Author: Kenneth Jukpor

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has secured a $700m loan, from Citibank to be funded by an export credit agency – UK Export Finance, for the rehabilitation of decaying port infrastructure at Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports in Lagos. NPA revealed this in a recent press statement, stating that it had also opened discussions with another funding agency to finance the upgrading of the Eastern Ports including Calabar, Warri, Onne, and Rivers Ports as well as the reconstruction of Escravos Breakwater. Speaking in Lagos during the signing of the mandate letter with Citibank Nigeria, the Managing Director of the…

…donates school furniture to Abia school The Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF), the philanthropic arm of SIFAX Group, has set a target of awarding a scholarship to 2,000 indigent students across the country in 2024. According to Foluke Ademokun, Executive Coordinator, AAAF, while speaking on the activities of the non-governmental organisation in the first quarter of this year, noted that the driving force behind this initiative was to support indigent parents as well as tackle the menace of out-of-school children. She said: “We are focused on helping the government reduce the number of out-of-school children, so in our way, we…

The Global Transport Policy (GTP) Limited, a Communication outfit, has stressed the need for a sustainable conversation for an excellent transport infrastructure blueprint to boost Nigeria’s economic development. Dr. Oluwasegun Musa, the Chairman/Chief Consultant, Global Transport Policy, said this at a media conference on Thursday in Lagos. Musa said that sustainable blueprint for transport infrastructure would facilitate the movement of people, goods, and ideas across climes and nations. He noted that the blueprint would enable states to engender comprehensive transport growth for economic impact through strategic collaborations to reinforce national advancement. Musa added that each states had potential that should…

The Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola CON, has decried low investments in inland waterways transport system, stressing that the gains accruable from the sector will be eroded without requisite investments for optimal operations. Oyetola gave this remark while delivering the keynote address at a Maritime Business Roundtable Breakfast Meeting (MBRBM), organized by Zoe Maritime Resources on Thursday, themed: “Security and New Technologies in Inland Waterways Transportation.” According to the Minister, low investments in the nation’s inland waterways remains a huge challenge in the sector, while he also opined that there is lack of strict implementation of regulations.…

Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited on Wednesday signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with three hospitals to complete the second phase of its multi-billion-naira Hospital Support Programme (NLNG HSP). The NLNG Hospital Support Programme (HSP) is NLNG’s national Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at boosting the healthcare delivery system in 12 federal university teaching hospitals and health institutions across the six geopolitical zones in the country. The programme started in 2022 with the signing and implementation of MoUs with six hospitals in the first phase. For the second phase, NLNG’s Managing Director, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, signed MoUs with the…

…Inter-Border Security Forum  Deepens Cross-Border Partnerships Dr. Bonny A. Botoku, the Secretary General of the Inter-Border Security Forum, has extended a warm welcome to Comptroller James Folorunsho Ojo, who has assumed the role of Area Controller for Ogun 1 Command, following the redeployment of Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu to Federal Operations Unit, Zone B. The Inter-Border Security Forum, according to Dr Botoku is dedicated to promoting cross-border cooperation and security, but always looking to strengthening relationship between Nigeria and Republic of Benin to further improve operations of Customs and other para-military outfits at the border communities. He posited that with the…

The Director-General of National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on its drive against all forms of Naira abuse. Onilu gave the commendation in Abuja in a letter addressed to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede. According to him, the actions being taken by the Commission against Naira abuse amount to “preservation of the integrity of the national currency, the Naira.” “On behalf of the management and staff of the NOA, I write to commend the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Chairman, for the recent…

In a bid to enhance trade facilitation and efficiency within the nation’s import and export value chain, the Federal Government has inaugurated the National Single Window Steering Committee, with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) serving as a key member. The launch took place at the Presidential Villa Abuja on Tuesday, with President Bola Tinubu presiding over the inauguration. The Committee is composed of representatives from key federal ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, the Marine and Blue Economy, Transportation, Trade and Investment, as well as the Federal Inland Revenue Service. Other agencies involved are the Nigeria Sovereign Investment…

…as export tonnage grows by 95% As part of efforts to balance Nigeria’s foreign trade, the Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) has facilitated exports valued at N287,792,767,415 in the first quarter of 2024. The 2024 figure represents over 300% increase in Free On Board (FOB) value of the exports which is a significant improvement from the N80,993,580,710 FOB value recorded between January and March 2023. TCIP Customs Command made this known in a press statement disseminated today (Wednesday), signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Okwara. According to the report, which delivered the Command’s scorecard for 2024 first quarter,…

The Lilypond Export Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) says its Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) payment stood at N1.39 billion as at first quarter of the year. The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Lilypond Export Command, Comptroller Ajibola Odunsanya, said this at a news conference in Lagos on Tuesday. The figure represents an increase of N1.01 billion when compared to N328.2 million posted in the first quarter of 2023. Odunsanya said that the command also recorded revenue worth $236 million in the first quarter, attributing the success to enhanced revenue generation and compliance. He added that surcharge payment for…