In a major anti-narcotics breakthrough, the NDLEA has foiled a highly sophisticated smuggling attempt at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Operatives arrested 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, after uncovering 13 kilograms of cocaine cleverly concealed within fake plantain peels. The packages were meticulously designed to mimic fresh produce and hidden among food items in her baggage. According to a Sunday statement by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi, the UK-based caregiver was intercepted at Lagos airport’s Terminal 2 departure hall. The arrest occurred on June…
Category: Business
Racing to Rescue 8,000 Sailors Trapped in Hormuz
Months after war broke out, thousands of merchant sailors are still stranded. Security threats, skyrocketing insurance costs, and geopolitical standoffs continue to block a return to normal shipping. Anchored in the Persian Gulf, crude oil tanker captain Abhijit Chopra learned of the U.S.–Iran peace deal through a flurry of texts from family and friends. Yet, he kept his excitement in check. Around him, neighboring vessels remained quiet, and no ships were rushing toward the Strait of Hormuz. Chopra and his 21-strong crew have been trapped since the outbreak of war…
Hormuz U-Turn: Tankers Pivot Toward Iranian Routes
The wave of sudden U-turns in the Strait of Hormuz has underscored Iran’s intensifying grip on the world’s most critical maritime chokepoint. Between Friday and Saturday, at least eight vessels sailing along the Omani coast aborted their exits from the Persian Gulf. To bypass the disruption, several ships adapted by rerouting directly into Iranian-controlled waters. Maritime tracking data revealed a mix of oil tankers, bulk carriers, and vehicle transports making sharp reversals, some after reaching the tip of the Musandam Peninsula. While eight ships initially aborted their approaches, four of…
ADR Triumph: Shippers’ Council Saves Maritime Stakeholders Over ₦90bn in Demurrage and Other Losses —Akutah
Driving trade efficiency through its regulatory mandate, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has blocked over ₦86.06 billion in unjustified demurrage charges since November 2023. Through robust Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and strategic market interventions, the Council also secured an additional ₦4.54 billion and $1.348 million in direct savings for local shippers. Revealing these milestones, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NSC, Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq, MON, FCILT, presented his administration’s performance scorecard during a media luncheon with maritime journalists in Lagos on Saturday, July 4. He…
Next-Gen Containerships Debut as CMA CGM, OOCL, and ONE Level Up
Amid a historic expansion of the global container vessel orderbook, a new generation of technology-integrated ships is entering service. Maritime leaders CMA CGM, Ocean Network Express (ONE), and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) have each achieved significant milestones with their most recent fleet deliveries. Recently, CMA CGM christened its newest vessel, the CMA CGM Notre Dame, in Le Havre, France, after its maiden voyage from Asia. This historic ship is the world’s largest LNG-powered containership and the largest vessel flying the French flag. Measuring 399 meters (1,309 feet) long, the…
CNG Cylinders Safe When Certified, Nigerian Official Says Amid Public Safety Concerns
By Prosper Okoye Certified Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders installed in vehicles do not pose an explosion risk when properly manufactured and installed, a senior official of the Presidential Initiative on CNG and EV said Thursday, seeking to reassure Nigerians as the country expands the use of gas-powered transport. Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 Nigeria Gas Safety Conference in Abuja, the initiative’s Chief Compliance Officer, Engr. Zayyanu Tambari, said fears about CNG cylinders exploding inside vehicle trunks were unfounded, provided the cylinders meet national safety standards.“If a cylinder…
World Shipping Council: Containers lost at sea nearly triple to over 1,400 in 2025
A shipper has a better chance of catching a home run ball at a major league baseball game than losing a container to the open ocean, a new report finds. According to the World Shipping Council’s (WSC) latest annual study released recently revealed that an estimated 1,478 containers were lost at sea last year out of approximately 280 million transported globally [WSC2026]. While that total nearly tripled from the 576 losses recorded in 2024 due to severe winter weather and a major vessel disaster, the WSC noted that lost cargo…
Update: Baggage Returned After 24-Hour Delay as Airline Apologizes, Citing ‘Customer Welfare as Priority’
LAGOS — Passengers aboard Enugu Air Flight EE4292 can finally breathe a sigh of relief following a grueling 24-hour waiting game. After a stressful weekend of uncertainty, stranded travelers from the Saturday, June 27 Kano-to-Lagos flight were finally reunited with their missing luggage on Monday, June 29.The troubled journey suffered its first major setback when the scheduled 7:10 PM departure was delayed until past 9:00 PM on Saturday, culminating in a massive baggage fallout at the arrival terminal. Enugu Air officially broke its silence during a visit by Sooth News…
Oman Blocks Iran-Backed Tolls on Strait of Hormuz Shipping
Amidst escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi reiterated Muscat’s steadfast commitment to international maritime law and unhindered transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking on Monday, the minister emphasized that any prospective navigation agreements with Tehran must guarantee safe and unconditioned passage. Oman is pushing back against proposed shipping fees in the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi reaffirmed Muscat’s commitment to securing safe, unhindered passage through the vital waterway amid spiking U.S.-Iran friction. Though Oman is collaborating with Iran to shape future transit rules,…
Salvors Cut Up Stricken MSC Container Ship Near Canada
Marine salvors have commenced the deconstruction of an MSC boxship that grounded off eastern Canada in February 2025. Harsh Atlantic weather continues to plague the grueling salvage of the 2,478-teu MSC Baltic III (built 2003) at Cedar Cove, Newfoundland, according to updates on Monday, June 29. “The contractor has now entered the deconstruction phase of the MSC Baltic III wreck removal operation and there is a significant increase in the work and presence on site,” the Canadian Coast Guard said. Crews are constructing a new access road to the beach…