Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited (PCHS), the port management subsidiary of the SIFAX Group, has entered into a new operational partnership with Micura Services Limited, awarding the company the stevedoring contract at its terminal located in Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.

The partnership, which took effect from August 1, 2025, is part of a comprehensive internal restructuring initiative aimed at increasing operational efficiency, strengthening service delivery, and enhancing customer satisfaction across the terminal.

Enhancing Core Focus

John Jenkins, Managing Director of Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, said the collaboration marks a turning point in the company’s strategic direction. He noted that outsourcing the stevedoring function would allow PCHS to concentrate on its core competency of terminal management while entrusting cargo loading and offloading to a professional firm.

“Ports and Cargo Handling Services Limited has continued to set standards in port operations in Nigeria. With over two decades of experience, we are poised to transition into a new growth phase, where we will substantially improve our operational deliverables, become the preferred seaport terminal in Nigeria, and the first choice for shipping lines, consignees, and agents,” Jenkins said.

“Achieving this lofty objective requires a professional stevedore company that has cognate experience, a record of excellence, and local knowledge of the industry. That’s why Micura Services is coming on board as a partner in meeting these expectations.”

Micura Services Brings Expertise and Passion

Dr. Michael Ubogu, CEO of Micura Services Limited, described the contract as a landmark opportunity to showcase the company’s industry-leading stevedoring expertise. He emphasized the firm’s readiness to deliver efficient and professional services.

“At Micura Services, we are grateful for the opportunity provided by Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited to partner with it to showcase professional stevedore services built on competence and experience,” Ubogu stated.

“We are renowned for our well-trained and well-motivated staff, who are not only passionate but also skilled in handling all types of cargo. We promise to deliver tailor-made solutions that fit the requirements of our new partner.”

Union Endorses the Transition

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) also threw its weight behind the partnership. Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, President General of MWUN, who was represented at the contract launch by Vice President General, Ibrahim Ohize Tajudeen, applauded both parties for a smooth transition process.

He specifically commended Ports & Cargo for its transparent handling of dock workers’ affairs throughout the restructuring, noting that such actions help foster trust and long-term industrial harmony in the maritime sector.

Strategic Restructuring in Maritime Operations

This latest development underscores PCHS’s long-term vision to strengthen its position as a leader in Nigeria’s maritime logistics ecosystem. By outsourcing stevedoring duties to an experienced partner, the company aims to fast-track its transformation agenda, while contributing to national efforts to modernize port operations in line with global standards.

The collaboration also points to growing interest in private sector-driven operational reforms at Nigerian ports—especially in Lagos, where congestion and operational delays have raised calls for improved logistics solutions.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has unveiled a comprehensive handbook designed to streamline import and export procedures for renewable energy equipment, strengthening its collaboration with the European Union (EU), the German government, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

At a high-level event held on Monday, July 29, 2025, in Abuja, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the publication as a “living document” that addresses classification and clearance challenges often faced in the clean energy sector.

“With Nigeria’s increasing investment in renewable energy infrastructure, Customs has a responsibility to ensure that legitimate trade in this sector is facilitated efficiently and securely,” Adeniyi said.

The handbook outlines detailed procedures on tariffs, exemptions, valuation, and documentation for solar panels, batteries, inverters, wind turbines, and other energy-saving components. It also aligns with Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP), which aims for net-zero emissions by 2060 while increasing energy access for underserved communities.

“This is more than a Customs document; it’s a strategic tool for economic transformation,” Adeniyi added. “It will be updated regularly in line with technological advancements, global practices, and Nigeria’s policy direction.”

He commended the EU, German Embassy, and GIZ for their technical and financial support, calling the partnership a “model of institutional synergy that benefits both trade and the environment.”

International Partners Laud Customs’ Green Reforms

Representatives from the EU and German government welcomed the initiative, hailing it as a key driver for sustainable development and gender inclusivity in public institutions.

“We are especially encouraged by the rising involvement of women in the Nigeria Customs Service, a sign of inclusiveness that strengthens institutional resilience,” said Inga Stefanowicz, Head of the Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria.

Karin Jansen, Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy, reaffirmed her country’s commitment to deepening green energy ties with Nigeria through policy and trade facilitation.

Marcus Wagner, Country Director of GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, praised the Customs boss for his visionary leadership and congratulated him on his recent election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council.

“That appointment is not only a personal achievement but a global recognition of Nigeria’s growing leadership in Customs modernisation and reform,” Wagner noted.

Handbook to Accelerate Green Trade Across Borders

The renewable energy handbook is expected to serve as a critical resource for Customs officers, renewable energy firms, freight forwarders, and regulators. It demystifies the clearance process and facilitates transparent, efficient cross-border movement of clean energy goods.

The initiative supports global frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), positioning Nigeria as a green trade hub in West Africa.

As the country pivots towards a cleaner, more inclusive economy, this document represents a significant leap toward reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and advancing sustainable logistics.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a one-year extension for the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, whose tenure was initially set to end on August 31, 2025.

The presidency said the extension would allow the Customs chief to consolidate ongoing reforms and complete key policy initiatives that are crucial to the Tinubu administration’s economic transformation agenda.

“The extension, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, will enable Mr. Adeniyi to consolidate ongoing reforms and complete critical initiatives of this administration, including: • The modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service; • The implementation of the National Single Window Project; and • The execution of Nigeria’s obligations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocol,” the statement read.

The announcement was made via an official statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

President Tinubu praised Adeniyi for his “steadfast leadership and commitment to service,” adding that his extended stewardship would help the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) enhance its core mandates of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and border security.

“The President is confident that this extension will further strengthen the Nigeria Customs Service in achieving its strategic mandate of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and border security,” Onanuga noted.

Who is Bashir Adewale Adeniyi?

Mr. Adeniyi, who was appointed Comptroller-General in 2023, is widely acknowledged for leading various structural and digital reforms at Customs, including the deployment of AI-based cargo processing systems and anti-smuggling operations across Nigerian borders. The extension is seen as a vote of confidence in his transformative leadership.

Reform Projects Underway

The National Single Window Project, a top agenda item in Nigeria’s customs digitalisation drive, aims to integrate all trade-related processes on a unified digital platform to cut red tape and boost ease of doing business.

Meanwhile, the AfCFTA implementation remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s regional trade commitment, with Customs playing a central role in ensuring tariff alignment, cross-border digital tracking, and trade harmonisation.