WAF Shipping Focus: Week 33
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.
APFFLON particularly commended President Tinubu for giving statutory backing to Nigeria’s port economic regulatory framework. It described the new law as a major milestone in the long-running effort to establish a stronger and more effective economic regulatory system for the nation’s ports.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has decried funding gaps affecting its operations, saying the lack of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) is hampering its capacity to effectively investigate maritime accidents across the country.
Director-General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., disclosed this on Friday during a virtual media briefing, where he said the bureau was working with the Presidency to develop a more sustainable funding arrangement to support its expanding multimodal accident investigation mandate.
Read more: NSIB decries funding gaps, says lack of ROVs hampers maritime investigations | Maritime Today Online
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime sector have welcomed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) Bill, describing the development as a major step towards strengthening economic regulation at the nation’s ports.
However, while stakeholders applauded the long-awaited legislation, they called for effective implementation, adequate protection for shippers and clarity on the transition from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to the new regulatory agency.
Somali pirates have hijacked the Cameroon-flagged general cargo ship Lutuf off the coast of Somalia, the latest incident in a renewed wave of piracy across the western Indian Ocean.
Eight armed men boarded and seized control of the small 1995-built vessel yesterday. The condition of the crew remains unconfirmed.
The attack adds to mounting concern that Somali piracy, which had been largely suppressed for much of the past decade, is again becoming a persistent threat to merchant shipping operating around the Horn of Africa.
Four vessels and 44 seafarers are currently being held by Somali pirates.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), in partnership with Parts Central Ltd, has launched a waterways cleanup initiative in Lagos, with plans to introduce a structured waste management system for boats, jetties and waterfront facilities across the state.
The initiative, unveiled in Lagos on Tuesday, is aimed at improving the cleanliness and safety of the nation’s inland waterways while supporting navigation, protecting aquatic life, creating employment opportunities and unlocking the economic potential of the blue economy.
The 100 Percent Compliance Team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike from August 31, 2026, over alleged intimidation, unlawful arrests, container detention, extortion and harassment by the Maritime Police at Nigeria’s seaports.
The group disclosed this in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), dated August 2026, demanding urgent intervention to address what it described as persistent obstruction of legitimate port operations.
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