designed to simplify declarations, reduce clearance time, eliminate manual bottlenecks and align our operations with international standards,” Comptroller Alibo said.

She disclosed that the pilot phase will run for five days, from Monday, 18 May to Friday, 22 May 2026, during which officers will evaluate the system in a live environment ahead of nationwide deployment.

The pilot launch of SCADS was attended by senior Customs officers, officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, partner government agencies, technical teams and other key stakeholders in Nigeria’s aviation and border management ecosystem.

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NIMASA, HYDROGRAPHIC AGENCY EXPLORES LOCAL HYDROGRAPHIC SOLUTIONS

NIMASA, HYDROGRAPHIC AGENCY EXPLORES LOCAL HYDROGRAPHIC SOLUTIONS 

Caption: Director General and Chief Executive Officer of The Nigerian Maritime Administration And Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola; Hydrographer of the Federation; Rear Admiral Olumide Fadahunsi, during a meeting at the NIMASA Headquarters, Lagos.

 

Bisi Akingbade 

The management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA and the National Hydrographic Agency are exploring avenues to enhance the use and patronage of locally developed nautical charts and other hydrographic communication tools as part of efforts to advance maritime safety in Nigeria.

This formed the thrust of deliberations when the Hydrographer of the Nation, Rear Admiral Olumide Fadahunsi, paid a working visit to the management of NIMASA.

While commending the management of NIMASA for its commitment to maritime safety and development, Rear Admiral Fadahunsi assured the Agency of the National Hydrographic Agency’s continuous cooperation in the provision of hydrographic services to Nigeria’s maritime sector. He noted that increased compliance with locally generated hydrographic information would improve navigational safety, maritime security, and the effective management of Nigeria’s territorial waters.

According to him, “Hydrography remains a critical component of maritime safety and national development. Strengthening collaboration between the National Hydrographic Agency and NIMASA will enhance navigational safety, improve maritime security, and support sustainable growth within Nigeria’s maritime domain.”

In his remarks, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, stated that the Agency is focused on strengthening Maritime Safety Information infrastructure, enhancing enforcement strategies, and promoting continuous capacity building to improve hydrographic services in Nigeria. He added that collaboration with the National Hydrographic Agency is central to achieving these goals.

Mobereola said, “At NIMASA, we recognize that effective collaboration among maritime institutions is essential to achieving safer and more efficient waterways. We remain committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen maritime safety, improve operational standards, and enhance the overall growth of Nigeria’s maritime sector.”

The collaboration between both agencies is expected to further strengthen maritime administration and support NIMASA’s statutory mandate of ensuring safety of navigation and shipping in line with the provisions of the NIMASA Act, particularly through the deployment and enforcement of accurate and up-to-date navigational charts essential for safe and efficient maritime operations.

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CUSTOMS, NSCDC, CORRECTIONAL SERVICE FORGE STRONGER SECURITY SYNERGY IN OYO STATE

CUSTOMS, NSCDC, CORRECTIONAL SERVICE FORGE STRONGER SECURITY SYNERGY IN OYO STATE

Bisi Akingbade 

The Acting Customs Area Controller  Oyo/Osun Area Command DC Wale Moses Adewole, has reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to strengthened inter-agency collaboration following a series of courtesy visits to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service in Oyo State.

 The courtesy engagements, led by the Acting Customs Area Controller, were aimed at fostering stronger institutional relationships and enhancing operational synergy among the sister security agencies in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities.

According to the press statement issued by the Assistant Superintendent of Customs Command Public Relations Officer, Oyo/Osun Area Command,  

Abdulmalik Akintola highlighted that during the visits, DC Adewole emphasized that effective national security management requires sustained cooperation, mutual support, and intelligence sharing among relevant government agencies. He noted that the Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to working closely with sister agencies to combat smuggling, secure national borders, and promote lawful trade.

He further stated that the visits were part of the Command’s broader strategy to consolidate existing partnerships and build stronger channels of communication for coordinated responses to security challenges within Oyo and Osun States.

The leadership of both the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigerian Correctional Service commended the initiative and reiterated their readiness to sustain cordial working relationships with the Nigeria Customs Service in pursuit of shared national objectives.

The Oyo/Osun Area Command maintains that inter-agency cooperation remains vital to achieving effective security administration and ensuring the protection of government interests and the public.

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President Tinubu Charts Africa’s Blue Economy Future, Says Piracy Eliminated in Nigerian Waters

President Tinubu Charts Africa’s Blue Economy Future, Says Piracy Eliminated in Nigerian Waters

NIGERIA PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday declared that Africa must move from “sea blindness” to “ocean sovereignty,” positioning maritime governance and security as the foundation for unlocking the continent’s blue economy potential.

Speaking at the High-Level Roundtable on Maritime Sovereignty and Ocean Governance during the Africa Forward Summit 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday, President Tinubu said Nigeria had transformed its maritime strategy from one focused largely on threats to one centred on economic opportunity, regional security and investment.

“For too long, ‘sea blindness’ has meant that we have looked upon the vast waters under our jurisdiction as voids, or simply as sources of threat,” the President said. “Nigeria is here to tell a different story: our maritime domain is a sovereign territory, and its governance must be asserted, resourced, and institutionalised.”

The President also said that piracy incidents had been eliminated within Nigerian waters following sustained investments in maritime security infrastructure under the country’s Deep Blue Project.

He said the initiative deployed an integrated network of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, including command-and-control centres, special mission vessels, fast intervention boats and aerial platforms.

“The global maritime community has acknowledged the elimination of piracy incidents within Nigerian waters and the substantial reduction of attacks across the Gulf of Guinea,” he said.

The President said maritime sovereignty is an economic imperative for Africa’s future, insisting that secure sea lanes and predictable regulation were necessary conditions for attracting private capital into the blue economy.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s recent institutional reforms, including the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, describing it as proof that ocean governance had become a central pillar of state policy. 

President Tinubu called for deeper regional coordination across the Gulf of Guinea, warning that maritime crime cannot be effectively tackled by countries acting in isolation.

“As we endorse the Nairobi Declaration, Nigeria affirms that maritime sovereignty and ocean governance are the non-negotiable foundations of Africa’s Blue Economy transformation,” he said.

Tinubu concluded by urging African states to treat ocean governance as a generational responsibility, declaring that “the oceans have no duplicate as a common heritage of mankind.”

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