WAF Shipping Focus: Week 23
- Agwe Logistics Solutions
- Jun 5
- 4 min read
In a deft move to address escalating costs of some staple food items, the Federal Government on July 10, 2024 announced that it would suspend duties, tariffs, and taxes on the importation of maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas through the country’s land and sea borders, for 180 days. The announcement was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, who also added that the policy is “to ameliorate food inflation in the country caused by affordability and exacerbated by availability. Further details were given to mean that within the window of 180 days, there would be suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes for the importation of certain food commodities (through land and sea borders). Under the arrangement, imported food commodities will be subjected to a Recommended Retail Price. As a further boost to curtail the inflation which had risen to almost 40 percent, the Federal Government also unfolded plans to import 250,000MT of wheat and 250,000MT of maize.
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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its efforts to combat fuel smuggling with the deployment of newly inducted officers to Operation Whirlwind, a tactical unit launched in May 2024 to check the illegal movement of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) across Nigeria’s borders. The induction ceremony, held on 3 June 2025, in Abuja, signalled a renewed commitment to national economic protection, as the officers were charged to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and vigilance. Addressing the operatives, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, underscored the importance of the assignment, stating “We must always affirm to be above board on all matters. Ensure that your integrity is never compromised, and you are not found to have abused your position in this operation. Customs is critical to achieving the vision of fuel product availability in Nigeria.” He noted.
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The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) says the creation of a Nigeria Coast Guard may overlap and duplicate the mandates of other maritime agencies. Mr Eugene Nweke, SEREC Head Researcher said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. Nweke noted that though the maritime space could benefit from a coast guard that specialises in coastal security and law enforcement, it was imperative to address concerns about duplication of functions, cost implications, and ensure effective coordination with existing agencies. “SEREC recommends that the proposed bill for the creation of a Nigeria Coast Guard be stepped down for now. “We recommend the conduct of a thorough analysis of the proposed Coast Guard Bill and stakeholder engagement to define the Coast Guard’s roles and responsibilities clearly to avoid overlap with other agencies.
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The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has sought collaboration from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to protect the maritime domain. The Controller of the command, Comptroller Patrick Ntadi, made this disclosure when his team visited the office of the Immigration officer in charge of the Lagos Seaport/Marine Command in Lagos. Ntadi explained that the purpose of his visit was to create synergy on how to share intelligence to enable them achieve success in their core mandate of promoting legitimate trade and combating smuggling. The Comptroller acknowledged that the relationship between Customs and Immigration Services goes beyond government operations. Ntadi reiterated the Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi’s core mandate of collaboration, consolidation, and innovation.
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In an internal memo dated 4th June 2025, the Tin Can Island command of the Nigeria Customs Service has granted a soft landing to all clearing agents and stakeholders involved in clearing cargoes under the new B’Odogwu trade platform. In a memo signed by Compt Frank Onyeka, Customs Area Controller, Tin Can Island Command, he said a Provisional Release Extended Procedure Code (4900) has been granted to agents to make assessments for cargo which comes with Form M and PAAR already issued on NICIS but manifests transmitted to B’Odogwu. Recall that the B’Odogwu platform, a trade facilitation tool, was only recently launched at the Tin Can Port, even as some cargoes have already been declared under the old NICIS system. According to the customs boss “All TCIP declarants are by this Memo directed to proceed with the use of Provisional Release Extended Procedure Code (4900) to make assessments for cargo which comes with Form M and PAAR already issued on NICIS but manifests transmitted to B’Odogwu.
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President Bola Tinubu inaugurated completed 27km dual reinforced concrete Deep Sea Port Access Route at Lekki, Lagos State. The President also virtually inaugurated some other road projects across Nigeria. The President equally flagged-off construction of sections of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway and Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. At the inauguration in Lagos, Tinubu described the Lekki Deep Sea Port Access Route as a landmark project. “A few days ago, I commissioned Phase One of Section One of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway here in Lagos, a part of our transformational infrastructure, to mark our second anniversary in office.“While I reaffirm our commitment, as an administration, to deliver enduring infrastructure across our great nation, it is essential that I clarify some misconceptions by some critics of our lofty projects,” he said.
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