The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has challenged maritime journalists to intensify agenda-setting reportage that will drive reforms, transparency and accelerated growth across Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Adeniyi gave the charge on Wednesday in Lagos at the 10th Anniversary and Annual Seminar for Maritime Journalists, during which First Mediacon Network Limited unveiled the Maritime Media and Capacity Development Centre.
Represented by Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Mohammed Babandede, the CGC said the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) remains committed to reforms and continuous engagement with the media, stressing that credible journalism is critical to identifying gaps and strengthening institutional performance.
“As we continue our reforms in the Nigeria Customs Service, we count on maritime journalists to highlight areas where we can do better. Our doors remain open for engagement, collaboration and partnership with the media to ensure balanced and factual reportage,” Adeniyi said.
He noted that journalism plays a defining role in shaping public understanding of policies, reforms and operational realities in the maritime space, adding that constructive media scrutiny remains indispensable to institutional accountability.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah, declared that no maritime sector can make meaningful progress without a strong, knowledgeable and committed media community.
Speaking at the event, Akutah said the maritime media has, over the years, contributed significantly to transparency, accountability and public awareness within Nigeria’s port and shipping environment.
“This decade-long journey affirms a simple truth: no maritime sector can advance without a strong, knowledgeable, and committed media community,” Akutah said.
He described the theme of the anniversary, “A Decade of Collaboration for Impact: Strengthening Maritime Journalism for the Future,” as a reflection of the power of partnership in building a competitive maritime industry.
According to him, maritime journalists have consistently worked with regulators, operators and policymakers to expose challenges and opportunities in the sector, adding that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has benefitted immensely from sustained, professional coverage of its regulatory interventions and reforms under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
“As the maritime sector grows more complex—driven by digitalisation, regulatory reforms, evolving trade realities and global logistics shifts—journalism within this space must evolve accordingly,” Akutah added.
Earlier, the Convener of the Annual Seminar for Maritime Journalists and Chief Executive Officer of First Mediacon Network Limited, Mr. Sesan Onileimo, said the seminar has grown into a key performance indicator (KPI) for the Public Relations Department of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, owing to over a decade of consistent institutional support.
Onileimo paid tribute to former Executive Secretary of the NSC, Barrister Hassan Bello, and successive management teams for sustaining the vision of capacity building for maritime journalists.
He described the unveiling of the Maritime Media and Capacity Development Centre as a fulfilment of a pledge made at the 9th edition of the seminar, noting that the centre is designed to address the growing knowledge gap created by digitalisation, artificial intelligence and evolving media demands.
“The Centre for Maritime Media and Capacity Development is our bold move to ensure that maritime journalists—young or old on the beat—remain relevant, informed and competitive,” Onileimo said.
He disclosed that the Advisory Board of the Centre comprises eminent industry personalities, including the Comptroller-General of Customs, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and other key stakeholders, describing this as a clear indication of seriousness and industry-wide buy-in.
Also speaking, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Emeka Akabogu, emphasised that the National Single Window policy remains central to Nigeria’s quest for efficiency, cost reduction and trade facilitation at the ports.
Akabogu said many port challenges stem from excessive human interface and fragmented regulatory processes, stressing that a fully operational single window system would streamline cargo clearance through a single submission and approval framework.
He commended the Nigeria Customs Service for domesticating the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement through the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, but noted that full benefits would only materialise with effective implementation.
Similarly, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. Abdullahi Maiwada, urged maritime journalists to embrace data journalism and artificial intelligence, describing data as a critical tool for telling impactful stories and supporting informed decision-making.
Maiwada explained the distinctions between data analysis and data analytics, highlighting descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive analytics as essential tools for modern journalism and public communication.
The event also featured discussions on the benefits of the National Single Window system, with stakeholders describing it as a game-changer for efficiency, transparency and revenue optimisation, particularly for customs brokers and port users.
Highlights of the ceremony included the presentation of awards to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akutah; and the National PRO of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. Abdullahi Maiwada, in recognition of their contributions to maritime sector development and media engagement.
