A maritime lawyer, Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), says Nigeria needs guaranteed cargo, bankable contracts and regulatory certainty to attract private investment into indigenous shipping, rather than relying on government to finance vessels.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has conducted a targeted enforcement operation code named Operation Sea Guardian in order to enforce compliance with maritime regulations in Nigeria waters.

In a bid to strengthen bi-lateral cooperation on fisheries governance, sustainable fisheries management and the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing between Nigeria and Ghana, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola has visited Ghana, where he met with the Ghanaian Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Emelia Arthur in Accra.

The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has trained 20 of its members at the Chartered Institute of Shipping of Nigeria (CISN), as part of efforts to strengthen maritime journalism and improve specialised reporting on shipping, port operations and Nigeria’s blue economy.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has stepped up moves to sanction stakeholders violating the Port Standard Operating Procedures (PSO) along the Lekki Port corridor, as part of efforts to improve port efficiency, safety and seamless cargo movement.

Nigeria’s maritime sector on Thursday failed to mark the 2026 World Maritime Day. There was an unusual atmosphere of silence, with no major Federal Government-led celebration taking place across the country. This perhaps made stakeholders to question the significance of the annual ceremony, without corresponding improvements in the sector.

The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) has warned that corporations that repeatedly violate port regulations could face penalties of up to N20 million and prosecution, as part of measures to deter infractions and improve efficiency in the nation’s ports.

In a complex global trading environment, successful logistics is about much more than simply moving goods from one location to another. It requires local knowledge, careful coordination, reliable partners and the ability to respond quickly when circumstances change.

Clearing a standard 20-foot container through Lagos ports currently costs almost twice as much as clearing a similar container through Cotonou port in Benin Republic, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, has revealed.

Despite over N595 million provision in the 2026 Federal Government budget for agencies under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for waterway clearing and wrecks removal, stakeholders in Nigeria’s inland waterways sector have called for stronger private-sector participation to tackle the persistent accumulation of marine litter, floating and underwater debris and other navigational impediments.

Nigeria’s maritime sector is on the verge of a sweeping transformation as the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION) and the Admiralty University of Nigeria (ADUN) have formalized a historic technical partnership.

The Director General/CEO of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, (NPERA), Dr. Akutah Pius, has assured stakeholders that NPERA would work closely with sister agencies, particularly the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), to deepen reforms and improve service delivery across the maritime sector.

The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has congratulated the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), under the leadership of its Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Pius Akutah, and its management on the historic assent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Act, 2026.

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ (FOU ‘A’), Ikeja-Lagos, has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods valued at N3,24billion while recovering back N729million revenue.

The Nigerian Navy has recorded another major breakthrough in its anti-crude oil theft campaign with the interception of a vessel allegedly involved in illegal fuel oil and crude oil siphoning in Akwa Ibom State.

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has intensified efforts to tackle the proliferation of illegal jetties and unsafe water transport operations across the country, with plans to strengthen collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to improve enforcement and enhance safety on the nation’s waterways.

The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has commended the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akutah on the remarkable achievements recorded in protecting the interests of Nigerian shippers and the maritime industry.

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) said it has saved Nigerian shippers and the nation’s economy over N90.60 billion and US$1.348 million through regulatory interventions, consumer protection measures and alternative dispute resolution between November 2023 and June 2026.

Investigation by Shipping Position Daily has revealed that truckers and cargo owners operating along the Apapa and Tin Can port corridors may be losing over N85 billion annually to alleged extortion at no fewer than 34 checkpoints mounted by various government security and traffic agencies, a situation stakeholders say is significantly driving up logistics costs and the prices of imported goods in Nigeria.

WAF Shipping Focus: Week 25