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NIMASA Goes Tough on Pirates

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By Modupe Gbadeyanka

To fight oil thieves and pirates on our territorial waters, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is partnering the Nigerian Navy and Nigeria Airforce.

It has acquired some surveillance equipment to monitor the waterways and secure the ports.

In furtherance of the engagement, NIMASA now operates a 24-hour surveillance regime, capturing vessels in the nation’s maritime domain irrespective of weather conditions.

More than 5,000 ships ply the territorial waters yearly. Some vessels, sources said, violate international laws by engaging in illegal activities, including stealing of crude oil and other criminal activities.

Its Director-General, Dr Dakuku Peterside, said the agency achieves profile analyses, which include the flag, registered owner, operator, beneficial owner and movement of ships over a specified period.

He said: “The system enables us to take very swift decision in real time, on any targeted ship. Currently, all offshore areas of interest have been electronically cordoned off with a guard zone via our surveillance system and we can at once link activities in the oil fields and on crude oil platforms.

“The system has not only greatly increased our capacity to block revenue leaks but has increased our revenue as all vessels coming into Nigeria are now captured and analysed for billing.

“Our administration has been able to integrate surveillance data with billing control information, thereby driving our desire for the agency’s billing system to be fully operational  by two-thirds, from 72-hour down to 24 hours while keeping our eyes the target timeline of six hour billing,” Peterside said.

A senior official of the Federal Ministry of Transport (FMoT), who craved anonymity, said the nation loses 200,000 barrels of crude oil to theft.

“They are collaborating to curb oil theft, piracy and other criminalities, The Nation has learnt. More than 5,000 international ships ply the territorial waters yearly. Some of the vessels violate international laws by engaging in illegal activities.

“The Air Force has acquired three maritime 128-6, F27 and ATR-42-500 jets and other planes to monitor the activities of oil thieves and other criminals.

“The high-tech plane ATR-42-500 jet is being operated by the Air Force. The plane is fitted with sensors, radar and Electro-Optic Surveillance and Tracking (EOST) equipment, which houses three cameras to monitor ships in Nigerian waters.

“The 20-seat plane can fly as low as 200 feet (60 metres) above the sea and passes on information about maritime traffic to the navy, who can intervene with fast-attack craft if necessary.

“The collaboration is aimed at fighting all manner of maritime crimes in the country. With this aircraft, we can spot any vessel hundreds of kilometres (miles) away,” said Group Captain Enobong Eneh Effiom.

“The aircraft is inscribed with the words: ‘Vigilance over the ocean’. The cameras installed in the planes function well at night based on their high powered lights.

“For any sustainable and meaningful growth in the maritime sector, a robust maritime domain awareness system is inevitable. NIMASA has, therefore, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force to enhance water patrol and aerial surveillance of Nigeria’s maritime domain.

“The collaboration with the Air force will assist NIMASA in tackling the challenges of large and unrestricted navigational areas, small and non-cooperative objects taking advantage of the dense maritime activity to conceal their actions and it would also protect the ports and ships against attacks,” Effiom said.

He said the agency was striving to ensure that the government and security agencies had access to accurate, comprehensive and up-to-the-minute situation data of the vessel traffic at sea.

The jets, it was learnt, were built in France and equipped in Italy with radars, cameras and other security gadgets.

It was gathered that the Navy has also acquired an equipment called Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Centre (RMAC) to aid the fight.

The equipment, findings showed, was imported from Japan for about N2 billion. It has high-frequency radio and long-range cameras, capable of spotting ships up to 48 kilometres away on the waters.

“From the domain awareness centre, we can see ships from anywhere in the world coming or leaving our maritime space. It also gives us the ability to ascertain the actual threat the vessel poses,” the official said.

The idea for the tripartite collaboration, a source said, started a few years ago

It was learnt that NIMASA sought the help of the Air Force when it discovered that the war against pirates was complicated.

“With the equipment in the planes, NIMASA can monitor even the unusual movement of vessels at sea and keep their records,” the official said.

The jets, it was learnt, draw on the latest technology to provide a reliable, round-the-clock monitoring.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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Subscribers to Enjoy Free Upgrades on Select DStv, GOtv Packages

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DStv and GOtv

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

MultiChoice Nigeria has commenced a one-month campaign tagged Open Time, offering new and existing subscribers free package upgrades.

A statement from the company disclosed that the promotion runs from June 1 to 30, 2026, and gives eligible DStv and GOtv customers access to higher subscription packages at no additional cost in the month of June.

However, these upgrades are on select DStv or GOtv packages. Subscribers will automatically be upgraded to a higher package at the price of their current subscription for the duration of the offer.

MultiChoice said the upgrade is intended to give subscribers a broader viewing experience for the month, spanning drama, sport, action and children’s programming available on the higher-tier packages.

Customers who pay for DStv Compact Plus or DStv Compact bouquets will be upgraded to DStv Premium, while DStv Confam customers will be upgraded to DStv Compact. DStv Yanga customers will receive access to DStv Confam.

Similarly, GOtv Supa and GOtv Max subscribers will receive access to the GOtv Supa Plus package, while GOtv Jolli subscribers will be upgraded to GOtv Max.

The upgrades will remain active for as long as the customer’s account is fully paid during the campaign period. At the end of the promotion on June 30, subscriptions will revert to their original packages.

Subscribers can renew or activate their accounts via the DStv and GOtv websites, the MyDStv and MyGOtv apps, USSD, banking channels or at payment points nationwide.

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Fringe Wigs Now Available at Twinkles Beauty

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Twinkles Beauty

Twinkles Beauty has added fringe wigs to its catalogue, bringing one of the most directional styles in contemporary hair fashion to its growing international customer base. The launch positions the brand to meet demand for a look that has moved steadily from editorial runways into everyday wardrobes, earning a permanent place among the styles modern women return to consistently.

The fringe wig delivers something that most other wig styles do not: an instant change to the entire aura of the face. A well-constructed fringe alters the visual proportion of the forehead, draws attention to the eyes, and produces a finish that reads as intentional and precise. Unlike the bone straight wig, which leads with length and sleekness, or the body wave unit, which leads with movement and texture, the fringe wig leads with structure at the very front of the style. It is a design decision that changes everything about how a look is perceived, and it is why the fringe has maintained its relevance across decades of changing fashion without ever feeling dated.

Twinkles Beauty was founded with a clear commercial mandate: make premium human hair accessible to women who have historically been underserved by international pricing structures and inconsistent quality standards. The brand has built its operational foundation across Nigeria & Ghana before extending its delivery network to customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and multiple additional international markets.

Every product in the Twinkles Beauty catalogue, from its frontal wigs to its precision-cut bob units and glueless options designed for everyday wear, is held to the same sourcing and construction standard regardless of the length or style category it falls under.

The fringe wig collection enters that catalogue with the same expectation. Units are constructed from premium human hair, with lace options that blend against a range of skin tones and cap architecture built for secure, comfortable wear. The collection covers multiple length options, meaning a customer who prefers the clean, above-the-shoulder finish of a shorter fringe unit and one who wants the same style at a longer, more dramatic length are both accommodated within the same launch. The fringe detail is consistent across lengths, delivering the defining characteristic of the style at every size available.

The addition reflects a pattern that has defined how Twinkles Beauty has grown its catalogue over time. New collections are introduced in direct response to what the brand’s customer base is purchasing and requesting, not simply in response to broad market trends. This intentional design means the store covers the full range of what a woman shopping for premium human hair actually wants. The collection spans from the ultra-sleek finishes that bone straight and HD lace units provide, to the textured, high-volume options that deep wave and curly units deliver, and now to the sharp, face-framing precision that the fringe collection brings.

Fringe Wigs

Shopping on Twinkles Beauty

The full fringe wig collection is available now at Twinkles Beauty. Placing an order is a straightforward process:

  1. Visit twinklesbeauty.co and click the Shop tab in the navigation menu.
  2. Browse the Wigs category and select Fringe Wigs from the available options.
  3. Choose your preferred unit and review the product specifications, including length, density, lace type, and colour.
  4. Add your selected unit to the cart and proceed to checkout.
  5. Complete payment using any of the secure payment methods displayed at the checkout stage. Pricing is finalised on the product page and does not change at checkout.
  6. Receive your order confirmation and use the Track Order feature on the website to monitor your delivery.

Customers with questions before or after purchase can reach the Twinkles Beauty support team directly through the Contact Us page. The brand also maintains an active presence on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for customers who want to see products styled before making a selection.

International customers in the US, Canada, and the UK move through the same checkout process and receive the same delivery standards as customers ordering from within West Africa. Transparent pricing, reliable logistics, and consistent product quality apply across every market Twinkles Beauty serves.

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MultiChoice Nigeria Strengthens Dealer Partnerships at Engagement Forum

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MultiChoice Dealer Partnerships

MultiChoice Nigeria, a CANAL+ company, has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with its dealer network at the MultiChoice Dealer Enterprise 2.0 forum held on Monday in Lagos.

The forum brought together the company’s mega dealers across Nigeria to discuss evolving market realities, customer expectations and new initiatives designed to support long-term business growth.

In her opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Kemi Omotosho, described dealers as critical partners in the company’s growth journey and customer experience delivery.

“Our dealers remain the bridge between our business and millions of customers across the country. As the market evolves, it is important that our partnership model also evolves to ensure sustainable growth and shared value across the ecosystem,” she said.

The company unveiled enhancements to its dealer engagement across its DStv and GOtv businesses, reinforcing its commitment to supporting dealer profitability, operational growth and long-term sustainability.

Speaking on the initiatives, Chimaobi Eluigwe, Vice President, Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria, said the move reflects MultiChoice Nigeria’s intention to build a stronger and more rewarding partnership while positioning the dealer network for future growth.

“We are intentional about creating opportunities that allow our dealers to grow sustainably with the business. This is about strengthening partnerships, improving value creation and ensuring our dealers remain well-positioned for the future,” he said.

Dealers at the forum welcomed the initiatives, describing them as a positive step toward strengthening collaboration and improving business confidence.

According to Cordelia Ikeanyi, Managing Director at Eastland General Resources, the renewed engagement and enhanced benefits structure demonstrate MultiChoice Nigeria’s commitment to recognising the value dealers bring to the business.

“This is a step in the right direction for dealers. The improved communication and engagement from MultiChoice have made partners feel more valued and included, and the new initiatives will support business expansion and help us explore untapped opportunities,” she said.

Also speaking at the forum, Ifeanyi Onyibo, CEO of Radac Communications Limited, noted that dealers have experienced more engagement and clearer communication in recent months, describing the renewed approach as a positive development for the dealer ecosystem.

“There has been a noticeable improvement in communication and engagement, and initiatives like this give partners greater confidence in the direction of the business,” he said.

The forum also featured a feedback session where dealers shared market insights, customer trends, and recommendations aimed at improving service delivery and strengthening customer experience across the country.

Awards were presented to top-performing dealers in recognition of their sales performance, customer service excellence and commitment to growing the MultiChoice business nationwide.

With the Dealer Enterprise 2.0, MultiChoice Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with dealers to strengthen partnerships, improve collaboration and drive shared growth across the country.

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