WAF Shipping Focus: Week 48
- Agwe Logistics Solutions
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Barely half a year after a group of Thai sailors were convicted and handed a multimillion-dollar fine for importing nearly 33 kilogrammes of cocaine into Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted yet another vessel arriving from Brazil, intensifying the country’s crackdown on transnational drug trafficking networks. The ship, MV Nord Bosporus, arrived at the Apapa seaport in Lagos from the port of Santos carrying commercial goods, but NDLEA officers discovered 20 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed beneath its cargo on 16 November 2025. The crew, consisting of the Filipino Master, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, and 19 other Filipino sailors, were immediately taken into custody as investigations began. The agency subsequently sought and obtained a court order permitting the detention of both the crew and the vessel for an initial 14-day period.
For further information please check the link below:
Nigeria has taken a major step forward in its transport development with the Federal Government’s approval of the long-awaited National Land Transport Policy. Industry experts describe the move as a milestone that could transform mobility, professionalise the sector, and significantly strengthen economic performance across the country. The development, announced by the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA), brings an end to decades of stalled drafts and fragmented efforts that had slowed meaningful transport reform. CIOTA’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Chizoba Anyika, told journalists during a virtual briefing that the National Executive Council (NEC) approved the policy on July 31, 2025. In a statement, the Institute hailed the approval as a “bright torch of hope,” noting that it stemmed from resolutions adopted at CIOTA’s 7th National Conference in Abuja. Anyika added that years of advocacy, technical input, and collaboration among transport professionals and development partners had finally produced a coherent national framework.
For further information please check the link below:
Gabon is launching a new phase of modernisation of its only railway line, thanks to joint funding from the French Development Agency and the European Union aimed at strengthening the safety, capacity and reliability of the Trans-Gabon Railway. The Trans-Gabon Railway, the railway backbone linking Libreville to Franceville over 648 kilometres, is benefiting from a new structuring investment program. The French Development Agency (AFD) et the European Union (EU) together are mobilizing 203 million euros, or 234 million dollars, to support the Transgabonais Modernization and Security Program (PMS). This financing combines a sovereign loan of AFD and a grant of the EU, as part of the official visit of the French president Emmanuel Macron in Libreville. The initiative marks a key step for a network that transports more than 300.000 passengers and several million tons of freight each year. The planned works focus on improving the reliability and safety of the infrastructure, with interventions in unstable areas, critical structures, and priority segments of the route.
For further information please check the link below:
Nigeria’s efforts to modernise and automate operations across its seaports have received a major boost as the government of the People’s Republic of China has pledged strong technical, diplomatic and capacity-building support for the country’s maritime sector. The commitment was made by China’s Vice Minister of Transport, Mr. Li Yang, during a bilateral meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, held on the sidelines of maritime engagements in London. Mr. Li lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing a dedicated Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, describing the decision as transformative for Nigeria’s maritime development. He noted that China operates 52 fully automated ports — one of the highest in the world — and said the country is prepared to deploy its expertise to support Nigeria’s transition from manual and semi-automated operations to a fully digital port ecosystem. According to him, China’s automated ports have significantly improved efficiency, reduced vessel turnaround time, enhanced security through smart surveillance,…..
For further information please check the link below:
Ghana has opened a major extension of the Port of Tema, a development that analysts say reflects a wider continental shift towards modern, privately financed trade infrastructure. The facility, launched by President John Dramani Mahama, forms part of a multibillion-dollar effort to upgrade Africa’s maritime capacity as regional economies integrate and competition for shipping traffic intensifies. Unlike many large infrastructure projects in the region, the Tema expansion was funded entirely through private capital. According to the presidency, the venture brings together Meridian Port Services, APM Terminals and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority in what is considered one of the sub-region’s most significant public- private partnerships to date. Observers see this model as a sign of how African states are increasingly leveraging private investment to accelerate strategic projects without overburdening public finances. President Mahama said the upgraded terminal positions Ghana as a critical node for maritime trade in the sub region, capable of handling larger vessels and higher cargo volumes.
For further information please check the link below:
In an interview published in Logistics Update Africa, the managing director of West Africa Container Terminal details the $115 million investment made in Onne to modernise operations, reduce congestion and accelerate the port's ecological transition. WACT, operator APM Terminals port of One, is undertaking a major modernization project supported by a $115 million investment to be completed in 2024. In an interview published in Logistics Update Africa Jeethu Jose explains that this operation aims to strengthen the operational capacity of the terminal in the context of a gradual recovery of Nigerian trade. New equipment, expanded storage areas, and improved container handling systems are accelerating throughput and reducing delays. In addition, customs scanners operated on-site by the Nigeria Customs Service and a truck appointment system are being implemented, two tools considered crucial for streamlining the flow of goods.
For further information please check the link below:
Comments