Category: Maritime

Back On The Water: Ikorodu Ferry Terminal Resumes Service Monday 19 After Hyacinth-Related Hiatus

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The Ikorodu Ferry Terminal officially announced its reopening for Monday, January 19, 2026, following a temporary closure due to water hyacinth infestation. In an official update on Friday, January 16, LASWA management announced: ”This is to inform all ferry operators and terminal users that the Ikorodu Ferry Terminal will reopen for passenger ferry operations with effect from Monday, 19 January 2026.” It is worth noting that the terminal was ‘closed on Monday, 20 October 2025 due to navigational concerns caused by water hyacinth infestation,’ with services ‘temporarily diverted to Ibeshe…

New Era at Maritime Command: AIG Ronke Nurat Okunade Takes Charge as 24th Head

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The Maritime Police Command, Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, announces a new leadership chapter with the assumption of duty of AIG Ronke Nurat Okunade, fsi, as its 24th Assistant Inspector-General of Police. Formally taking the helm in Lagos, she succeeds AIG Chinedu Oko, psc, following a strategic deployment by IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun. AIG Okunade is committed to advancing the Command’s mandate to secure Nigeria’s vital waterways through enhanced professionalism and operational vigor. In a press statement issued on Thursday, January 15, 2026, the Public Relations Officer for the Maritime Police…

Containers fall from ships during Storm Goretti.

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As of January 9, 2026, the BBC and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) have confirmed that exactly 24 containers were lost overboard due to Storm Goretti. ” Several containers have fallen from two cargo ships off the Isle of Wight amid strong winds sweeping in from Storm Goretti. The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) said 17 containers were reported lost into the sea from a vessel near the Nab Tower, east of Bembridge, at about 23:10 GMT. About 45 minutes later, seven empty containers were reported overboard from a…

National Single Window: FG Enforces Mandatory Digital Filing for Sea and Air Manifests

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In a major drive to modernize Nigeria’s trade infrastructure, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has mandated that all shipping lines and airlines transition exclusively to the National Single Window (NSW) platform for cargo manifest submissions. Formally issued on November 17, 2025 (Ref: FMF/OHMF/CW/NSW/01), this directive is set to eliminate bottlenecks and accelerate clearance efficiency across the nation’s sea and airports. Edun stated that the order follows the inauguration of the National Single Window Project by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on April 16, 2024. The…

Yobe Boat Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 29; Buni Mourns.

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In what Governor Mai Mala Buni described as a “monumental loss” for Yobe State, the death toll from the Nguru boat mishap has reached 29. The Governor extended his deepest sympathies to the families as search operations continue for those still missing. However, Search and rescue operations have now confirmed 29 fatalities in the Nguru boat tragedy. The victims include 24 residents of Nguru and two from Yusufari in Yobe State, alongside three individuals from Gurin, Jigawa State. While 12 survivors have been treated and discharged from the hospital, the…

NDLEA 2026 Blitz: Baroness “Mama Kerosine” Nabbed, 22 Indians Detained in Cocaine Bust as National Sweep Uncovers Opioids, Skunk, in Coffee Shipments

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The NDLEA has launched into 2026 with a series of high-impact busts, reinforcing its relentless ‘War Against Drug Abuse.’ From intercepting Ketamine and Ecstasy hidden in coffee mixes bound for the UK and Zambia in late December, to the New Year’s seizure of 31.5kg of cocaine at Apapa Port, the agency remains a step ahead. Most recently, 22 Indian crew members from the MV Aruna Hulya were taken into custody following the discovery of illicit cargo on January 2nd. In a statement released Sunday, January 4, 2026, NDLEA Director of…

First 2026 Victory: Customs – NDLEA Teamwork Nets 30.1kg Cocaine on Foreign Ship

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In a decisive blow to transnational narcotics networks, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Area Command, in synergy with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) , have intercepted 30.1 kilograms of cocaine at the Lagos Apapa Port. This high-profile seizure underscores an intensified commitment to securing Nigeria’s port against illicit trade through seamless inter-agency intelligence sharing. On January 2, 2026, during a search of the MV Aruna at the Greenview Terminal, a significant quantity of illicit material was discovered. The material was professionally concealed within the vessel, reflecting the…

Adedeji: Nigeria Needs Five Years to Optimize New Tax Laws

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Nigeria Revenue Service Chairman Adedeji states new tax laws require a five-year stabilization period. This is concise and directly conveys the key information with a formal tone. NRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji confirmed on January 1, 2026, that the new tax framework is designed to harmonize Nigeria’s fiscal system. Speaking at a recent event, he explained that the reforms unify multiple taxes into a single, streamlined structure to improve efficiency. According to Adedeji, a core benefit of the unified framework is the reduction in taxpayer compliance burdens and the creation of…

FG Capacity for Infrastructure Finance Strengthened by New Tax Laws, Says Tinubu

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the harmonised tax laws will strengthen the finances of the federal government’s to fund infrastructure and other National developmental programs. He made this known during his new year speech, Tinubu said 2026 marks a critical phase in implementing the country’s tax reforms, designed to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation for Nigeria. Tinubu further emphasised that the reforms are not about raising taxes, but about creating a structural reset, driving harmonisation and strengthening the social contract. He announced that the new tax legislation,…

6 Killed in Lagos Boat Mishap: LASWA, NIWA Tighten Enforcement of 7 PM Travel Ban

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A year-end voyage turned fatal on Tuesday, December 30 as six passengers drowned following a boat accident along the Igbologun water channel. While first responders rescued four survivors, the bodies of six others were recovered from the scene near Nigerdock. The boat, owned by Savvy Marine, was returning from Ilashe Beach House when the incident occurred at approximately 8:35 p.m.—violating the state’s existing ban on night travel. In a joint statement confirming the incident, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) detailed the swift…