General News
Freight Agents Petition Jonathan on Seaports Raids by Customs
Freight forwarders on the aegis of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has petitioned President Jonathan alleging‘the frequent raid of innocent freight agents in the Nigerian seaports”
National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders also offered suggestions on how to address the issues that warranted these raids.
In the letter forwarded to Mr. President and a copy made available to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, Mr. Eugene Nweke, NAGAFF’s president, said that as major stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry, the freight forwarders deserve to be properly handled, and further suggested how the ports could be turned to gold mines for the nation.
According to him, the Association’s interest stems from the members’ belief in the transformation agenda of the present administration which has as its focal point on the rule of law and the respect for the fundamental human rights of the citizenry.
He petition read thus, “It is in the light of the above that the headquarters of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) decided to draw your attention to the frequent raid of innocent freight agents in the Nigerian seaports and offer suggestions on how to address the issues that warranted these raids.
“The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) is quite mindful of the present security challenges in the country and the need for the Government to put in place every necessary security measures/mechanism to foster security and safe-guard the lives and properties of Nigerians whereby the port environment becomes a focal point. Besides, it has become expedient for the Government to comply strictly with the WCO frame work of standards in relation to the total integration of the security supply chain management. While commending the Government on the implementation of this convention, we wish to also implore the Government to graduate and domesticate this convention considering the realities of the moment that suit our operational peculiarities.
“Mr. President, whereas we agree that the Customs ports are commercial areas that are restricted against those who do not have legitimate business or reason to be found within the area. It is a fact that the Nigeria Customs Service and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) have a mandate to regulate, control and profile persons and companies who come to do business with the Customs and other government agencies operating and rendering services to the port users.
“However, it is very sad to note that these Regulatory Agencies of the Government including but not limited to Customs, CRFFN, Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Ports Authority may have reneged in their duty to properly profile those who come to do legitimate business in the Customs ports and border stations.
“These Agencies of the Government, instead of accepting the fact of negligence of duty, have turned to the use of brute force on Nigerian freight forwarders as a tool to cover their inadequacies, and in the process turned freight forwarders into strangers in their country.
Nweke cited Sections 39, 40, 41 and 42 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution guarantee freedom of movement, lawful assembly, speech, associations and gathering for the purpose of advancing prosperity, progress and legitimate earning in our country.
He decried that innocent Nigerian freight forwarders are unduly harassed, extorted, molested, intimidated, embarrassed, forcefully arrested and prosecuted in their own country in the course of earning legitimate living.
“In the past, we do know that ‘port pass’ was issued by the Nigerian Ports Authority. We do know that the Nigeria Customs Service hangs “on duty card” and even the port concessionaires put on identification tags. Where has all these gone to if one may ask? Workers and passengers are properly identified at the various international airports.
“Your Excellency you could deduce that Customs license is silent, and that the alleged crowd in our ports are the practitioners engaged in the associated formalities of cargo clearance. All the Government Agencies needed to do is to collaborate among themselves and harmonize the process of proper identification of those who come to do business in the Customs ports and border stations”.
NAGAFF added that the use of coercive force through incessant raids is very unprofessional and inhuman to the extent of infringing on the rights of freight forwarders in the course of their legitimate business.
Femi Otedola, chairman, First HoldCo, has revealed that he will invest $100 million in Dangote refinery.
Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola
This is coming ahead of news that the Dangote refinery is planning to raise $2 billion through private placement, by selling its shares to the general public on a stock exchange for the first time.
Otedola, announced his plans on Wednesday after leading top executives of First HoldCo to visit Aliko Dangote, president of the Dangote Group, at the refinery in Lagos.
“From on a personal note, I’ve appealed to him (Aliko Dangote). I’ve been here with him 25 times, so my compensation is he’s going to allocate to me shares worth $100 million in the private placement,” the billionaire said.
“That’s one of the reasons why I sold my stake in Geregu plant to come and invest my proceeds in the IPO of Dangote refinery.”
During the meeting, Dangote said, the company is targeting a private placement of about $2 billion for the refinery
Dangote, on October 22, 2025, said the refinery could sell up to 10 percent stake in the listing, which Bloomberg valued to be about $5 billion.
The billionaire is planning to make the IPO a cross-border listing to enable the refinery draw investments from domestic and international investors.
In an earlier report, Dangote said the IPO is designed to democratise wealth creation and give Africans direct access to participate in the continent’s industrial transformation.
On May 12, Bloomberg reported that the billionaire is reportedly aiming for a valuation of up to $50 billion for Dangote refinery.
The Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Command, has entered into a collaborative partnership with Lasaco Assurance Plc to drive sustainable institutional growth and operational synergy.
According to a statement from the firm, the partnership is a strategic move to bridge the gap between public service efficiency and private sector innovation.
The partnership was solidified during a courtesy visit by top officials of the NIS Lagos Command to the corporate headquarters of Lasaco Assurance Plc in Lagos.
Led by the Deputy Comptroller of Immigration and Passport Control Officer, the NIS delegation engaged the insurance firm’s executive team in high-level discussions aimed at fostering knowledge exchange, strengthening risk management practices, and advancing national development goals.
A major highlight of the strategic engagement was the presentation of an award to the Managing Director of Lasaco Assurance Plc, Ademoye Shobo.
The NIS delegation honoured the insurance boss for his exemplary leadership in driving product growth, building operational resilience, and introducing innovative risk management solutions to the industry.
While commending Lasaco’s leadership, the NIS delegation noted that the company had consistently distinguished itself through a customer-focused approach and commitment to professionalism.
They emphasised that public-private partnerships were vital to creating value-driven systems that would benefit the larger Nigerian economy.
Reacting to the honour and the partnership prospects, Shobo reiterated the insurer’s readiness to support the immigration office.
“We are deeply honoured by this visit and the recognition from the Nigeria Immigration Service. At Lasaco, we believe that the future of institutional growth lies in deliberate collaboration. We are fully committed to maintaining a strong, mutually beneficial relationship with the Immigration Office to improve operational efficiency and deepen trust across both sectors,” Shobo said.
The management of Lasaco Assurance further expressed gratitude, noting that the engagement had set a new benchmark for public-private alignment.
The management stated, “This courtesy visit is not just a ceremony; it is a reinforcement of our shared commitment to institutional excellence. By combining public sector dedication with private sector innovation, we can create stronger avenues for service delivery that ultimately advance our national goals.”
The engagement underscored the growing importance of continuous dialogue between government agencies and private corporations to solve modern operational challenges.
Moving forward, both organisations expressed confidence that the partnership would unlock new opportunities for strategic growth.
Lasaco Assurance Plc reaffirmed its long-term vision to deliver value-driven insurance solutions, sustain stakeholder confidence, and champion impactful collaborations that foster national progress.
Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman and chief executive officer (EVC/CEO), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has has been confirmed as a Special Guest of Honour at this year’s Africa Beacon of ICT Lectures and Awards.
Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman and chief executive officer, NCC
Africa Beacon of ICT Lectures and Awards, is widely regarded as the most prestigious annual event available in the ICT industry in Nigeria.
The event according Ken Nwogbo, editor-in-chief of Nigeria Communications Week,“is digital transformation edition” will hold on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos.
Africa’s BoICT Lecture is designed to explore efforts to put Nigeria on the global Information and Communications Technologies map.
It will also to recognise and celebrate organisations and individuals in the ICT and banking industries that have impacted in digital transformation of the economy.
Nwogbo said that Dr. Maida, oversees the regulation, development, and strategic direction of the Nigerian telecommunications industry.
His administration at the NCC, actively drives initiatives to improve telecom consumer experience, enhance infrastructure, and foster collaborations (such as with the Central Bank of Nigeria) to protect citizens from financial fraud
He holds a PhD in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from the University of Bath, UK.
Prior to joining the NCC, he served as the Executive Director, Technology and Operations at the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS).
At NIBSS, Dr. Maida was responsible for spearheading the technical and operational standardization of all devices deployed in the financial system in Nigeria for interoperability.
He led a dynamic team that ensured that all terminals used in the e-payment industry and all devices deployed in Nigeria would accept all cards issued by banks and other licensed card schemes without discrimination.
Prior to his appointment at NIBSS, Maida was the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) at the Nigerian-based FinTech Arca Payments Network and Senior Manager at Cisco Systems, United Kingdom.
As a seasoned technical professional with over 15 years of multi-functional and international experience in FinTech & Telecoms & Enterprise Technology, Dr. Maida between 2010 and 2014, worked as a Network Design Consultant at EE, part of BT Group, and one of the largest mobile communications companies in the UK.
He was also at some point (2006-2010) a System Engineer at Ubiquisys, a leading company in intelligent 3G and LTE small cells, which is now part of Cisco.
Dr. Maida will be joining will join top dignitaries who have graced the event in the past including: Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, former executive vice-chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC); Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, former Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC); Dr. Jean Luc Fort, CEO at OR System France and a specialist in Counterparty Risk; and Professor Chris Nwagboso, Chairman, Knowledge Factory International, United Kingdom.
Others are: Chris Uwaje, chairman, Mobile Software Solutions Ltd; Uche Orji, former managing director/chief executive officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA); Biodun Omoniyi, Managing Director/CEO, VDT Communications; and John Obaro, CEO and founder of Systemspecs; Dr. Isa Pantanmi, former DG, NITDA; Dr. Obadare Peter Adewale, co-founder and COO, Digital Encode Limited; among others.
The highpoint of the BoICT Lecture will be the conferment of awards to companies and individuals for their significant contributions to the growth of technology in Nigeria and indeed Africa.
The event is a five-star event; easily Nigeria’s ICT Oscars.
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