The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has ordered the transfer of Inland Dry Port (IDP) functions from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).

Oyetola said the move was aimed at separating regulatory functions from operations and establishing clear institutional boundaries among agencies under the ministry.

The minister gave the directive in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos by his Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola.

He also directed the immediate constitution of a ministerial committee to oversee the transition of the NSC into the newly established Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA).

The transition follows President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the NPERA Act in August, formally establishing a substantive economic regulator for Nigeria’s port sector.

Oyetola said the reforms would provide a clear framework for the new port economic regulatory regime, eliminate overlapping responsibilities and ensure that agencies operated within defined mandates.

He said the NSC, which had served as the interim port economic regulator since 2014, would transition into NPERA with expanded statutory powers.

According to him, NPERA will be responsible for tariff regulation, promotion of competition, licensing, service standards, commercial dispute resolution and protection of port users nationwide.

The minister said the transition offered an opportunity to establish a regulator clearly separated from the operational, developmental and promotional responsibilities previously domiciled in the NSC.

“We must get the transition right. The establishment of NPERA is a landmark reform and must be carefully managed for seamless institutional alignment,” he said.

Oyetola said the ministerial committee would oversee the process to ensure that every function was domiciled in the appropriate institution and that no critical responsibility was lost during the transition.

He stressed that the credibility of an economic regulator depended on its ability to function as an impartial referee without operational duties capable of creating actual or perceived conflicts of interest.

“A regulator cannot be an operator and still be perceived as unbiased. Clear separation will strengthen confidence, transparency and predictability for investors and port users,” Oyetola said.

On the transfer of IDP functions to NPA, the minister said the decision did not signal reduced government commitment to the dry port programme.

Rather, he said, it was designed to strengthen the programme by placing the functions within the authority’s operational and infrastructure mandate.

“We are committed to efficient, integrated ports serving the entire country. Placing IDPs with NPA will improve connectivity and delivery across Nigeria’s logistics chain,” he said.(NAN)

By David Torough, Abuja

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday declined to order the release of Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the detained self-styled Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), pending a response from the police and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, ruling on an ex-parte application filed by Adeyemi through his lawyer, M.

The judge, however, granted Adeyemi’s request for unhindered access to his lawyers while in custody. He directed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Nigeria Police Force and the AGF to allow the detainee access to legal practitioners of his choice at all reasonable hours.

Justice Egwuatu also ordered the respondents to, within 72 hours, show cause why the other reliefs sought by Adeyemi should not be granted. The matter was adjourned until September 9 for the respondents to respond.

Adeyemi had approached the court to enforce his fundamental rights, seeking six reliefs, including an order for his release on bail, access to medical practitioners of his choice and an injunction restraining the police from interrogating him or obtaining any statement from him without his lawyers present.

The application followed his arrest by the police after Justice Mohammed Umar, who is handling a separate criminal case against him, issued a warrant for his arrest on July 14. Adeyemi was subsequently apprehended in Osun State and has remained in police custody.

The police have accused Adeyemi of forgery and impersonation, alleging that he falsely presented himself as the Director-General of a federal agency that investigators say does not exist.

A pending eight-count criminal charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, was filed against Adeyemi and two other suspects identified as “Femi Surname Unknown” and “Anu Surname Unknown.” The charges relate to alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation.

Justice Umar fixed September 30 for Adeyemi’s arraignment.

According to the police investigation, the case arose from a petition submitted by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President to the IGP on October 17, 2025, over alleged forgery of official appointment letters.

Investigators alleged that the documents contained falsified signatures, reference numbers, official seals and the Nigerian Coat of Arms and were used to create the impression that the disputed PFIPC was a legitimate government agency.

The police further alleged that Adeyemi operated an office at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, where he purportedly carried out activities in the name of the council.

Among the witnesses listed by the prosecution are the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, officials of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Adeyemi has denied wrongdoing and rejected the claim that the PFIPC is non-existent. He has also alleged that he paid N400 million through a proxy to Gbajabiamila to secure his appointment as the council’s Director-General. Gbajabiamila has been named by the prosecution as a witness in the criminal proceedings.

Adeyemi previously said he stayed out of public view because of alleged threats to his life, denying that he was evading law enforcement.

He has also called for an independent, multi-stakeholder investigation into the controversy, particularly allegations surrounding an alleged N1.3 billion budget insertion for the PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.

For now, the court has stopped short of ordering his release, with the substantive reliefs in his fundamental rights suit awaiting the response of the police and the AGF on September 9.

By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has inspected the Customs Training College, Goron Dutse, Kano, to ensure the facility is fully prepared for the 2026 Basic Training Programme for successful candidates of the 2025/2026 recruitment exercise.

The National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos, saying the inspection was part of the Service’s preparations to receive and train the newly recruited personnel.

Adeniyi assessed the college’s facilities, ongoing projects, logistics and other support infrastructure to determine its readiness ahead of the commencement of training in 2026.

The CGC was received by the Zonal Coordinator, Zone B, Assistant Comptroller-General Nsikan Umoh; Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit Zone B, Aminu Sule; College Commandant, Deputy Comptroller Umar Atiku; as well as other principal officers and heads of units.

During the inspection, Adeniyi reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to providing the facilities, logistics and conducive learning environment required for effective basic training and capacity development.

He stressed that the college must be adequately equipped to deliver professional training capable of preparing recruits for the responsibilities they would undertake in the Service’s nationwide operations.

According to him, investment in training infrastructure has a direct impact on personnel efficiency, border security and revenue generation.

Adeniyi also emphasised the importance of personnel welfare, describing it as a key component of the Service’s transformation agenda.

The College Commandant, Atiku, briefed the CGC on the institution’s activities, ongoing projects and preparations for the arrival of the recruits.

Adeniyi thereafter toured the classrooms, hostels, parade ground, workshops and other support facilities, where he identified areas requiring urgent attention before the commencement of the training programme.

He directed immediate action on the identified gaps and charged officers at the college to maintain discipline and professionalism in preparing for the recruits.