Imports: 7% surcharge threatens revenue at Onne port as Customs agents cite multiple taxation
A 7 percent import surcharge has triggered protests at Onne Port, Rivers State, raising concerns over possible revenue losses as freight forwarders complain of multiple taxation and increased charges.
On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, four associations led by the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) began picketing the offices of Pacific International Lines (PIL), banning members from doing business with the shipping line. The groups accuse PIL of hiking charges, repeatedly applying the 7 percent surcharge, and ignoring advice from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to reverse the increases. Customs sources warned the protest could disrupt revenue generation if it continues.
Nigeria reopens Tsamiya border with Benin after 7-year closure
Nigeria has reopened the Tsamiya border corridor in Kebbi State, reviving a crucial route for agricultural trade with the Benin Republic. The corridor, closed in 2019 under former President Buhari to curb smuggling, will once again allow the movement of onions, garlic, beans, maize, sorghum, and other farm produce from Nigeria’s northern food belt.
The reopening, approved by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, is expected to boost regional trade and support local farmers and traders. Customs officials said the corridor will operate with stricter controls to ensure legitimate trade while preventing smuggling and other illicit activities.
CPPE cautions government against forcing value addition without processing capacity
The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has cautioned the Federal Government against mandating domestic value addition on primary products without first ensuring adequate and competitive local processing capacity. In a policy brief released on Tuesday, CPPE CEO Muda Yusuf acknowledged the growing emphasis on value addition as a tool for industrialisation, job creation, export diversification, and boosting foreign exchange earnings.
Yusuf stressed that enforcing such policies prematurely could undermine their intended benefits. He called for proper sequencing, urging the government to first strengthen local manufacturing infrastructure and efficiency before imposing compulsory value addition requirements, to ensure sustainable economic growth.
Experts warn universities risk irrelevance without AI and lifelong learning
Global education leaders have warned that traditional universities risk becoming obsolete unless they shift from the “degree factory” model to lifelong learning and rapid technological integration. Speaking at the World Governments Summit, experts said artificial intelligence, demographic shifts, and a volatile labor market have created a “now or never” moment for higher education.
Ahmed Ali Al Raisi, director of United Arab Emirates University, described the challenge as a “convergence” of technological disruption, financial constraints, and changing expectations. He emphasized that universities can no longer rely on heritage to remain relevant, urging institutions to embrace innovation and adapt quickly to survive in a rapidly changing world.
TotalEnergies signs deal to power Google for 15 years
TotalEnergies has signed two long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to deliver 1 gigawatt (GW) of solar capacity enough to generate 28 terawatt-hours (TWh) of renewable electricity over 15 years to Google’s data centres in Texas. The projects, located at the Wichita (805 MWp) and Mustang Creek (195 MWp) sites, are set to begin construction in the second quarter of 2026, marking the largest renewable PPA volume ever signed by TotalEnergies in the United States.
The agreements complement 1.2 GW of PPAs recently secured by Clearway, a California-based renewables company 50 percent owned by TotalEnergies, to supply Google’s data centres across ERCOT, PJM, and SPP markets. According to Marc-Antoine Pignon, Vice President of Renewables US at TotalEnergies, the deal supports digital carbonisation goals while addressing land and power supply challenges, enabling large-scale collocation opportunities for data centres.
