Nigeria advances maritime priority and cross-border trade cooperation

Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has reaffirmed that prioritizing Nigerian-flagged vessels under the cabotage regime is a key administration goal. During a tour of the African Pioneer Lagos, an 8,000-metric-tonne offshore diving support vessel, Mobereola stated that such vessels should receive priority over foreign ships. He also noted plans to automate the Nigerian ship registry to encourage more domestic vessel registration.

Separately, the Nigeria Customs Service and the Republic of Benin Customs have agreed to strengthen cooperation to enhance economic integration and reduce trade barriers. Following a joint assessment of the Seme-Krake one-stop border post, Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi emphasized the use of custom-built technology to provide real-time visibility across the border. The initiative aims to harmonize cross-border procedures, improve enforcement through shared risk alerts, and modernize infrastructure such as scanners and surveillance at the border post.