Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted a major smuggling attempt, arresting 41-year-old Brazil-based businessman Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu. The suspect was intercepted with 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine, chemically infused into shirts and towels, as part of the agency’s relentless nationwide crackdown on illicit substances. According to a Sunday, June 14 statement by NDLEA Spokesman Femi Babafemi, Abugu’s run ended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. Operatives nabbed the suspect on Thursday, June 11, 2026, just as he disembarked from an Ethiopian Airlines…
Category: Business
Saudi Authorities Suspend 21 Umrah Agencies Over Performance, Rules Breaches
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended 21 service providers for failing to meet performance and regulatory standards during the recent season. According to an Arab News report on Saturday, June 13, evaluations of the firms revealed a decline in service quality alongside direct regulatory violations. ”The rulings were a reflection of the ministry’s commitment to providing high-quality services to pilgrims, it said. ” Of the companies suspended, 15 failed to achieve the necessary evaluation standards and six were found to have committed regulatory violations requiring corrective action,…
Strait of Hormuz is Highly Volatile with Zero Safe Passage, IMO Confirms
Defying active conflict zones, a rising number of commercial transits are pushing through the Strait of Hormuz, placing seafarers directly in the line of fire. International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has once again prioritized seafarer safety and welfare, particularly as an increasing number of commercial vessels attempt to transit the highly volatile Strait of Hormuz. “I am increasingly concerned by reports that vessels continue to attempt to transit the Strait of Hormuz without any credible securityguarantees, despite well‑established risks and the fact that seafarers have already been killed,…
Tragedy Deepens: Death Toll Hits 5 in Warri–Itakpe Train Crash
Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Managing Director, Dr Kayode Opeifa, has confirmed that the death toll from the Warri–Itakpe train derailment on Monday, June 8, has risen to five. The fatalities occurred along the vital South-South and North-Central transit corridor. Emergency teams responded swiftly, rushing injured passengers to nearby medical facilities. Authorities have launched a full-scale probe to uncover what triggered the fatal crash. On board the ill-fated train were 442 passengers and 40 operational staff, including crew, security, and third-party personnel. To prevent future tragedies, the NRC is intensifying safety…
“Data Is the New Oil”: NSC Chief Backs National Planning Bill at House Hearing
The Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq, MON, FCILT, Ph.D, has backed critical legislative reforms at the National Assembly. Speaking through his representative at a one-day public hearing organized by the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development in Abuja on Monday, June 8, 2026, the NSC boss championed key reforms aimed at driving national growth. Representing the Executive Secretary, the Abuja Liaison Officer, Pauline Osasona, stated that the NSC fully supports the Bill. She noted that as a Port Economic…
NDLEA Intercepts Opioids Hidden in Building Materials; Arrests Septuagenarian, Nabs 4 Female Dealers.
A relentless nationwide offensive by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dealt a major blow to drug cartels, resulting in the interception of massive opioid shipments hidden within building materials. According to a Sunday statement by Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, the crackdowns spanned multiple states, netting a 75-year-old suspect in Ebonyi and four notorious female dealers across Edo, Imo, Kano, and Gombe. Items recovered from the truck included 320,840 capsules of tramadol, 600 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 4,500 pills of rohypnol, and 299…
Trade Facilitation: Gov Eno Leads Technical Team to Paris as Ibom Deep Seaport Gains Traction.
In a major push to enhance trade facilitation, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to delivering the Ibom Deep Seaport project. This follows a high-level technical working session with the Africa Global Logistics (AGL) Group in Paris on Friday, June 5, 2026. The strategic review centered on the recently completed Worley Parsons Technical Feasibility Report, establishing concrete frameworks for investment, accelerated deployment, and enduring project viability. By reaffirming their shared commitment to the Ibom Deep Seaport, Akwa Ibom State and its investors are accelerating…
Blue Economy Ministry Applauds Shippers’ Council for Driving Fairer, Faster Ports
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council took center stage at the 2026 International Civil Service Conference Exhibition in Abuja, demonstrating its drive for efficiency, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory reforms in the nation’s maritime sector. Guided by the theme “Reforms, Resilience, and Results,” the international conference served as a collaborative hub for public service leaders dedicated to transforming service delivery and institutional structures. The Council leveraged the exhibition to demonstrate its impact as Nigeria’s Port Economic Regulator. In particular, it emphasized its robust stakeholder collaboration, pivotal role in industry dispute resolution, and strategic…
Culture Radiates at Ojude Oba 2026: Abiodun Hails Oneness, Urges Aid for Insecurity Victims
Ijebu-Ode exploded into a kaleidoscope of colour and culture on Friday, May 29 as thousands of beautifully adorned men, women, and youth gathered for the highly anticipated 2026 Ojude Oba Festival. The ancient town was instantly transformed into Africa’s ultimate runway of heritage, style, and prestige. The energy was electric, featuring jaw-dropping horse-riding displays, richly embroidered traditional attire, and captivating choreography by the famous Regberegbe groups. The epochal event once again proved why Ojude Oba remains a global symbol of cultural pride. Dignitaries, global tourists, and Ijebu descendants from across…
Shippers’ Council Brokers Peace in Sifax-AGL Port Dispute
In continuation of its relentless efforts to resolve stakeholder disputes and protect the maritime economy, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has again demonstrated its regulatory capacity. The council intervened swiftly to resolve a critical operational dispute between SIFAX Group and AGL Logistics on Wednesday, May 25. By routinely mitigating these high-stakes conflicts, the NSC continues to save the nation’s Marine and Blue Economy from monumental financial losses while safeguarding stakeholder investments. At the heart of the friction was the berthing of a vessel operated by AGL Logistics. Stepping into the…