The build-up to the 2025 edition of the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) Annual Maritime Lecture (MAMAL) is gaining momentum as the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has thrown its weight behind the flagship industry event.
During a courtesy visit by MARAN’s Executive Council on Monday, August 4, 2025, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Patrick Ntadi, pledged his full support and confirmed his attendance at the lecture scheduled for August 27, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
“Of course, I will be willing to attend the event as the topic is very germane and critical towards addressing factors that contribute to the rising cost of goods in the country,” Comptroller Ntadi stated.
In an impressive display of leadership and commitment, Comptroller Ntadi conducted the MARAN delegation on a tour of the command, showcasing a sweeping transformation just two months after assuming office.
Visitors are now welcomed by a refreshed environment a newly painted fence and building structure, while construction is underway for a modern signpost at the command’s entrance.
Beyond aesthetics, Ntadi disclosed that major security concerns around the command had been addressed. Shanties and makeshift structures that once surrounded the premises have been cleared, eliminating criminal hideouts and enhancing operational security.
“The presence of the shanties and activities of suspicious elements posed a serious security risk. After issuing a month’s quit notice, we cleared the area to restore order,” he explained.
Work is also ongoing at the jetties, which are currently undergoing major renovation and reconstruction. Additionally, the Customs management under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi is constructing a befitting office complex within the command, expected to be completed before the year ends.
In the fight against smuggling, Ntadi reaffirmed his zero-tolerance stance, disclosing a recent successful operation that led to the seizure of 503 bags of rice and the arrest of six smuggling boats along the Badagry axis.
Earlier in the visit, MARAN President, Mr. Godfrey Bivbere, expressed the association’s commitment to collaborating with the command to support its objectives and strengthen media-agency relations.
“MARAN is committed to fostering a mutually beneficial relationship with the command to enable it deliver on its mandate. We are open and ready to work together,” Bivbere stated.
With the Western Marine Command joining other stakeholders in endorsing MAMAL 2025, expectations are high that this year’s lecture will spark robust conversations on maritime policy and reforms, particularly around the rising cost of shipping and trade in Nigeria.
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