Category: Business

Engagement Before Implementation: Shippers’ Council Sets Firm Stance on New Tariffs

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Championing stability across the maritime value chain, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) met with critical stakeholders on Tuesday to navigate the complexities of proposed tariff reviews. The Council has now officially institutionalized a ‘consultation-first’ policy, making comprehensive stakeholder engagement a non-negotiable prerequisite for any new pricing regime. At the recent maritime forum, NSC Boss Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq, MON, FCILT, Ph.D clarified that the March 2026 tariff suspension was far from accidental; it was a calculated step to allow for inclusive industry dialogue. By pausing implementation, the Council successfully opened…

Lafarge Empowers Women with Truck Driving Skills, Graduates 15 in Ashaka

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By Bashir Hassan Abubakar Lafarge Africa Plc has graduated 15 female truck drivers alongside five community drivers under its Women on Wheels initiative at its Ashaka Cement Plant in Gombe State. The ceremony, held on April 9, 2026, marked a significant milestone in the company’s drive to promote inclusion and address workforce gaps in Nigeria’s construction logistics sector. The graduates completed a rigorous training programme designed to equip them with technical competence, safety awareness, and professional standards required for heavy-duty vehicle operations. Speaking at the event, Gombe State Deputy Governor,…

Shame: From Medicine to Narcotics; NDLEA Crushes Nationwide Drug Syndicate as 93-Year-Old Great-Grandfather and Medical Doctor Are Nabbed; Couple Apprehended in Niger State Sting

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When the elderly expected to install discipline and the healers expected to cater to lives have turned to providing narcotics, the situation is truly dire. Such is the case as a 93-year-old great-grandfather and a 69-year-old medical doctor top the list of those arrested. Their capture follows an intensified crackdown by the NDLEA, which continues to hammer drug cartels through strategic interdiction operations. In a statement released Sunday, April 12, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi confirmed the capture of 93-year-old Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu. The nonagenarian was…

Port Efficiency: Shippers’ Council & NRS Engage Service Providers to Resolve Single Window Technical Latency

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To bolster port efficiency, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) are partnering with shipping companies and terminal operators to grant relief to stakeholders hit by National Single Window (NSW) implementation delays. This intervention ensures THAT stakeholders (importers and clearing agents) are not unfairly penalized by system-induced “glitches” as the nation migrates to a more streamlined digital trade platform. At a high-stakes meeting held Friday, April 10, at the NSC’s Lagos headquarters, maritime regulators and private sector leaders gathered to fine-tune the nation’s new digital trade landscape.…

25 Cattle Markets Shut in Four Bauchi LGAs Over Security Concerns

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By Bashir Hassan Abubakar The Bauchi State Government has ordered the immediate suspension of operations in selected cattle markets across Alkaleri, Bauchi, Kirfi and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas, citing rising insecurity.A statement from Government House said the decision, approved by Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, affects several markets identified as hotspots for criminal activities. According to the government, the affected markets have been linked to cattle rustling, killings, kidnapping, extortion and illegal arms transactions, posing serious threats to lives, livelihoods and food supply chains. The identified markets based on the…

Hormuz Lockdown: Iran Defies Peace Deal, Shuts Key Waterway to Oil Tankers

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Despite the 14-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran, hopes for a swift resumption of maritime traffic in the Gulf have been dashed. More than 24 hours after President Trump announced the truce—conditioned specifically on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz—commercial shipping remains at a near-standstill. AIS tracking data from Pole Star Global reveals that while a handful of vessels have transited the waterway since the ceasefire took effect, the vast majority were bound exclusively for Iranian ports. According to AXSMarine, approximately 959 vessels are currently positioned west of the Strait…

Driving Maritime Growth: Shippers’ Council Signs 2026 Bond with Minister Oyetola After Record-Breaking 2025

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A historic milestone was achieved as the Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq., MON, FCILT, Ph.D., formally signed the Council’s 2026 Sectoral Performance Bond. The signing ceremony took place during the recently concluded stakeholders’ engagement held at the Eko Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos. In a landmark move for the sector, the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, signed the 2026 Performance Bond, solidifying the strategic roadmap for the Council’s upcoming fiscal year. The Honourable…

NDLEA Bust: Cocaine in Lagos Palm Oil Cans; Bandits’ Supplier and Pastor Nabbed

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In a series of high-stakes, intelligence-led operations spanning three weeks, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has once again outmaneuvered drug barons attempting to use sophisticated deceptive techniques. The agency successfully dismantled an international trafficking syndicate, intercepting cocaine consignments cleverly concealed in tins of palm kernel extract destined for the United Kingdom. Following a strategic raid on the group’s packaging warehouse, operatives unraveled all three layers of the criminal network, culminating in the arrest of the syndicate’s kingpin. In a statement released on Sunday, April 5, the Agency’s Director…

National Economic Surge: FG Authorizes Shippers’ Council to Commence ICTN Procurement Process

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In a major boost for Nigeria’s maritime industry, Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq., MON, FCILT, Ph.D, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, announced on Thursday, April 4th, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has approved the commencement of the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) procurement process. Speaking at a Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy event in Lagos, Dr. Akutah confirmed that the Council is set for the full implementation of the ICTN—a critical tool for trade facilitation. ICTN Implementation Guaranteed by Year-End: Dr. Akutah gave this…

Unlocking the East: FG Pledges 21st-Century Upgrade for Regional Maritime Hubs

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Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has cleared the air on the Federal Government’s port modernization agenda, confirming it is a nationwide sweep rather than a Lagos-centric project. Minister Adegboyega Oyetola’s remarks during the first-quarter sectoral performance review underscore a strategic shift to decentralize Nigeria’s maritime economy. While the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island are undergoing a landmark $700 million modernization funded by the UK, the Minister confirmed that this “infrastructure drive” is now moving into the procurement phase for regional hubs including Warri, Port…