WAF Shipping Focus: Week 41
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 Graduate Induction Training Programme, which ended on Saturday, October 10, 2026, exposed participants to the technical, regulatory, commercial and operational aspects of the maritime industry, with successful participants expected to obtain a Postgraduate Diploma Certificate in Shipping.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has moved to integrate inland dry ports into Nigeria’s ongoing seaport modernisation programme, with a focus on upgrading infrastructure, improving rail connectivity and deploying digital systems to facilitate cargo movement across the country.
The Managing Director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this when he received the Executive Director of Dala Inland Dry Port, Mr. Hassan Bello, and representatives of Funtua Inland Dry Port at the authority’s corporate headquarters in Marina, Lagos.
Read more: https://shippingposition.com.ng/npa-moves-to-integrate-inland-dry-ports-with-seaport-modernisation/
Stakeholders in the maritime sector have called for compliance with customs procedures and proper enforcement. This follow the suspension of container transfers and transire processing involving about 172 bonded terminals, warehouses, and Free Trade Zones (FTZs) across the country.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through a circular signed by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, DCG Timi Bomodi, directed Customs Area Controllers to suspend approvals for container transfers and transire processing involving the affected facilities.
Read more: https://shippingposition.com.ng/transire-suspension-stakeholders-urge-compliance-proper-enforcement/
Stakeholders in the maritime sector have called for stronger regulator-to-regulator coordination to enforce the abolishment of old system of container deposits payment by importers. This appeal comes on the heels of the enactment of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act, 2025 (NIIRA).
The call follows concerns over the continued reliance on the traditional container deposit system, despite provisions of the new law, which established a mandatory insurance framework for containers.
The cost of travelling by water in Nigeria has risen significantly, with waterway passenger fares jumping by 30.88 per cent year-on-year in May 2026, the latest Transport Fare Watch by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed.
The increase places water transportation among the transport categories that recorded the sharpest year-on-year fare increases during the period, coming behind motorcycle and intra-city bus transportation, but ahead of intercity bus and air travel.
The NBS data showed that the average fare paid for waterway passenger transportation rose from N1,739.32 in May 2025 to N2,276.48 in May 2026.
Read more: https://shippingposition.com.ng/water-transport-costs-soar-31-second-highest-increase-nbs/
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted at least 119,354.5 kilogrammes, equivalent to 119.35 tonnes, of illicit drugs worth over ₦72 billion at Nigerian seaports between January and September 2026, findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed.
The staggering quantity of narcotics intercepted has raised fresh concerns over the use of the country’s ports as entry points for illicit substances.
The findings, based on official statistics and seizure records released by the NDLEA, showed that 109,306.75 kilogrammes of illicit drugs were intercepted during the first half of the year, while a further 10,047.75 kilogrammes were seized in major operations publicly reported between July and September.
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