General
Customs, NIIA Outline Measures to Tackle Nigerian Trade Bottlenecks
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) have outlined fresh measures to tackle trade bottlenecks, lower business costs and make Nigerian ports globally competitive.
This formed one of the key takeaways at at the NIIA Trade and Investment Forum in Lagos recently.
Speaking at the event, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Babatunde Olomu, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, said the service is aggressively driving reforms to cut delays, improve predictability for traders and deepen Nigeria’s participation in international markets.
He said this is part of its role as Nigeria’s push to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
Mr Olomu said Customs has prioritised digitalisation as a core driver of economic competitiveness, stressing that new automation tools deployed over the past year are already reducing clearance times and eliminating loopholes.
“Among these are the Advanced Ruling System, which enables traders to obtain pre-arrival decisions on classification and valuation of goods, thereby cutting costs, reducing delays, and preventing unnecessary demurrage,” he said.
He added that the formal recognition of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), Scheme in the Nigeria Customs Service Act provides a structured framework for accrediting compliant traders and offering them fast-track services.
“These two initiatives, Advanced Ruling and the AEO programme, are practical tools through which the Customs Service is promoting efficiency and facilitating trade,” Mr Olomu noted, describing them as central to resolving long-standing bottlenecks at Nigerian ports.
The trade forum, themed Reforms to Results: Building a Trade-Ready Nigeria in the Emerging Global Order, held at the Bashir Adeniyi Centre for International Trade and Investment, brought together policymakers, trade experts and business leaders seeking ways to reposition Nigeria for global competitiveness.
On his part, the Director-General of the NIIA, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, said Nigeria must urgently accelerate reforms if it intends to hit the $1 trillion GDP target.
“We want to be a $1 trillion economy by 2030, so we must accelerate economic development. While foreign investment is important, we must also build our domestic productive base using our comparative advantages,” he stated.
Professor Osaghae stressed deeper institutional collaboration as essential for shaping Nigeria’s trade future, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which he described as a “historic opportunity” for scale and integration.
He acknowledged the impact of insecurity on logistics costs, especially the high insurance premiums imposed on businesses operating in high-risk environments.
He said resolving these challenges will require “comprehensive, multi-stakeholder solutions” that align security reforms with trade and investment priorities.
According to a statement, both institutions then reiterated their commitment to ensuring that ongoing reforms translate into measurable improvements in port efficiency, investor confidence and Nigeria’s overall trade readiness.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned the former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, and his son, Mr Abudlazizz Malami, on a five-count charge of abetting terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.
They were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In the charge, the former AGF was accused of knowingly abetting terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose case files were brought to his office as the AGF in the last administration for prosecution.
Recall that the secret police had arrested Mr Malami, shortly after his release from Kuje prison in Abuja more than two weeks ago after Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted him and two others bail in the sum of N500 million in another case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Mr Malami and his son are also accused by the DSS of engaging in conduct in preparation to commit act of terrorism by having in their possession and without licence, a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 Cartridges.
His arrest in January followed weeks of reports of surveillance by the secret police in front of the prison facility since the time Mr Malami, his wife and son were remanded there over the money laundering charges.
As per reports, Mr Malami had gathered that he would be picked up upon regaining his temporary freedom and so decided to wait out the DSS. However, after his eventual emergence, the operatives took the ex-AGF into detention again.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has initiated an inter-agency partnership with the Centre for Rural Development (CERUD) to establish the Coastal Community First Responder Programme (CCFRP).
The first responder programme is aimed at promoting safe and secure transportation across Lagos waterways.
The initiative was unveiled during a meeting between a LASWA delegation and officials of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development at the secretariat in Alausa.
Leading the LASWA team, Mr Olademeji Shittu said the programme is designed to reduce fatalities and material losses on Lagos waterways, particularly in hard-to-reach coastal communities.
According to Mr Shittu, the CCFRP will focus on empowering community volunteers through targeted capacity building for sustainable rural development, while also equipping them with relevant skills that can enhance employability within the maritime sector.
He noted that trained volunteers will serve as community-based first responders, working in close collaboration with LASWA to strengthen search and rescue operations.
Providing the rationale for the programme, Mr Shittu highlighted the recurring cases of marine incidents and fatalities on Lagos waterways, often worsened by delayed emergency response in remote coastal areas.
He explained that residents of these communities are usually the first on the scene during accidents, making it necessary to formalise their role through structured training and partnerships.
He added that the collaboration with CERUD will help create a sustainable framework that aligns community development with safety and emergency response, while fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility among coastal residents.
According to a statement, the Coastal Community First Responder Programme is expected to enhance emergency preparedness on Lagos waterways, improve response times during marine incidents, and contribute to safer water transportation across the state.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suspended their planned protest in the Federal Capital Territory and instructed workers under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to return to their duties with immediate effect.
The directive followed an overnight engagement involving labour leaders, the Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, and members of the Senate Committee on the FCT.
The meeting, which began late on Monday, stretched into the early hours of Tuesday, culminating in an agreement that led to the unions’ decision to halt the protest action and restore normal activities across FCTA offices.
This comes after Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court issued an interim order restraining the NLC, TUC, and three others from embarking on any form of industrial action or protest.
Ruling on an ex-parte application filed by the Minister of the FCT and the FCT Administration, Justice Subilim granted an interim order restraining the 1st to 5th respondents and their privies or agents from embarking on strike pending the hearing of the motion on notice, also ordering the 5th-9th defendants who are security agencies to ensure no break down of law and order.
The ex-parte motion, which was filed by the counsel to Mr Wike and the FCTA, Ogwu Onoja, submitted that the Chairman of the FCT council had sent a message of mobilization to members and affiliated unions for a mass protest scheduled for February 3.
This move, he noted, was in violation of the orders of court, adding that after the ruling of the court on January 27, the order of the court was served on the defendants, same day the NLC and TUC issued a statement to all affiliated unions to intensify and sustain the strike.
The statement jointly signed by both unions directed that the striking workers should resume the strike as the unions’ counsel, Mr Femi Falana, has filed an appeal against the interlocutory ruling.
He further pointed out that With the statement, JUAC issued a circular directing all employees to continue the strike.
This position they say is aimed at causing break down of law and order in the Nations capital.
The court subsequently adjourned the case until February 10 for hearing.
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