Maritime Journalists To Unveil Book On Customs And Maritime Development Under Tinubu

BY KESIENNA SHEPHERDS

Senior maritime journalists are set to present a new book titled “Customs Operational Revolution and Maritime Development Under President Tinubu” at a seminar scheduled for June 18, 2026, at Shoregate Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos.

The book, authored by Chief Timothy Okorocha and Mr. Francis Ugwoke, offers a comprehensive examination of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations, and institutional transformation within the nation’s trade and economic framework.
It also highlights reforms under the leadership of Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, while situating these developments within the broader policy direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

As part of the event, a seminar themed “3 Years After Marine & Blue Economy Ministry, How Far, How Well?” will be delivered by the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola. Other key stakeholders, including Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho (Managing Director, NPA), Dr. Dayo Modereola (Director General, NIMASA), and Dr. Pius Akutah (Executive Secretary/CEO, NSC), will present papers on the strides and challenges of their respective agencies.

The book also documents the activities of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy since its creation in 2023, with particular focus on agencies such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN).

Among its highlights are Nigeria’s return to the Category C seat of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) after nearly a decade, successes in combating piracy in territorial waters and the Gulf of Guinea, and efforts to counter war risk surcharges imposed by multinational shipping lines. The book also acknowledges challenges in customs operations and maritime development, offering insights into areas requiring urgent reforms.

Okorocha and Ugwoke, both seasoned journalists with decades of experience in maritime reporting, bring their expertise to bear in this publication. Their work is expected to contribute meaningfully to national conversations on revenue optimization, trade facilitation, and institutional accountability.

The unveiling promises to be a landmark event in Nigeria’s maritime sector, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to reflect on achievements and chart the way forward.