The 16th edition of the Ships & Ports Maritime Cup kicks off in Lagos today, Tuesday, November 10, with defending champions, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), facing former winners Comet Shipping Agencies in the opening fixture.
The eagerly anticipated encounter, scheduled for 3pm at The Stable, Bode Thomas, Surulere, will mark the start of the competition, which brings together eight organisations from Nigeria’s maritime industry in the race for the coveted trophy.
The tournament, which runs until November 26, will feature two groups of four teams competing for places in the semi-finals.
Group A comprises the Nigeria Customs Service, Comet Shipping Agencies, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA).
Group B features the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dangote Ports Operation, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Apapa Bulk Terminal Ltd (ABTL).
Maritime Cup Coordinator, Oluwatosin Rotimi, said the competition promises an exciting display of football, with regulatory agencies, government institutions and private-sector operators all seeking bragging rights.
She noted that the tournament has grown into an important fixture on the maritime industry’s calendar, bringing stakeholders together through sporting competition and professional networking.
The opening-day clash will see Customs begin its quest to retain the title it won in 2025 against a Comet side that lifted the trophy in 2024.
Customs remains the most successful team in the competition’s history, having won the championship in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2025.
However, Comet will be determined to reclaim the title, while the Nigerian Ports Authority is also expected to mount a strong challenge. NPA has won the competition three times, in 2018, 2022 and 2023.
Other former champions include the Nigerian Navy (2009), Micura Services Limited (2010), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (2014), the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (2015) and ENL Consortium (2019).
The group-stage action continues on Wednesday, November 11, with NIMASA taking on NPERA at 10am, followed by NPA’s encounter with Dangote Ports Operation at 11:30am. All matches will be played at The Stable, Bode Thomas, Surulere.
Since its inception, the Ships & Ports Maritime Cup has evolved beyond a football competition, providing a platform for interaction, networking and stronger relationships among players in Nigeria’s maritime sector.