General News
E-SONCAP as Tool for Trade Facilitation

The essence of e-SONCAP application is basically to facilitate and ensure that goods imported into Nigeria are in conformity with Nigeria’s specification of quality and standards.
It is no longer news that over time Nigeria may have become a dumping ground for substandard, adulterated and fake products mostly coming from the Asian Countries.
It is therefore unfortunate that most Nigerians who are engaged in international trade voluntarily seek for substandard products with a view to maximizing profit.
The situation became more worrisome at a time the Government asked SON to operate from outside the ports, border and airport cargo arena.
It is very unfortunate that the Government may not be conscious of the flair of most traders to breaching the import and export regulations using the platform of false declaration, concealment and wrong description of imports etc.
It is common knowledge that compliance to import regulations is the major problem facing regulatory functions, revenue and security matters in our international Gateways of the Nigeria Customs Service.
In order to bridge the irregularities and facilitate trade equally, the SON entered into strategic partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service Single Window approach of clearing goods out of Customs control.
In this regard, the NICIS (Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System) has provided an avenue for SON to interact and track imports that attract regulatory concern. While appreciating the effort of the management of SON and NCS towards facilitating trade through NICIS, it is equally important that both agencies harmonize their cooperation especially on matters of Customs Examination.
The point herein canvassed is to advise NCS, SON and NAFDAC to ensure that they imbibe the culture of One-stop shop Customs examination with regard to regulatory interest duty.
The situation at the port instead of facilitating trade is the reverse because of the prevalence of double examination.
NAGAFF through reports from our intelligence Committee and members have discovered that double examination is now a major problem in Nigerian Ports and Border Stations.
We have noted that either by omission or commission, it is usually discovered that after Customs has concluded examination and release of imports to the owners, the SON and NAFDAC enforcement unit are usually in the habit of putting on-hold such cargo that has their concern from leaving the port which usually leads to second examination.
It is our opinion and advise that NCS and the regulatory agencies should harmonize hour of examination to stem the avoidable loss of resources and delays associated with it.
It is also important that freight agents should endeavour to check the status of any job before examination to see if regulatory agencies indicated interest in such cargo to avoid double examination.
It is the view of NAGAFF that if importers and freight forwarders can endeavour to be compliant to import regulations thus making honest declarations for Customs purposes, it would translate to regulatory agencies ease of doing business with the public and this shall help in no small measure in facilitating legitimate trade.
The NAGAFF trade alert is to state the obvious that except otherwise to the contrary, the way we are going about our businesses at the Customs entry points is not encouraging.
The instances of over taxation of import by the Customs, the attitude of regulatory agencies (SON and NAFDAC) to act as revenue collecting agencies are injurious to international business in our country.
The billing method and the application of unapproved charges by the terminal operators is a disservice to trade and the Nigerian economy.
The sad thing is the attitude of the Nigerian Shippers to enrich other Nations through the importation of substandard, adulterated and fake products into Nigeria.
In this wise wherein we enrich other nations in return we impoverish our people through avoidable loss or destructions or seizure of trade goods.
The freight forwarders who are expected to be professional in their duty are usually compromised by the importers to cheat the Government and circumvent due process through falsification and faking of documents.
The implication of these vices without prejudices to the forex related and monetary policies of the Government, trade is dying in Nigeria through criminal diversion of imports into Nigeria.
The exploits of the Boko Haram sect have shown that the Nigerian borders are porous. At the moment, Ijora, KLT, outer terminals, PTML, Area I PH, Cargo Airports etc are seemingly out of business yet Government agents are being paid salaries without adding any value to the economy for not being productive.
Stanley Ezenga, the national public relations office of NAGAFF writes from Lagos
General News
FG Orders Installation of 5000 CCTV Cameras for Surveillance in Plateau

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate installation of 5,000 CCTV cameras across identified flashpoints in Plateau State as part of urgent measures to address the worsening security situation in the state.

The President gave the directive during an emergency visit to Plateau on Thursday, where he held a brief stakeholders’ meeting at the Yakubu Gowon Airport following the recent killings in Angwan Rukuba, Jos, where at least 28 persons were killed by unidentified gunmen.
Tinubu also approved the formation of a delegation of key stakeholders to engage in further deliberations on lasting solutions to the security challenges in the state.
He condoled with families of the victims and directed that support be provided to cushion their losses.
President Bola Tinubu while expressing deep sympathy to families of victims said the installation of surveillance cameras was part of a deliberate move towards addressing the kind of attacks that befell residence of the recent attack in the State.
In his remarks, Governor Caleb Mutfwang appreciated the President’s visit and show of concern, but expressed worry over the recent wave of attacks in the state, describing the situation as disturbing and requiring urgent attention.
The meeting had in attendance, former Governors, serving and former National and State Assembly members, traditional rulers, government appointees as well as relatives of those killed in the Angwan Rukuba attack.
General News
FG Rolls Out N12Bn Digital Research Clusters to Boost Innovation Economy

Federal Government yesterday unveiled a N12 billion investment in digital economy research, marking a strategic shift towards knowledge-driven development as Nigeria positions itself as a key player in the global digital landscape.

Declaring the launch of the National Digital Economy Research Clusters under the Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE) project, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the initiative mobilises over 200 researchers from universities and research institutions nationwide to produce data-driven solutions for pressing national challenges.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Tijani described the programme as an essential complement to infrastructure expansion, including the ongoing deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country.
He stressed that sustainable growth in the digital sector now hinges on robust research, innovation and evidence-based policies rather than infrastructure alone.
“As Nigeria expands its digital economy, attention is shifting from infrastructure to the knowledge that drives it,” the minister stated, adding that the sector was emerging as a major contributor to national GDP.
The research clusters will tackle critical areas including connectivity, digital public infrastructure, skills development, job creation, online safety and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Tijani explained that the project aims to bolster Nigeria’s research capacity while ensuring local insights guide policy and technology adoption.
The Federal Ministry of Education is collaborating to synchronise academic research with national priorities and advance specialised training.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, underscored universities’ evolving role as hubs of innovation and problem-solving beyond traditional learning.
The BRIDGE project aligns with broader government strategies to promote digital inclusion, spur economic growth and elevate Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
Observers note that the programme’s impact will depend on effectively converting research findings into implementable policies across sectors.
For the administration, the message is clear: a resilient digital economy demands not just infrastructure, but the intelligence to power it.
General News
Myitura Launches Women-Focused Healthcare Financing Solutions to Bridge Access Gap

In commemoration of Women’s Month, health-tech platform Myitura has released a new white paper addressing the critical gaps in healthcare financing for women in Nigeria.

Titled “Closing the Gap: Healthcare Financing for Women in Nigeria,” the report highlights how high out-of-pocket costs, limited insurance coverage, and socio-economic factors continue to prevent women from accessing timely healthcare.
According to the report, over 70% of healthcare expenses in Nigeria are paid out-of-pocket, disproportionately affecting women who often delay care due to financial and social constraints.
“When women can afford to take care of their health early, we don’t just save lives; we strengthen families, communities, and the economy,” said Chialuka Kelechi, MyItura’s Chief of Staff.
Key Insights from the White Paper:
- Preventable conditions often escalate due to delayed care
- Women are more likely to deprioritize their own health
- Affordable, structured healthcare financing can significantly improve outcomes
Introducing a Women’s Health Initiative
As part of its commitment, Myitura is launching affordable women-focused health packages (powered by Mediloan), starting at ₦58,180, designed to encourage preventive care and early detection.
The package provides access to:
- Fasting/Random Blood Sugar
- Urinalysis
- Electrolytes
- Urea
- Creatinine
- Pap Smear Submitted slides
- HIV I & II Rapid (Qualitative)
- Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Screening (Rapid)
- Hepatitis C Virus Screening (Rapid)
- Abdominopelvic Ultrasound
- Ongoing support via the Myitura platform
Access:
Women can access these packages by downloading the Myitura app, which makes healthcare more accessible and convenient.
Myitura is a health-tech platform focused on improving access to healthcare through financing, technology, and preventive care solutions.
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