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…
Category: Economy
National Economic Surge: FG Authorizes Shippers’ Council to Commence ICTN Procurement Process
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
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…
Starving Terror: NDLEA and US-DEA Unite to Combat Narco-Terrorism; Marwa Vows to Crush Drug Trade as DEA Hails Agency’s ‘Tremendous Strides’
Building on its growing global profile and unwavering resistance to narcotics, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) have reaffirmed their commitment to a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to dismantle drug cartels and strip them of the financial power used to fuel violent extremism and organized crime. In a statement released Tuesday, March 31, by the Director of Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA and US-DEA reaffirmed their partnership during a bilateral strategic workshop in Abuja. Addressing the session at the Agency’s headquarters, NDLEA…
Three Weeks in, Iran War Escalates Beyond Trump’s Control
Three weeks in, the war is spiraling. A Saturday Reuters dispatch from Matt Spetalnick and Nandita Bose reveals a conflict escalating past President Trump’s command as global stakes continue to rise; ” WASHINGTON, March 21 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump ends the third week of the Iran war confronting a crisis that seems to be slipping out of his hands: Global energy prices are surging, the United States stands isolated from allies and more troops are preparing to deploy despite his promise the war would be only a “short excursion.”…
The Strait of Hormuz is About More Than Just Oil. It Feeds 100 Million People
A CNN report released this Saturday, March 21, revealed that..”Oil and liquefied natural gas tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz carry around 20% of the world’s supply. But for countries on the Persian Gulf, the waterway is more than just an energy route – it’s a lifeline for more than 100 million people. Now, as the United States and Israel’s war with Iran chokes this vital stretch of water, it’s also straining food supply into the region. Thriving in this harsh climate takes effort. With summer temperatures topping 50…
Regulator Suspends Port Tariff Hikes for Stakeholder Talks
In its capacity as the Nation’s Port Economic Regulator, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has ordered all shipping lines and agents to immediately suspend recently approved tariff adjustments. This directive follows significant concerns raised by industry stakeholders regarding the impact of these hikes on port users. Following a Council directive issued Friday, March 20, the Regulator has mandated that all shipping lines and agencies maintain the status quo. A final resolution will be disseminated only upon the conclusion of stakeholder consultations and the formal filing of reports: ” The Nigerian…
Tariffs Hike: Shippers’ Council Takes Command, Mandates Resolution as Forwarders Picket MSC, Others.
“Dialogue over Disruption” remains the firm stance of Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq, MON, FCILT, Ph.D, Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council. He urged freight forwarders to embrace diplomacy over industrial action, noting that a commitment to the roundtable ensures dispute resolution without stalling Nigeria’s critical economic engine. Dr. Akutah issued this appeal while addressing the escalating tensions at the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), where freight forwarders had gathered to protest a recent surge in shipping tariffs. He urged all parties to move beyond the picket line and resolve the…
IEA TO PROPOSE HUGE RELEASE OF OIL RESERVES
Debris and mangled vehicles litter the scene following an Israeli airstrike on an apartment building in central Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. According to Reuters, ’’three more merchant ships were struck in the Gulf by unknown projectiles, according to agencies that monitor maritime security, raising the number of ships reportedly hit since the war began to 14. Crew were evacuated from a Thai-flagged bulk freighter after an explosion caused a fire. A Japanese-flagged container ship and a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier also sustained damage. Oil prices, which shot up briefly…
A CRY FOR JUSTICE: RUGIPO STAFF AND RETIREES
By: Philip B. Olusola When workers devote the most productive years of their lives to public service, they do so with the expectation that their labor will be valued and their welfare protected. Unfortunately, for many staff and retirees of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), Owo, in Ondo State, this expectation has gradually turned into years of uncertainty, hardship, and painful neglect. Behind the walls of this respected institution are stories that rarely make headlines – stories of lecturers, technologists, administrators, and other dedicated workers who struggle daily to survive…