Wednesday, 25 February 2026

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

Nigeria to Pilot Regional Fishing Vessel Register in Gulf of Guinea - Oyetola

Nigeria to Pilot Regional Fishing Vessel Register in Gulf of Guinea - Oyetola 
CAPTION
L-R: Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), His Excellency Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON; FCWC Secretary-General, Antoine Gaston Djihinto, and the Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mr. Wellington Omoragbon, when Djihinto led the FCWC secretariat staff on a working visit to the Minister in his office in Abuja, recently.


Bisi Akingbade 

The Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and Chairman of the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, FCWC, His Excellency Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, 
said Nigeria has agreed to serve as the pilot country for the formal implementation of the Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels in West Africa, a move the government says reflects its belief that credible leadership must be matched by practical action to combat illegal fishing and strengthen marine governance across the Gulf of Guinea.

He made this disclosure during a high-level meeting with the organisation’s Secretary-General and secretariat staff in Abuja. He said Nigeria’s decision to host the pilot phase of the Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels demonstrates its resolve to translate regional leadership into measurable outcomes for sustainable fisheries management.

He said the proposed Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels will create a verified database of industrial fishing vessels authorised to operate within the maritime zones of FCWC member states, covering both foreign and national fleets. The system is designed to improve transparency, accountability and cross-border cooperation in a region heavily affected by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. 

This initiative, he said, builds on a roadmap endorsed by member states and reaffirmed in the Monrovia Declaration, which set out steps for establishing the register as a shared governance tool across West Central Africa.

Dr. Oyetola said Nigeria expected the pilot phase to test feasibility, identify operational gaps and generate practical lessons for broader regional rollout. He pledged that Nigeria would use its experience to guide and support other member states once implementation expands, stressing that collective action was essential to protect fisheries resources and livelihoods in the Gulf of Guinea.

"The project is envisaged as a formalised and validated regional database containing comprehensive and reliable information on fishing vessels authorised to operate within the maritime jurisdictions of FCWC Member States. This initiative represents a major step forward in strengthening transparency, accountability and cooperation in fisheries governance across our shared waters," he said. 

The minister also highlighted complementary regional efforts, including joint patrols and enforcement initiatives under the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme, implemented by the FCWC in partnership with the European Fisheries Control Agency, to deter illegal fishing.

Dr. Oyetola also disclosed that Nigeria’s draft National Plan of Action on illegal fishing was being reviewed and updated following the transfer of fisheries oversight to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, underscoring the country’s determination to address illicit fishing activities.

He proposed deeper institutional engagement with the FCWC, including a high-level Nigerian mission to the organisation’s secretariat and regional monitoring centre, as well as collaboration on harmonising food safety and fisheries regulatory standards across member states to boost trade and consumer protection.

In a press release issued by the Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister 
Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy  Reaffirming Nigeria’s, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, highlighted that Dr. Oyetola said his tenure as Chairman of the FCWC Conference of Ministers would focus on practical outcomes, stronger institutions and sustainable use of ocean resources. He thanked the FCWC member states for their continued partnership, describing the pilot vessel register as a defining step towards transparent and accountable fisheries governance in West Africa. 

Speaking earlier, the FCWC Secretary-General, Antoine Gaston Djihinto, commended the Minister for his commitment to addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and also for boosting fish production in the country. He also thanked the Ministry for hosting an "outstanding and highly commendable" FCWC Conference in Lagos in November 2025. 

The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) is an intergovernmental organisation established in 2007 to facilitate regional cooperation in fisheries management among its six member states: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo. Headquartered in Tema, Ghana, the FCWC works to ensure the sustainable development and optimal use of shared marine resources while aggressively combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the sub-region. Its core activities include harmonising fisheries legislation, enhancing monitoring and surveillance, and promoting the growth of a sustainable blue economy to support the livelihoods of small-scale fishers in the sub-region. 


Friday, 20 February 2026

CUSTOMS: AEO PROGRAMME RECORDS ₦362.79 BILLION REVENUE GROWTH AS SERVICE COMMENDS VOLUNTARY REMITTANCES, SUSPENDS DEFAULTING OPERATOR



CUSTOMS: AEO PROGRAMME RECORDS ₦362.79 BILLION REVENUE GROWTH AS SERVICE COMMENDS VOLUNTARY REMITTANCES, SUSPENDS DEFAULTING OPERATOR
   CGC, BASHIR ADEWALE ADENIYI 


Bisi Akingbade 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) wishes to inform the public of the significant revenue and trade facilitation milestone achieved under the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, with revenue increasing from ₦1.222 trillion before certification to ₦1.585 trillion after certification, reflecting a growth of ₦362.79 billion (29.68%) for the 51 AEO-certified entities as at 27 October 2025. The Programme also contributed 21.77% to NCS’s total revenue collection of ₦7.281 trillion in 2025, while customs duties paid rose by 85.66% due to enhanced compliance and increased volumes of legitimate trade.

According to AEO Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Report, the Programme achieved an average compliance rate of 85.45%, with the highest at 100% and the lowest at 60%. The evaluation applied rigorous methodologies to ensure objectivity, transparency, and alignment with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards and the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

In the area of trade facilitation, AEO participation reduced average cargo clearance time from 168 hours to 41 hours, representing a 75.60% time saving. Company operating costs declined by 57.2%, while demurrage payments dropped by 90%, limiting capital flight to foreign-owned port service providers and strengthening foreign exchange retention. Overall trade efficiency improved by 77.11% through digitalisation, simplified procedures, and targeted risk management.

The Service commends Coleman Technical Industries Limited, WACOT Rice Limited, ROMSON Oil Field Services Ltd, WACOT Limited, Chi Farms Ltd, CORMART Nigeria Ltd, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc for a cumulative voluntary remittance of over a billion naira into the Federation Account following their self-initiated transaction review and disclosure. These actions reflect the strengthening of post-clearance audit mechanisms and a growing culture of voluntary compliance within the trading community.

Notwithstanding these gains, the Service identified a compliance breach involving a recently certified AEO company that engaged in false declaration of consignments contrary to programme obligations. Consequently, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, PhD, MFR, directed the immediate suspension of the company’s AEO status in accordance with the AEO Guidelines, the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards, and Section 112 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

The NCS reiterates that the AEO Programme is founded on trust, transparency, and continuous compliance. While compliant operators will continue to benefit from expedited clearance and reduced inspection, appropriate sanctions will be applied where violations are established. The Service remains resolute in safeguarding national revenue, facilitating legitimate trade, and preserving the integrity and global credibility of Nigeria’s AEO framework.




Tuesday, 17 February 2026

NIMASA, NUPRC MEET TO IMPROVE ON INDUSTRY REGULATION

NIMASA, NUPRC MEET TO IMPROVE ON INDUSTRY REGULATION

Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s investment climate through enhanced inter-agency collaboration.

This formed the core of discussions during a working visit by the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, to the Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and her management team at the commission’s corporate headquarters in Abuja.

Both agencies emphasized the importance of improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria while optimizing accruable benefits to the Federal Government.

The meeting underscored the need for coordinated regulatory efforts to eliminate operational bottlenecks, promote investor confidence, and ensure efficient revenue generation across the maritime and oil and gas critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.

NIMASA’s mandate of promoting indigenous capacity in international shipping trade as well as prevention of marine pollution and control directly aligns with the responsibilities of NUPRC, which include ensuring compliance with regulations as they relate to upstream extraction activities, promoting investment and enforcing environmental/safety standards.

Monday, 16 February 2026

Customs Launches Digital One-Stop-Shop to Cut Cargo Delays

Customs Launches Digital One-Stop-Shop to Cut Cargo Delays


The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has launched a new digital One-Stop-Shop,  OSS, platform aimed at eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks at Nigeria’s ports and significantly reducing cargo clearance time to 48 hours.

Speaking at the ceremony held in Lagos the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the initiative as a major structural reform designed to modernise border operations and strengthen Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.

The Customs boss noted that the platform aligns with Nigeria’s broader business reforms under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, as well as global standards under the World Trade Organisation's Trade Facilitation Agreement, which estimates that efficient border reforms can cut trade costs in developing economies by over 14 percent.

He also announced that the Service is advancing toward a fully paperless customs environment, with the first phase of digital clearance and documentation processes scheduled for rollout by the end of the second quarter of 2026.

“This platform is a deliberate shift from fragmented interventions to coordinated governance, from discretion to data, and from isolated actions to collective responsibility,” Adeniyi stated. “Through this reform, we continue to build systems that support lawful trade, protect national interests, and serve the economy with professionalism and integrity.”
Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, said the OSS platform consolidates all risk interventions into a single electronic interface, streamlining multiple checks into a single digital umbrella.

“Today, the NCS is introducing the One-Stop-Shop digital platform, an innovative system designed to consolidate all risk interventions at the port into a single electronic interface,” she said. “We have listened to your feedback and recognised how multiple checkpoints and risk interventions affect business processes. Your involvement in this engagement is crucial to the success of this reform.”

A technical presentation by the Service’s Trade Facilitation Unit outlined strategies to reduce clearance time from an average of 21 days to about 48 hours, along with implementation plans and anticipated challenges.

Stakeholders at the engagement expressed strong support for the initiative, noting that the platform would facilitate legitimate trade. An interactive session also provided clarifications on operational procedures and expectations for the OSS rollout.

Friday, 13 February 2026

ANLCA NOT A MEMBER OF JACCOF - ANLCA


ANLCA NOT A MEMBER OF JACCOF - ANLCA
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents has officially notified the public that ANLCA is not a member of any Joint Association of Customs Clearing Forwarding Agents, JACCOF, 

This information was  made available through an official Notice of Disclaimer and signed by the National Secretary, ANLCA, Fakanlu Olumide.

56 Grassroots Football Clubs Vie for Taiwo Afolabi Cup


56 Grassroots Football Clubs Vie for Taiwo Afolabi Cup

No fewer than 56 grassroots football teams will compete for honours as the 10th edition of the Taiwo Afolabi U-17 Football Tournament which will kick off on Saturday, February 14, 2026, in Lagos.

The tournament, organised by the Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association,  LSGSA, and sponsored by SIFAX Group, is played in honour of Dr Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman, SIFAX Group. It will feature 32 male teams and 24 female teams, making it one of the largest youth football competitions in the state’s grassroots football calendar.

Preliminary matches will be held at the Ojo Oniyun Sports Centre, Ebute Metta, and the Anthony Mini Stadium, Gbagada, while the grand finale is scheduled for May 2, 2026, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos. 

Speaking at the press conference to announce the tournament, Afuka Abu, the Assistant Secretary of LSGSA, described the competition as a proven platform for discovering and grooming young talents for professional football.

“This tournament has consistently provided young players with the structure, exposure and discipline they need to progress to higher levels of the game. Many of our participants have moved on to national teams and professional clubs, and that remains our goal — to give every talented child a genuine opportunity,” Abu said.
SIFAX Group has supported the tournament for a decade as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility commitment to youth empowerment, sports development and community growth.

Oliver Omajuwa, Deputy Director, Strategy and Operations at SIFAX Group, said the sponsorship is rooted in the company’s philosophy of creating lasting value beyond business.

“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not,” he said. “This tournament was conceived not just as a competition, but as a platform for discovery, development and hope. For us, Corporate Social Responsibility is a long-term responsibility, not a one-time gesture.”

Over the years, the Taiwo Afolabi Cup has produced several standout talents who have gone on to represent Nigeria and secure contracts with clubs in Europe and other international leagues.

Notable players discovered through the competition include Samson Tijani, former Golden Eaglets captain, discovered at the 2019 edition, who currently plays for Dukla Prague in the Czech Republic; Soliu Afolabi, former Flying Eagles player, a player of Slovan Liberec; Chijioke Light, who later represented Nigeria at the WAFU Championship and the Africa Women Cup of Nations, and Ebenezer Ojo of Greater Tomorrow Academy, discovered in 2022, and currently playing in the Norwegian league.

Football stakeholders, scouts, former internationals and administrators are expected to attend the matches to identify emerging talents and provide guidance to participating players.

The 10th anniversary edition will not only celebrate a decade of impact but also raise the standard of grassroots football development in Lagos.

The Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association is a non-profit organisation dedicated to discovering and nurturing young football talents through competitive platforms and community-based initiatives.