Customs, Others Renew Commitment to Blue Economy Agenda

By Bon Peters

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it would continue to sustain efforts towards blocking revenue leakages while enhancing trade facilitation at Nigerian ports.

The Customs Area Controller for Onne Area11 Command in Rivers State, Comptroller Mohammed Aliyu Alkali, stated this on Wednesday in Port Harcourt at a seminar to commemorate the 2026 World Maritime Day organised by the Business and Maritime Writers Association of Nigeria (BUMWAN).

With the theme, Nigerian ports and Bonded Terminals, Impacts of Nigeria Customs Service and Stakeholders in the Blue Economy, the seminar examined ways of advancing the Blue Economy agenda of the federal government.

Represented by Mr Nasir Lirwan Aliyu, the command’s leader said that the NCS has remained critical to the success and growth of the Blue Economy, especially considering its mandate in the non-oil revenue generation sector of the country.

According to him, the Onne Command has also domesticated various strategies aimed at promoting effective risk management and stakeholders’ engagement.

The measure, he emphasised, also largely contributed to effective port operations.

Highlighting the importance of Bonded Terminals in cargo operations, Mr Alkali identified Bonded Terminals as backbones of the Blue Economy.

“Six years ago, there were only about six operational Bonded Terminals at the Onne Command, but presently, due to the business-friendly policies of the Comptroller General Bashir Adeniyi, over 20 operational Bonded Terminals have been created here in Onne.

“This indeed indicates that Bonded Terminals are no longer alternatives but indispensable partners in a seamless cargo clearance and Blue Economy agenda.

“Bonded Terminals have become critical for port decongestion, constant cargo delivery, employment generation and enhanced revenue collection,” he said.

Mr Alkali also commended BUWAN for timely and effective reporting on the Ports and Bonded Terminals, saying the effort had significantly strengthened public awareness.

Also speaking, the Chief-of-Staff of the Abia State Government House, Mr Caleb Ajagba, urged the NCS to go beyond revenue collection and step up actions towards strengthening its role in trade facilitation.

Represented by the Special Adviser to the Abia State Governor on Trade, Commerce and Industry, he lamented the impacts of poor cargo operations on the end user.

“Delays from overstretched bureaucratic bottlenecks, multiple charges, congestion and uncertainties in cargo clearance have continued to increase the cost of doing business, which in turn affects the ordinary Nigerian consumer.

“Your objective should be geared towards creating an efficient and digitalised system which promotes timeliness for legitimate trade and prompt termination of illegal and non-compliant transactions,” he said.

Mr Ajagba also pledged readiness of the Alex Otti-led administration to strengthen partnerships with the NCS and other critical stakeholders with a view to promoting trans-border trade in the state.

“Abia State is open for collaboration, and the Alex Otti-led administration is consistently focused on improving infrastructure, ease of doing business, industrialisation and investment promotion,” he added

Similarly, the Commander of the NDLEA for Onne Port Command, Mr Matthias Odo, pledged the agency’s commitment to a drug-free society and called for collaboration from stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians.

Represented by his Deputy DC Kingsley Effiong, Mr Odo emphasised that intelligence gathering was crucial for efficient local and trans-border drug tracking operations.

“I want you to understand that no business can thrive in an environment that is not drug-free; that is why we must continue dismantling drug cartels,” he said.

Earlier in his address, the president of BUMWAN, Mr Peter Ihejirika, thanked participants and stakeholders for further enlightening the public on innovations geared towards improving port operations.

Mr Ihejirika, on behalf of the group, promised to deepen media partnership with stakeholders and port operators while also calling for their cooperation.

“Journalists are your friends; we are not spies. Avail us of information whenever we need it, as failure to do so may give room for speculation,” he said.