General
Use Inland Ports to Ease Congestion, Business Costs—Shippers’ Council
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has urged stakeholders in the North-West Zone to fully utilise the inland dry ports for export, to ease seaport congestion and reduce the cost of doing business.
The Executive Secretary of the council, Mr Pius Ukeyima-Akutah disclosed this during a familiarisation/stakeholder interaction with the Shippers’ Association from North-West Zone in Kano.
He noted that the NSC is saddled with the responsibility of promoting and developing inland dry ports.
“We have three Inland dry ports in the zone, Kaduna, Funtua and one of the foremost is Dala inland dry port in Kano,” he said.
The executive secretary noted that with inland dry ports designated within the region as origin and destination, stakeholders need not go to seaports to export their products.
“All we want is to bring shipping services closer to the shippers, so as to improve the service delivery and grow the trade and commerce in the country.
“As a shipper, you do not have any business going all the way to the seaport before you can export your products, you can export your products from these inland dry ports.
“Our target is that these ports will be available for even neighbouring countries to do businesses,” he said.
Mr Ukeyima-Akutah added that opportunities were provided for people to develop “through the use of this critical national infrastructure for transport services to support trade and commerce business in this part of the country.
“This government is promoting export over import, because we want to float the world with Nigeria forex, especially now that we are under Africa Free Continental Trade Agreement.
“We need to encourage our businessmen who are producing in this country to know that their products would be carried to the whole of Africa for the purpose of promoting trade activities.
“Kano happens to be a major point in terms of commerce in Nigeria.
“The establishment of this critical infrastructure shows that Nigeria is looking towards enhancing trade activities with other countries,” the executive secretary said.
On her part, the NSC Director, northwest zone, Mrs Karimatu Othman, said the council recovered over N6 billion for individual and corporate shippers.
“Your expertise and competencies in analysing multi-jurisdictional legal issues will assist us in dealing with challenges of trade disputes between shippers and importers abroad based on complaints we have been receiving in recent times,” she observed.
Mrs Othman commended the NSC executive secretary for improving staff welfare and refocusing the council in discharging its mandates effectively.
Meanwhile, Mr Ukeyima-Akutah, during a familiarisation visit to Dala Inland Dry Port, said the NSC would address all constraints to ensure that the port operated as a full-fledged inland dry port and not a terminal bound.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Dala Inland Dry Port Kano, Mr Ahmad Rabiu, appealed for a fully established Customs Command to ensure every process was done within the dry port.
“Since commencement of operation, we faced challenges such as transfer of cargoes to operate effectively in the facility,” he noted.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A hotline number, 0800 123 5264, for Nigerians to report any MRS Oil Nigeria Plc filling stations selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, above the approved pump price of N739 per litre, has been released by Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The private refiner said the number was now active nationwide, enabling consumers to promptly report violations and help maintain fair pricing across over 2,000 MRS stations.
This measure follows the refinery’s recent commencement of nationwide PMS sales at N739 per litre—a strategic intervention aimed at stabilising fuel prices and easing the financial burden on Nigerians during the festive season.
“We encourage Nigerians to avoid purchasing PMS at inflated prices when locally refined fuel is available at N739 per litre.
“Report any MRS station selling above this price by calling our hotline. Together, we can ensure that the benefits of this price reduction reach every consumer,” the company stated in a statement.
The organisation stressed its mission to deliver affordable, high-quality fuel while safeguarding national economic interests, reaffirming its commitment to steady supply, backed by a guaranteed daily output of 50 million litres, and warned against attempts to create artificial scarcity or manipulate supply.
Regulatory authorities have been urged to remain vigilant and take decisive action against unpatriotic practices.
By refining locally at scale, Dangote Refinery is reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imports, conserving foreign exchange, stabilising the Naira, and strengthening energy security. This initiative represents a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward sustainable energy solutions and economic recovery.
The refinery also issued a stern warning against attempts by unscrupulous operators to create artificial scarcity in response to the price reduction, calling on government agencies to act decisively.
“Any attempt to create artificial scarcity or manipulate supply to frustrate recent price reductions is unpatriotic and unacceptable. We urge regulatory authorities to remain vigilant and take firm action against such practices, especially during this critical festive period,” the statement added.
Consumers were advised to resist purchasing fuel at inflated prices when cheaper, high-quality alternatives are readily available.
By Bon Peters
The Airport Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) at Omagwa Rivers State has praised the Customs Area Controller for Customs Area 1 Command, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku.
At the end-of-the-year party attended by stakeholders, including the leader of the association’s chapter, Mr Charles Onyema, said the customs officer has done well in stakeholder engagement and trade facilitation.
At the event held last Friday, he said his association has been enjoying a very cordial relationship with other organisation in the ecosystem.
“You can see what is happening today, everybody is working together and our operations here are seamless,” he noted.
He stated that apart from creating a very robust business environment for his members and other stakeholders to operate, he has taken a decision to build and commission a befitting ANLCA Secretariat which would be completed soon and be commissioned by the ANLCA national president, Mr Emenike Nwokeoji.
The ANLCA chapter chief said since “Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku assumed office at Customs Area 1, Port Harcourt Command, it has been a different ball game, facilitating trade and increasing Revenue generation.”
“I remember I told her she was a mother during her maiden visit to the airport.
“You know when you have a woman in charge of an affair, food will not lack, compassion will not lack and motherly love will not lack.
“She is very wonderful in stakeholder engagement, revenue generation and trade facilitation,” Mr Onyema enthused.
Projecting into the future, Mr. Onyema said the year 2026 would be better for his members, adding that he has advised them on financial discipline which he said would help them during the trying period.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has declared Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, 2025, as public holidays to mark Christmas and Boxing Day respectively.
The government also declared Thursday, January 1, 2026, for the New Year celebration.
The declaration was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
According to the statement, the Minister urged Nigerians to reflect on the values of love, peace, humility and sacrifice associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.
Mr Tunji-Ojo also called on citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity, to use the festive season to pray for peace, improved security and national progress.
He further advised Nigerians to remain law-abiding and security-conscious during the celebrations, while wishing them a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Business Post reports that on these public holidays – the foreign exchange market, the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), as well as the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange will not open to trade.
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