By Bon Peters

Officers and men of the Port Harcourt Area 11, Onne Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have been charged to always ensure legitimate trade is facilitated.

This charge was given by the Zonal Coordinator of NCS Zone C, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) SK Dangladima, during a visit to the command on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He hinted that the core mandate of the agency was to collect revenue, facilitate trade and suppress smuggling, stressing that personnel should ensure that legitimate trade is facilitated, while customs brokers or agents must avoid wrong declaration.

“Let’s facilitate legitimate trade,” he declared.

Speaking on the staff training, he noted that going forward; promotion would be based on improvement on staff educational qualification.

“I advise you to go for junior or senior courses at Gwagwalada to improve yourself because promotion will be based on merit as customs is in a new era and for you to be promoted going forward, you must have passed through your junior or senior courses at Gwagwalada,” he posited.

On the movement of containers to bonded terminals, he emphasized that containers on transire should be escorted to their destinations without diversion while insisting that containers should not be delayed.

“Containers on transire should be escorted and make sure they reach their destinations. Please don’t delay containers. Work together and be your brother’s keeper,” the customs officer stated.

While speaking on the inter-agency collaboration, he said that other agencies involved in the examination and release of containers should be handy at all time to avoid unnecessary delays and ensure that containers are released in good time.

He scored Onne Customs Command Controller, Mr Mohammed Babandede, high on revenue generation, urging the stakeholders to assist in making sure that command achieves its revenue target for the year 2025.

Earlier in his address, Mr Babandede thanked his guest for the visit, assuring him that the revenue target for the year should be met.

He also informed him of some challenges his command was facing, including accommodation, operational vehicles, and the newly introduced B’odogwu platform, which he said has been having migration issues from Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) to B’odogwu most of the time as a result of network failure.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria has taken steps to fix a visa policy after the United States reduced the validity of its non-immigrant visa for Nigerians to three months from five years.

The Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, met with the United States ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Richard Mills, over the recently introduced visa procedures by the US government for Nigerians.

Mr Tunjo-Ojo in a statement on Wednesday, a day after the US announced a major change to its visa policy for Nigeria, said, “Our government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu (GCFR), will continue to ensure strict compliance across the board in key areas, including secure travel documents, ensuring the issuance of secure travel documents with verified traveller identities. Visa overstay management: Implementing measures to limit overstays by travellers on US visas.”

According to the Minister, the gathering was aimed at strengthening ties between Nigeria and the US through a well-structured visa framework.

He said the recently introduced visa procedures by the US government for Nigerian nationals were discussed during the meeting.

Mr Tunji-Ojo stated said the US ambassador provided “valuable insights into the revised protocol and its alignment with established practices to uphold the integrity of the visa process.”

“The ambassador described the new e-visa policy of the Nigeria Immigration Service as an innovation intended to streamline and enhance the application process for foreign travellers into the country,” he stated.

“The Ministry of Interior, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the US Mission in Nigeria agreed to strengthen collaboration, emphasizing adherence to visa regulations and promoting responsible travel practices among Nigerian citizens.

“Information sharing: Sharing relevant security and/or criminal record information to protect public safety,” the minister added.

In its reciprocal policy, the US said nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens will now be single-entry and valid for only three months, adding that this is part of a global reciprocity realignment, a sharp shift from previous visa terms, which often allowed for multiple entries over two years or more.

Nigeria also offers single-entry visas valid for three months only for those planning to visit the country from the US.

Business Post reports that Nigeria has no ambassador to the US, under President Bola Tinubu.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria has secured a $747 million syndicated loan, led by Deutsche Bank, to finance construction of the first phase of its planned 700km coastal highway project.

This was disclosed by the Ministry of Finance, via its spokesperson, Mr Mohammad Manga, on Thursday.

He said the loan is the first of its size for road infrastructure in Nigeria.

Deutsche Bank acted as global coordinator in the syndicate, which includes First Abu Dhabi Bank, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Abu Dhabi Exports Office, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, and Zenith Bank.

Mr Manga noted that Phase 1, Section 1 of the project covers the stretch from Victoria Island to Eleko Village in Lagos.

The Ministry described the financing as Nigeria’s first syndicated loan of such magnitude for road infrastructure, highlighting it as a sign of strong global investor confidence in the country’s reform agenda and infrastructure pipeline.

The statement read, “The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) provided partial political and commercial risk insurance.

“The syndicate includes support from development finance institutions, export credit agencies and international commercial banks—notably First Abu Dhabi Bank, also acting as Agent across all facilities and Intercreditor Agent, whose involvement underscores its strong and growing support for Nigeria.

“Other lenders involved are the African Export-Import Bank, the Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX), the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Nexent Bank N.V. (formerly known as Credit Europe Bank N.V.) and Zenith Bank (through its UK, Paris and Nigeria offices).

“The project is structured as an EPC+F (Engineering, Procurement, Construction + Financing) contract awarded to Hitech Construction Company, one of Nigeria’s leading infrastructure firms.”

The initial section of the highway financed by the loan spans 47.47km, Mr Manga said, with the entire project expected to cost around $11 billion and be completed in about eight years.

The highway will eventually link the commercial capital, Lagos, to the southeastern port city of Calabar.

Mr Manga also explained that the highway, constructed using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) was a reflection of a commitment to long-term resilience and efficiency.

“Engineered for a minimum lifespan of 50 years with minimal maintenance, it offers outstanding durability and cost-effectiveness,” he said.

“The project’s design and implementation have been shaped by comprehensive technical, legal, and environmental and social assessments, ensuring alignment with the highest international standards.”

Commenting on the loan, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, stated: “This deal reflects the success of our macroeconomic reforms and the return of international capital to support Nigeria’s development.

“We are focused on financing infrastructure in ways that are sustainable, transparent, and catalytic—and this transaction is a model of that vision in action.

“The closing of this market defining financing is yet another testament to Mr President’s commitment to accelerate the participation of the private sector in infrastructure financing and development.

“It positions the country as being ready for a full transition to the design, development, financing as well as operations and management of critical public infrastructure through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).”

“It signals to investors and private sector participants, the sophistication and maturity of the Nigerian market and commitment of the government to sanctity of contracts and innovative structures to fund critical national infrastructure that will deliver sustained and inclusive growth,” he added.