LAGOS — The United States Coast Guard, in collaboration with the US Navy, has intercepted a Nigerian-owned supertanker, Skipper, over allegations of crude oil theft, piracy, and other transnational crimes.
The vessel, a 20-year-old Very Large Crude Carrier, VLCC, with IMO Number 9304667, is reportedly owned and managed by Nigeria-based Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., though its registered owner is listed as Triton Navigation Corp., headquartered in the Marshall Islands.
Authorities said the tanker was illegally flying the Guyanese flag at the time of its arrest.
In a swift rebuttal, Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department, MARAD, confirmed that Skipper is not on its national ship registry and was using the country’s flag without authorization
According to US security sources, the seizure was carried out under American law enforcement authority, with President Donald Trump announcing the operation.
Beyond suspicions of stolen crude, the vessel is also being investigated for allegedly transporting a large consignment of hard drugs and operating within a network backed by suspected Iranian and other Islamist-linked money-laundering financiers.
A check with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, Abuja, showed that Thomarose is inactive.
Further checks by Vanguard showed that Thomarose’s corporate address is listed as 111 Jakpa Road, Effurun, Warri, Delta State, with CAC registration number 1007876.
However, there are no phone numbers linked to the company.
Reacting to the seizure, the President of the Centre for Marine Surveyors, Nigeria, Engr. Akin Olaniyan, said that if the vessel indeed departed from Nigeria before being intercepted, it would indicate weaknesses in Nigeria’s Port State Control regime.
According to him, “If the vessel emanated from Nigeria, it suggests our Port State Control is practically non-existent. It also means any vessel leaving Nigerian waters may come under stricter scrutiny by Port State Control authorities in other countries. This issue has nothing to do with Nigeria as a country, but with regulatory enforcement.”
The Nigerian local currency, the naira, dropped against the US dollar across Nigerian foreign exchange markets as international payments began to pick up. The naira rate suggests foreign payments surpassed US dollar volume supplied after data showed FX inflows has been on the decline.Cryptocurrency exchange comparison
Daily FX update released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revealed that the naira on Wednesday weakened by 37 kobo against the US dollar to close at N1,420.04/$ at the official window.
The spot rate depreciation was driven by inadequate supply to meet the market demand as the naira traded within the range of N1,421.00-N1,419.00 per dollar during the session.
In the parallel market, the spot rate dipped to N1485 per dollar, reflecting a sustained surge in US dollar at the informal currency market.
Meanwhile, the External Reserve added $40.26 million to the previous day’s balance, bringing total reserves to $45.78 trillion, supported by inflows across sources amidst uncertainties around oil price projections for 2026.
Global oil prices rose on Wednesday for a fifth straight session on fears of Iranian supply disruptions due to a potential U.S. attack on Iran and possible retaliation against U.S. regional interests. Brent crude climbed 59 cents, or 0.90%, to $66.06 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose by 70 cents, or 1.15%, to $61.63.
Similarly, Gold surged to a record high, as geopolitical and economic uncertainties drove investors toward safe-haven assets, while expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts added further momentum.
Spot gold price rose 86bps to $4,627.42/oz, while U.S. gold futures followed, edging up 76bps to $4,634.20/oz. Analysts at AIICO Capital expect market to trade mixed, with precious metals remaining supported by Fed rate-cut expectations, while oil prices trade cautiously amid mixed supply dynamics and lingering geopolitical concerns.
Nigerians will begin paying a 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on selected banking services, including mobile bank transfers and USSD transactions, from January 19, 2026, following a new government-backed regulatory directive.
SaharaReporters obtained a notice sent to customers on Wednesday afternoon by Moniepoint, informing users of the impending implementation of the VAT regime on certain electronic banking charges.
According to the notice, the development is tied to a directive from tax authorities mandating financial institutions to begin VAT collection and remittance.
“We would like to inform you of an upcoming government-endorsed regulatory change regarding Value Added Tax (VAT),” the notice stated.
It added, “From Monday, 19 January 2026, we are required to collect a 7.5% VAT, to be remitted to the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) (formerly known as the Federal Inland Revenue Service).”
The company disclosed that the tax will apply to “certain banking services,” including “electronic banking charges such as mobile banking fees (transfers), USSD transaction fees and card issuance fee.”
However, Moniepoint clarified that not all banking-related transactions would attract the tax, noting that “services that DO NOT attract VAT include: interest on deposits and savings.”
The firm also distanced itself from responsibility for the new charges, stressing that “this is not a price increase by Moniepoint.”
“Moniepoint is required to collect and remit VAT to the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS),” the notice read.
It further explained that the tax authority had issued a clear timeline for compliance across the financial sector.
“The NRS has communicated a deadline for 19th January 2026 for all financial institutions (commercial banks, microfinance banks and electronic money transfer operators) to start collecting and remitting VAT,” the statement said.
Moniepoint also emphasised that the VAT would be limited strictly to service charges, stating that “VAT applies only to banking or service fees, not interest.”
Customers were also informed that the deductions would be clearly itemised, as “VAT charge will appear separately on your transaction reports and statements.”
The new VAT enforcement is expected to affect millions of Nigerians who rely daily on mobile banking platforms and USSD services for financial transactions.
Nigeria’s manufacturing sector stands at a critical crossroads as industry stakeholders project improved performance in 2026, following a modest recovery in the second half of 2025. While recent gains have raised expectations of a stronger growth trajectory, experts caution that the sector’s ability to transition from recovery to sustained expansion will depend largely on policy consistency and effective implementation of ongoing economic reforms.
The cautiously optimistic outlook is anchored on continued macroeconomic stability, improved execution of incentives under the new tax laws scheduled to take effect from January 1, favourable oil price dynamics, rising foreign capital inflows, stable energy costs, and the timely implementation of key industrial and fiscal policies aimed at strengthening domestic production.
In his projection, Director of Research and Economic Policy Division, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr Oluwasegun Osidipe, said the sector is expected to record 3.1 percent real growth and a contribution of 10.2 percent to the real gross domestic product (GDP) in the coming year.
He however hinged the expected improved performance on the effective execution of incentives under the new tax laws.
On the requisite conditions to achieve the improved outlook, Osidipe said: “The naira is projected to appreciate further to N1,300–N1,400/$, driven by global oil price recovery, stronger external reserves, robust export earnings, increased foreign investments and remittance inflows.
“Headline inflation will decelerate further to 14%, supported by easing food prices, stable energy prices and appreciation of the naira.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is anticipated to implement further cuts in the benchmark interest rate to about 23%, in line with the disinflationary trend and to stimulate credit expansion and output growth.
“Further reduction in lending rates and completion of the bank recapitalisation exercise will enhance credit availability to manufacturers, strengthening investment and capacity utilisation.
“Real growth is projected to reach 3.1 percent while contribution to real GDP is expected to rise to 10.2 percent. These gains, however, hinge on the effective execution of incentives under the new tax laws, the operationalisation of the National Single Window (NSW) Project and the purposeful implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Policy in close alignment with the “Nigeria First” Policy framework,” he stated.
According to him, manufacturers had over the years struggled under multiple taxation, which hindered growth.
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