By BON PETERS, Port Harcourt

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it would continue to sustain efforts towards blocking revenue leakages while enhancing trade facilitation at Nigerian ports.

Comptroller Mohammed Aliyu Alkali, Customs Area Controller, Onne, Area11 Customs Command Rivers state, stated this Wednesday in Port Harcourt the Rivers state Capital at a seminar to commemorate the 2026 World Maritime Day organised by Business and Maritime Writers Association of Nigeria (BUMWAN).

With the theme, “Nigerian ports and Bonded Terminals, Impacts of Nigeria Customs Service and stakeholders in the Blue Economy, the seminar examined ways of advancing the Blue Economy agenda of the Federal Government.

Alkali, represented by Asst. Comptroller Nasir Lirwan Aliyu, said that the NCS has remained critical to the success and growth of the Blue Economy especially, considering its mandate in the non-oil revenue generation sector of the country.

According to him, the Onne command has also domesticated various strategies aimed at promoting effective risk management and stakeholders’ engagements.

The measure he emphasised also largely contributed to effective port operations.

Highlighting on the importance of Bonded Terminals on cargo operation, Alkali identified Bonded Terminals as backbones of the Blue Economy.

“Six years ago, there were only about six operational Bonded Terminals at the Onne command but presently due to the business-friendly policies of the Comptroller General Bashir Adeniyi, MFR, PhD over 20 operational Bonded Terminals have been created here in Onne.

He added: “This Indeed indicates that Bonded Terminals are no longer alternatives but indispensable partners in a seamless cargo clearance and Blue Economy agenda.

“Bonded Terminals have become critical for port decongestion, constant cargo delivery, employment generation and enhanced revenue collection.”

Alkali, also commended BUWAN for timely and effective reportage of the Ports and Bonded Terminals saying the effort had significantly strengthened public awareness.

Also speaking, Dr. Caleb Ajagba, Chief-of-staff, Abia State Government House urged the NCS to go beyond revenue collection, and step up actions towards strengthening its role in trade facilitation.

Represented by Chief Nwaka Inem, Special Adviser to Abia state Governor on Trade, Commerce and Industry, Ajagba lamented impacts of poor cargo operations on the end user.

“Delays from overstretched bureaucratic bottlenecks, multiple charges, congestion and uncertainties in cargo clearance have continued to increase cost of doing business which in turn affects the ordinary Nigerian consumer.

“Your objective should be geared towards creating an efficient and digitalized system which promotes timeliness for legitimate trade and prompt termination of illegal and non compliant transactions,” he said.

Ajagba also pledged readiness of the Alex Otti-led administration to strengthen partnerships with the NCS and other critical stakeholders with a view to promoting trans-border trade in the state.

“Abia State is open for collaboration and the Alex Otti led administration is consistently focused on improving infrastructure, ease of doing business, industrialization and investment promotion,” he added

Similarly, Mr. Matthias Odo, Commander, NDLEA, Onne port command, also pledged agency’s commitment to a drug-free society and called for collaboration from stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians.

Represented by his Deputy DC Kingsley Effiong, Odo emphasised that intelligence gathering was crucial for efficient local and trans-border drug tracking operations.

“I want you to understand that no business can thrive in an environment that is not drug-free, that is why we must continue dismantling drug cartels,” he said.

Earlier in his address, Mr. Peter Ihejirika, BUMWAN President, thanked participants and stakeholders for further enlightening the public on innovations geared towards improving port operations.

Ihejirika, on behalf of the group, promised to deepen media partnership with stakeholders and ports operators while also calling for their cooperation.

“Journalists are your friends, we are not spies, avail us information whenever we need them as failure to do so may give room for speculations,” he said.

Operators of bonded terminals, NAFDAC and other stakeholders also attended the seminar.

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