Nigeria Customs Service, PEBEC Align to Revolutionise Port Digitalisation

Nigeria Customs Service, PEBEC Align to Revolutionise Port Digitalisation

Caption: L-R

DG Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Audu, CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi 

Bisi Akingbade 

The Comptroller-General of Customs,  CGC, Adewale Adeniyi, has reiterated the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to a paperless port environment, pledging to deepen digital reforms following a high-level strategic meeting with the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Audu. The collaboration aims to dismantle long-standing bureaucratic bottlenecks by integrating cutting-edge technology into cargo clearance, effectively repositioning Nigeria as a competitive hub for global trade.

CGC Adeniyi stated this while receiving the Director-General of PEBEC at Customs House in Maitama, Abuja.

During the meeting, Adeniyi explained that the Service has institutionalised regular engagements with stakeholder groups, including the American Business Council and other trade associations, to address operational concerns and strengthen cooperation within the trade ecosystem.

According to him, “Such consultations allow the Service to identify operational bottlenecks and obtain direct feedback from businesses that interact with Customs at the nation’s ports.”

The CGC also disclosed that the Service, working with the World Customs Organisation, WCO, recently conducted a Time Release Study, TRS,  a scientific study of the costs and time required to conduct business at Nigerian ports, using Tin Can Island Port as a case study.

The study, he said, involved shipping companies, terminal operators, the Nigerian Ports Authority, Licensed Customs Agents and financial institutions. Its findings were compiled in a report publicly launched on 26 January, 2026.

“We deliberately involved every segment of the port community in the exercise so that the findings would reflect the real operational environment. The report has already provided valuable insights that are guiding some of the reforms we are implementing,” Adeniyi said.

He noted that while some concerns raised by stakeholders have already been addressed, others will continue to shape future reforms within the Service.

Regarding 24-hour port operations, Adeniyi said the success of such an initiative requires full participation across the logistics chain.

“We once deployed officers to support round-the-clock port operations, but the effort faced challenges because other critical operators such as banks, shipping companies and terminal operators were not fully integrated into the arrangement,” Adeniyi said.

He added that the Service is advancing plans to establish a fully paperless Customs environment. Most core processes, including pre-arrival documentation, cargo declaration, duty payment and release communication, have already been digitised.

“Where delays still occur, they are often linked to operators who continue to rely on physical documentation. That is an area we intend to address in the coming months,” he said.

The CGC Adeniyi also highlighted ongoing investments in scanning technology and ICT infrastructure to strengthen risk-based cargo management and reduce reliance on physical cargo examination.

According to him, development partners such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation have continued to encourage Nigeria to expand the use of non-intrusive inspection technology in line with global best practices.

Earlier in her remarks, the PEBEC Director-General, Zahrah Audu, said the Council is implementing a 90-day Business Environment Enhancement Programme to address operational challenges identified in its Business Facilitation Compliance Report, released in November 2025.

Audu explained that the programme seeks to improve efficiency across business-facing Ministries, Departments and Agencies by fostering closer collaboration to remove operational bottlenecks that affect the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

As part of the initiative, she said PEBEC conducted a three-day operational assessment at Lagos ports in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority. During the exercise, officials observed cargo-handling processes from vessel arrival to cargo exit and consulted widely with regulators and private-sector stakeholders.

“The exercise enabled us to identify key operational challenges affecting port efficiency and to develop practical recommendations for improvement,” she said.

Among the issues highlighted were the need to strengthen joint vessel boarding by regulatory agencies, improve coordination of cargo inspections, and enhance the use of technology in port operations.

Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, said vessel arrival schedules already provide sufficient information for operational planning at the ports.

According to her, effective use of such information would enable the Service to deploy officers more strategically rather than maintaining personnel at terminals while awaiting vessel arrivals.

“The concept of 24-hour port operations should focus on smarter deployment of personnel based on vessel schedules, not merely extending working hours,” Adebakin said.

She also expressed the Service's readiness to address operational issues raised through the PEBEC reporting platform, noting that sustained collaboration between the two institutions remains essential for improving port efficiency and strengthening Nigeria’s business environment.

The Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Tariff and Trade also reiterated the effectiveness of the trade facilitation tools introduced by the service to expedite the clearance of cargoes for trusted traders. She mentioned the Authorised Economic Program, Advance Ruling Systems and One-Stop-Shop among the initiatives introduced by the service to actualise the Federal Government's goal of trade efficiency in Nigeria.

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IWD 2026: SIFAX Group Supports Community, Empowers Staff

IWD 2026: SIFAX Group Supports Community, Empowers Staff 

Bisi Akingbade 

In a series of impactful activities spanning a school outreach, an employee empowerment webinar and a community food donation drive, SIFAX Group has marked the 2026 International Women's Day with a multi-pronged initiative that touched the lives of hundreds of girls, women employees and vulnerable residents in Lagos.

One of the highlights of the celebration was an outreach programme to United Christian Secondary School, Apapa, Lagos, where over 500 girls received mentorship from senior female employees of the company. The session covered topics such as leadership, education, personal development and menstrual health awareness. There was also a donation of textbooks to the school, menstrual pads, as well as perfumes to the students.

The speakers drew from personal career experiences to motivate the students, urging them to remain focused on their education and resist distractions. They emphasised that determination and discipline could open doors across any field — from business and law to medicine, technology and the creative industries.

The Company Secretary and Legal Head of SIFAX Group, Jesuyemisi Odeyemi, charged the students to strive for excellence without reservation. “You are strong. You can do it, and you will. You will not only do it, but you will also do it well, you will do it better,” she told the girls.

The Head of Corporate Communications at Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO), SIFAX Group’s aviation arm, 

Vanessa Uansohia, also challenged the students to confront self-limiting beliefs. “The only person that is stopping you is yourself,” she said, encouraging the girls to pursue their ambitions with bold confidence.

As part of internal activities to mark the day, the company also organised an interactive webinar for female employees focused on strengthening communication and leadership capacity in the workplace. 

Female Employees Equipped with Public Speaking Skills “Speaking on A Tool for Growth, Multiplication, and Career Progression,” Public Speaking Strategist, Joyce Daniels urged participants to embrace public speaking as a catalyst for professional advancement, noting that confidence and conviction are the cornerstones of effective communication. “If you will grow, multiply and have progression in your career, you will speak from a place of conviction,” she said, adding that impactful leaders distinguish themselves by their willingness to boldly articulate their ideas.

Speaking also, the Group Coordinating Director, SIFAX Group, Wunmi Eniola-Jegede,  described International Women’s Day as a moment to celebrate the social, economic and cultural achievements of women while renewing the call for gender equality. “This year’s theme, Give to Gain, resonates deeply with our mission of inclusivity and empowerment. Every woman is a leader in her own right, and giving back creates growth opportunities for individuals, organisations and communities,” she said.

500 Food Packs Distributed to Ijora Community extending its impact beyond the workplace, SIFAX Group also carried out a community outreach to Ijora where 500 bags of assorted food items were distributed to vulnerable households. 

Each pack was assembled with essential household staples — rice, beans, vegetable oil, garri and salt, carefully curated to provide tangible relief to families within the community. The distribution was conducted in collaboration with community leaders to ensure a transparent and orderly process.

Eniola-Jegede, who coordinated the outreach, noted that the initiative reflects the organisation’s culture of compassion and its determination to give back to the communities in which it operates. She added that the exercise was also designed to amplify the message of International Women’s Day by encouraging women within the organisation to lead community interventions that uplift vulnerable groups.

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Customs Campaigns for Stakeholders' Support Towards National Single Window Implementation

Customs Campaigns for Stakeholders' Support Towards National Single Window Implementation

Bisi Akingbade 

Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has intensified efforts to implement the National Single Window, NSW, project successfully, reaffirming its leadership role in advancing Nigeria’s trade modernisation and digital transformation agenda.

Speaking during a stakeholder engagement with airline and shipping line operators in Abuja, recently, the Comptroller-General of Customs emphasised the importance of collaboration in ensuring the successful rollout of the initiative. He noted that the support of critical stakeholders has played a significant role in the achievements recorded in the Service’s modernisation journey so far.

The CGC disclosed that the President has mandated the Service to take a bold step forward towards a successful launch of the National Single Window, a move aimed at positioning Nigeria as a major player in global trade. He added that airline and shipping line operators remain vital partners in ensuring a seamless transition to the new system.

He further assured stakeholders that adequate support structures are being put in place to ease the migration process.

"A help desk with well-trained personnel will be available to address any operational challenges that may arise during the rollout", the Comptroller-General stated.

Earlier, at an awareness programme held on Monday, 3 March 2025, the Service rallied stakeholders and partner agencies behind the initiative, describing the National Single Window as a strategic reform that aligns with Customs’ mandate of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and inter-agency coordination.

Speaking at the programme, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, DCG Oluyomi Adebakin, described the NSW as a major milestone in the Service’s ongoing modernisation drive. She revealed that the NCS has been actively engaged in preparatory work for months to ensure that the framework being developed reflects operational realities and supports seamless implementation.

“This is a national project, but Customs is at the centre of its execution,” DCG Adebakin said. “The success of the Single Window depends on collective understanding and cooperation. We must all appreciate its value because we cannot effectively promote what we do not fully understand.”

She reassured officers and stakeholders that the initiative is designed to strengthen institutional capacity rather than replace human resources, explaining that technology will enhance efficiency, transparency, and speed in cargo clearance and trade documentation processes.

Also speaking at the programme, the Director of the NSW Project, Tola Fakolade, acknowledged the pivotal leadership of the NCS in the implementation process.

“Our number one stakeholder is the NCS,” Fakolade said. “We have maintained a strong and constructive working relationship. Customs’ participation and institutional experience are critical to the success of this project.”

With the NCS spearheading coordination and stakeholder engagement, the NSW project is expected to transform Nigeria’s trade environment, enhance revenue generation, and strengthen the country’s position in the global trading community.

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Nigerian Navy, SIFAX Group Strengthen Operational Synergy

Nigerian Navy, SIFAX Group Strengthen Operational Synergy 

L-R: Command Operations Officer, Western Naval Command, Commodore BU Sule; Executive Director, Admin/Offdocks, SIFAX Group, Capt. Ibrahim Olugbade; Group Coordinating Director, SIFAX Group, Mrs. Wumi Eniola-Jegede; Flag Officer Commander, Western Naval Command, A.A Mustapha and Command Operations Officer, Western Naval Command, Commodore SO Ohunenese during a courtesy visit by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command to SIFAX Group headquarters on Tuesday, 4th February, 2026.

Bisi Akingbade 

Nigerian Navy and SIFAX Group have reaffirmed their commitment to deeper operational collaboration aimed at enhancing maritime security and safeguarding critical economic assets in Lagos.

The renewed partnership was reached during a courtesy visit by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral A.A. Mustapha, to the headquarters of SIFAX Group in Lagos.

Speaking during the visit, Rear Admiral Mustapha described the engagement as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen relationships with key stakeholders operating within his area of responsibility. He noted that Lagos remains the country’s primary maritime hub, handling a significant volume of Nigeria’s cargo throughput, making sustained collaboration between the Navy and major operators imperative.

According to him, the Western Naval Command has intensified intelligence-driven operations and increased maritime presence to ensure adequate security across the waterways. He emphasised that credible security around ports and shipping corridors is essential for uninterrupted trade, energy security and investor confidence.

“Our mandate is to provide a secure maritime environment where businesses can thrive. We recognise the strategic role SIFAX Group plays in logistics, port operations, oil and gas, hospitality and the broader blue economy. Strengthening synergy with such stakeholders is critical to achieving sustainable security,” he said. 

The Flag Officer Commanding further called for structured information sharing between the Navy and maritime operators, stressing that timely intelligence from industry players serves as a force multiplier in tackling criminal activities within coastal communities and along sea lines of communication.

Responding on behalf of the company’s Chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, the Group Coordinating Director of SIFAX Group, Mrs Wunmi Eniola-Jegede, reaffirmed the conglomerate’s longstanding relationship with the Navy and pledged continued cooperation. 

She described the Navy as a critical partner in ensuring operational stability for businesses within the maritime value chain and expressed the company’s readiness to deepen engagement in areas of mutual interest, including waterfront development, port expansion and corporate support for national defence initiatives.

“SIFAX Group remains committed to sustaining and strengthening its relationship with the Nigerian Navy. Security is foundational to our operations, and we will continue to cooperate in areas that promote safe waterways and national development,” she said.

The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to institutionalise engagement channels, encourage early coordination on strategic initiatives and consolidate a partnership built on shared responsibility for national development. 

 

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Why Nigeria Must Prioritize Blue Economy Above All Other Sectors

Why Nigeria Must Prioritize Blue Economy Above All Other Sectors

      DR. CHIKA CHUKWUDI 

At a time when Nigeria is urgently seeking sustainable pathways to economic stability, poverty reduction, and mass job creation, it has become increasingly clear that the nation must rethink its development priorities. While agriculture, oil and gas, technology, and manufacturing all hold value, none offers the scale of untapped opportunity that lies within Nigeria’s blue economy and maritime sector.

It is time for the Federal Government to invest more aggressively in the blue economy than any other sector; not as an experiment, but as a strategic national imperative.

A Sector with Vast Untapped Potential

Nigeria is geographically positioned as a maritime powerhouse. With over 850 kilometers of Atlantic coastline and access to the Gulf of Guinea, the country sits on one of the busiest maritime routes in Africa. Additionally, Nigeria is blessed with extensive inland waterways, including the River Niger and River Benue systems, as well as numerous lakes and dams.

Yet, despite these natural advantages, the maritime sector contributes far below its potential to national GDP. Ports remain under-optimized, inland waterways underutilized, fisheries underdeveloped, and coastal tourism largely unexplored.

A nation surrounded by water should not be surrounded by economic stagnation.

Job Creation at Unmatched Scale

No other sector has the capacity to generate employment across such a wide spectrum of skill levels as the blue economy. From artisanal fisheries to industrial aquaculture, from shipbuilding and repairs to maritime logistics, from port management to marine biotechnology, the opportunities span both formal and informal sectors.

Unlike capital-intensive industries that absorb limited skilled labor, the maritime sector can employ millions—fishermen, boat builders, marine engineers, dockworkers, environmental scientists, processors, exporters, and entrepreneurs.

Investing in fisheries and aquaculture alone could significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on fish importation while creating rural jobs. Developing shipbuilding and maintenance hubs would stimulate industrial growth. Expanding coastal tourism would empower local communities.

If properly harnessed, the blue economy can become Nigeria’s largest employer of labor.

A Powerful Tool for Poverty Alleviation

Poverty in Nigeria is most severe in rural and coastal communities. Ironically, these communities sit closest to abundant aquatic resources. By investing in modern fishing techniques, cold chain logistics, processing facilities, and export frameworks, the government can raise incomes at the grassroots level.

The blue economy directly connects natural resources to livelihoods. It allows small-scale operators to participate in global value chains. It empowers women in fish processing and marketing. It supports youth entrepreneurship in aquaculture and marine services.

Few sectors distribute wealth as inclusively as the maritime ecosystem.

Economic Diversification Beyond Oil

For decades, Nigeria’s economic health has fluctuated with global oil prices. The volatility of crude markets has repeatedly exposed the risks of mono-product dependence. Meanwhile, countries that invested heavily in maritime trade and ocean-based industries have built resilient economies.

The global shipping industry drives over 80 percent of world trade by volume. Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation, should be a dominant maritime hub; not merely a participant.

Strategic investment in port modernization, maritime security, indigenous shipping lines, and marine renewable energy can generate foreign exchange earnings, attract international investors, and reduce capital flight.

Diversification is no longer optional; it is survival. And the blue economy offers the strongest foundation for that transition.

Strengthening National Security and Regional Influence

Beyond economics, maritime investment strengthens national sovereignty. Improved naval capacity, port efficiency, and maritime surveillance reduce piracy, illegal fishing, and resource theft in the Gulf of Guinea.

A strong maritime economy enhances Nigeria’s leadership role in West Africa and positions the country as a gateway for regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.

Catalyzing Industrial Growth and Infrastructure Development

Heavy investment in the maritime sector triggers multiplier effects across the economy. Shipyards require steel, engineering services, and technical expertise. Ports demand road and rail connectivity. Fisheries require cold storage, packaging, and logistics systems.

Every naira invested in maritime infrastructure stimulates broader economic activity.

Unlike sectors that operate in isolation, the blue economy integrates transportation, manufacturing, trade, energy, tourism, and environmental management into one interconnected growth engine.

A Long-Term, Sustainable Growth Model

When managed responsibly, marine and aquatic resources are renewable. Sustainable fisheries, offshore wind energy, eco-tourism, and marine biotechnology offer growth without exhausting natural capital.

With proper regulation and environmental safeguards, Nigeria can build a blue economy that generates prosperity today without compromising future generations.

A Call for Bold Policy Action

The question is not whether Nigeria should invest in the blue economy. The question is whether Nigeria can afford not to.

Prioritizing maritime education, strengthening maritime institutions, expanding coastal infrastructure, supporting indigenous shipping, and financing aquaculture enterprises should form the core of national economic planning.

The blue economy is not just another sector, it is a sleeping giant. And if awakened through deliberate policy and sustained investment, it can alleviate poverty, generate millions of jobs, stabilize foreign exchange earnings, and secure Nigeria’s economic future.

Nigeria’s prosperity lies not only beneath its soil, but upon its waters.

The time to act is now.

By Chika Chukwudi Author of Blue Economy: Gateway to a Sustainable Future and a Staff of the (Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA)

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Customs: Apapa Area Command Strengthens Synergy with Nigerian Navy

Customs: Apapa Area Command Strengthens Synergy with Nigerian Navy

Bisi Akingbade 

The Customs Area Controller, CAC, Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, has paid a courtesy visit to the Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, to deepen operational collaboration in line with the Three (3) policy thrusts of Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD.

Comptroller Oshoba stated during  the courtesy visit that  "I resolved to consolidate on the gains already achieved and improve the existing relationship between Apapa Command and the Nigerian Navy within this axis.” 

On collaboration, according to the press release issued by the Chief Superintendent of Customs Public Relations Officer, Apapa Area Command, 

Isah Sulaiman, Comptroller Oshoba 

noted that modern border management requires agencies to work in tandem, adding: “While Customs is known for trade facilitation and revenue generation, we also perform critical security functions. To achieve this mandate, we must collaborate with the military, the mother of security.” On innovation, he added: “Innovation is doing things differently to achieve better results and strengthening inter-agency cooperation is part of that approach.”

He appreciated the Navy for securing Nigeria’s waters, stating: “No vessel can come into the country without safe waters. We commend you for keeping the maritime environment secure.” He also solicited sustained support along the Apapa port corridor to ensure seamless cargo movement.

In his response, Rear Admiral Mustapha acknowledged the longstanding partnership between both agencies, emphasizing: “Port security is about inter-agency and coordination. Without security, there is no development.”

Rear Admiral Mustapha commended the Service under CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for its performance, noting: “The Customs has done exceptionally well in blocking revenue leakages and surpassing national revenue targets. Continue what you are doing; with more revenue, there will be more infrastructure and social safety network for the country.”

The FOC assured the Command of improved and seamless cooperation in securing the maritime domain and supporting national economic growth.

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SIFAX Foundation Trains 90 Lagos Students on AI, Technology skills

SIFAX Foundation Trains 90 Lagos Students on AI, Technology skills

Bis Akingbade 

The Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation, the CSR arm of the SIFAX Group, in partnership with the World Bank, has trained over ninety students of the State Senior Secondary School, Oyewole, Agege in Orile Agege Local Government Area, Lagos State, as part of its series of ongoing Community Connections Campaign Projects in Nigeria.

The training, aimed at empowering students with practical technology skills to help them improve their education, secure jobs, and become self-employed in the long term, covered various areas, including computer literacy, machine learning, and the use of Artificial Intelligence. 

Representatives were selected from different classes across the school, with the hope that they would be able to transfer the skills acquired to their colleagues. 

According to Mrs. Foluke Ademokun, the Executive Coordinator of the foundation, “this initiative is part of a series of efforts to address the issue of youth unemployment and skills gap in the country and it’s expected to benefit not only the students but also the community at large, as the students would be able to apply the skills acquired to improve their lives and contribute to the economic development of their communities”

Responding on behalf of the school management, the Vice Principal of the school, Mrs Sherifat Ajala, appreciated and commended AAAF for excellent facilitation and the opportunity given to the students to interact with the best minds who facilitated at the training. 

“On behalf of the school management and all these students, I want to say a big thank you to Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation and their sponsor, the SIFAX Group for the good works that they have done in the lives of our students and for the wonderful gift. May the Lord Almighty continue to bless you”, she said.

Goodluck Innocent and Moses Faith, two of the students who participated in the training were rewarded for good class participation and thereafter expressed gratitude on behalf of their colleagues to AAAF and SIFAX Group for providing them with the opportunity to acquire skills that would enhance their future employability. 

At the end of the training session, the school was presented with the gift of a projector, laptop and projector screen as it is always done in the previous schools where similar programmes have been organised.

Other schools who have benefited from previous empowerments include; Community Grammar School, Zion Pepe, Ondo state; Osolu Senior Secondary School, Badagry; Pobuna Senior Grammar School, Epe and Baptist Model College, Ile-Epo. Others are Ijaiye-Ojokoro Senior High School, Ifako ijaiye and Unity senior college, Alimosho all in Lagos state, which brings the total number of empowered students to nearly 600

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