Monday 23 December 2013

Government’s Rice Importation Policy Woes

• Ships Laden with Rice Diverts To Neighbouring Port
• Shipping Agencies Close Shop
• Customs Counts Losses, Battles Rising Smuggling

The Federal Government’s policy on rice importation which has shot duty to an all-time high of 110 percent is crippling businesses in Nigeria and boosting activities at the neighbouring Benin Republic’s Cotonou port.
Shipping Position Daily investigations revealed so many adverse effects of the policy, which government says is meant to boost local production of the staple food.
Investigations have revealed that no fewer than three shipping agencies that handle the commodities are on the verge of closing down there offices in Lagos.
Sources confirmed to our correspondent that some the shipping agencies that handle rice import have diverted their attention to importation of items like: crude palmolein, fertilizers, bulk malt and frozen fish.

Friday 20 December 2013

DIPLOMACY AT ITS BEST: Indian Sailor; Captain Sunil James, freed from Togo jail after five months, finally home for baby son's last rites




Indian merchant navy captain Sunil James, released after five months in a jail in Togo, today arrived in Mumbai to a homecoming weighed down by the tragic death of his baby son Vivaan earlier this month.
"I am relieved to be back home but I have duties to perform as a father, please respect that," Captain James told reporters as he landed in Mumbai.

PAAR: FG Extends Contract of Service Provider; Web Fontaine By Eight Months

...Clearing Agents Express Skepticisms Over CGC's Provisional Release

Fresh indications have emerged that the Federal Government has extended the contract of service provider; Web Fontaine Limited to manage its internet server under the implementation of its newly developed Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR)
This fact came to the fore last week when the Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Area 1 command of the Nigeria Customs Service; Mr Charles Edike visited the secretariat of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Apapa, Lagos.
Edike revealed that the Web Fontain is still working alongside the ICT department of the customs service in order to help manage its server under the new regime.

Thursday 19 December 2013

PIRACY: Global West Vessel Specialist Acquires 3 Vessels

The Director General, NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi.
• NIMASA Set To Position SAR Marshals At Jetties

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) says Global West Vessels Specialist (GWVS) Limited has provided more platforms to protect the eastern parts of the maritime domain in a bid to provide security.
This was made known yesterday by the Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development;  Captain Ezekiel Agaba at a stakeholders interactive forum put together by agency in Lagos.
Agaba stated that the three medium size deep-sea going vessels will be deployed to the Escravos, Port Harcourt and Forcadoes axis to protect and secure the coast from pirate and sea robbery attacks on vessels plying the routes.
"Three of the new vessels had arrived, they are somewhere around the Tin Can Island river , they are undergoing some fittings at the moment and they will soon be sent out to places like Port Harcourt, Escravos in other monitor and regulate activities at sea", he disclosed.

Tanker Drivers Dare Fashola Over Apapa-Oshodi Expressway Quit Order


 ...LASTMA to Begin Evacuation Today
There are indications that Petroleum Tanker Drivers under the aegis of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Workers (NUPENG) may be testing the willpower of the Lagos State Governor; Babatunde Fashola over the incessant indiscriminate  parking of their trucks  on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway.
Investigations by Shipping Position Daily at the tank farms in Apapa, Lagos yesterday revealed that many of the tankers were still seen in their large numbers on the expressway, even after a 72-hour ultimatum was issued to them by the Lagos state government to vacate the expressway.
Some of the drivers who spoke with our correspondent yesterday argued that petroleum tankers are not the major cause of the congestion witnessed on the expressway and that the Lagos government should rather focus on activities of container-laden trucks at the Tin Can island port gate.
They also pointed out that the bad traffic situation is also caused by the ongoing construction works along the expressway.

Wednesday 18 December 2013

Pirates Abduct Greek, Ukrainian From Ship Off Nigeria



Pirates have attacked an oil products tanker off the coast of Nigeria and kidnapped its Ukrainian captain and a Greek engineer, Greek coast guard officials said on Tuesday.
The 6,500 tonne Marshall Islands-flaggged MT ALTHEA with 18 crew on board was attacked by a group of 10 pirates, the officials said. The ship’s manager, Piraeus-based Medtankers Management, confirmed the attack.

• Anxiety Over Customs PAAR Builds Up


CG Deploys ACG's To Commands
 
The palpable fear in the folds of the Nigeria Custom Service over the imminent breakdown of its newly-launched Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) has continued, even as more senior officers of the service were yesterday deployed to commands in Lagos to monitor field operations.
Shipping Position Daily gathered at two of the biggest commands in Lagos; that is, Tin Can Command and the Apapa Command that a team of six Assistant Comptrollers General were deployed to Lagos by the Customs Comptroller General; Dikko Abdullahi Inde in order to ensure that officers are closely monitored and supervised so as not to allow the PAAR fail.
The deployment of the senior officers comes less than one week after the Customs hierarchy acknowledged that the scheme is not working as planned and that it was encountering major challenges.

Tuesday 17 December 2013

ANLCA, NAGAFF, 10 Others Gang-up Against CRFFN, Terminal Operators


There are indications that the importance of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria may soon be eroded while the Seaport and Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) may be in for a tough fight as stakeholders in the maritime industry have teamed up to set up a body for the regulation of the freight forwarding and port practice.
The group called; Maritime Advocacy and Action Group (MAAG) was inaugurated in Lagos yesterday with big wigs like: the Chairman of Port Consultative Council; Otunba Kunle Folarin, President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, NAGAFF Founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, President of NAGAFF, Eugene Nweke, President of Lagos Shippers Association, Rev. Jonathan Nicole, and National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) represented by Chief Festus Ejiofor.
Others that were in attendance include; AMATO Chairman, Remi Ogungbemi, AREFFN President, Dr Frank Ukor, Lagos Chamber of Commerce represented by Mrs Julie Ogboru, Chairman of Multitrade Group, Mr. Al hassan Dantata as well as representatives from NARTO and RTEAN.

Monday 16 December 2013

Uncertainties Over Customs And Excise Management Act

Comptroller-General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko Inde.
•         Stakeholders Raise Fresh Protests
•         President Jonathan to meet with the OPS, Economic Summit Group


There are strong indications that the Presidency is having a re-think over the controversial Customs and Excise Management Bill that has been passed by the National Assembly and is among the Bills that are currently awaiting the President’s assent.
There are about two layers of opposition to the bill. One is the Organized Private Sector (OPS) which has remained undaunted in its opposition to CEMA since its days at the National Assembly. The second group comprises of senior officials of the Finance Ministry who fought hard to see that the Bill was not passed at the two legislative chambers, but failed due to what insiders called the lobbying power of the Customs.
Since it was given concurrent passage by the Senate almost five months ago, and forwarded to President Goodluck Jonathan for assent, nothing has been heard about it.

Friday 13 December 2013

Supreme Court Clears Chief Bode George Of Corruption As NPA Board Chairman



A panel of judges at the Supreme Court of Nigeria has quashed the conviction handed Chief Bode George earlier jailed for corruption by a Lagos High Court.

PAAR: Customs Sack 13 Officers

Tthe Comptroller General of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi.
• Admits hiccups with implementation of the new destination inspection procedure 
• Says over 99,000 inherited RAR's clogging system
• Anxiety looms over congestion 
at ports

Barely a week after taking over destination inspection duties from service providers and less than a week of issuing the first Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), the Nigeria Customs Service has acknowledged that the scheme is not working out as planned because PAAR is currently encountering major challenges.
According to the Customs, more than 99, 300 Risk Assessment Report (RAR) were transferred to the Customs by the ‘sacked’ three destination inspection service providers and this is already causing congestion in the issuance of fresh PAAR on imported goods.
Even though stakeholders have described this as a deliberate attempt by the three service providers;

Thursday 12 December 2013

Navy Imports Two War Ships From China

In order to meet operational needs and effectively police the waterways, the Nigerian Navy has placed order for two war ships from the Republic of China,
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba,  has disclosed that the Nigerian Navy has placed an order for two warships from Republic of China.
According to Ezeoba, one ship would be launched in China in January 2014 and brought down while the second would be delivered second quarter of the year.
He spoke in Calabar, Cross River State during the annual inspection of naval facilities and formations in the Eastern Naval Command.
He said the new ships would give the Navy the needed capacity and edge to effectively combat sea piracy and oil theft which are all acts of economic sabotage.

Tambuwal Urges EFCC To Prosecute Oil Thieves

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal
The Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and prosecute suspected crude oil thieves in the country.
Tambuwal made the call at the inauguration of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft in the Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, EFCC must act in collaboration with international law enforcement agencies to achieve its objective.
"The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, for instance, should be made to take a closer look at those behind the transportation and purchase of stolen oil in the country,
"It should act in conjunction with other international law enforcement agencies, for criminal prosecution under the procedure of Mutual Legal Assistance."

FG Vs Lagos State Government Feud Over Water Transportation Gets Dirty 1

• ‘Federal’ NIWA Labels ‘Lagos’ LASWA Operations On Waterways Illegal

... Sets To Concession Jetties To Private Operators Next Year


The festering cold relationship between the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government reached a crescendo yesterday with the Federal Government-owned  National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) declaring the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LAWSA) as an illegal body.
The verdict was conveyed by the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA; Engineer Muhammed Sambo yesterday at a one day sensitisation programme to attract investors to patronise water transport in the state.
"LASWA is an illegal creation and it means that it is not recognised by the laws of this country", he declared, even as he added that: "LASWA is a creation of the Lagos State House of Assembly, which purported to repeal the NIWA Act, in order for it to be in existence."

Wednesday 11 December 2013

Senate To Investigate Alleged Missing 49.8bn Dollars NNPC Funds




The Senate in Abuja on Wednesday mandated its Committee on Finance to begin   investigation into the allegations that 49.8 billion dollars were missing from the Federation Account.
This followed a Point of Order on Matter of Urgent Importance raised by Sen. Olubunmi Adetunmbi (APC-Ekiti) who relied on the Senate Order 42.

Apapa Street Named After Ex- CRFFN Chair; Hakeem Olanrewaju

Immediate past Chairman, CRFFN;
Alhaji Hakeem Olarenwaju
Immediate past Chairman, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN),Alhaji Hakeem Olarenwaju has been honoured by the Lagos State government by naming the very popular, Borno Crescent after him.
The Borno Crescent, which is located in the heart of Apapa in the Apapa Local Government Area of Lagos State, has been renamed as Hakeem Olanrewaju Street.

Tuesday 10 December 2013

Ogun State Govt Appoints Adviser On Olokola FTZ Project

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun.
The Ogun State Governor; Senator Ibikunle Amosun has appointed a new senior  adviser on special project, as part of the state’s commitment to ensuring that the Olokola Free Trade Zone  (FTZ) project , is actualised.
The governor made this known last weekend at the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2013. He was represented by the new appointee; Mr. Lekan Olumosin.
Amosun said the appointment of the special adviser was made last month as part of preparations to kick-start the deep sea port project.
The governor noted that the state has become a ‘Mecca of peace and tranquility which, according to him, his administration is working assiduously to put maximum security in place, a move which he said will attract investors.
He added that the Olokola FTZ must be achieved, stressing that the project is of the benefit for the people of South West and Nigeria in general.

Nigeria Ports Swimming In Corruption, Unqualified Personnel -ICPC


The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission has released a damning report detailing how Nigerian ports are allegedly swimming in corruption and manned by unqualified personnel.
The report, entitled ‘Corruption Risk Assessment  in Nigerian ports’, was presented to the public yesterday in Abuja by the ICPC Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta.
The study was carried out in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme, Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms, the Bureau for Public Procurement, the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network, the Nigerian Ports Authority and others.
The assessment focused on ports in Calabar, Tincan, Apapa, Warri, Port-Harcourt and Onne to identify gaps and vulnerabilities to corruption in Nigerian ports and offer remedies to prevent the menace.

• ANLCA Commissions Ultra Modern Secretariat At Airport

L-R: ANLCA President; Prince Olayiwola Shittu (3rd from left)
joined by Cordinator Zone A' Nigeria Custom Service;
ACG Victor Gbemudu and other members of ANLCA board of trustee members
 to cut the cake at the opening of the ANLCA secretariat at Muritala Muhammed
Chapter  in Lagos yesterday.
INSET: ANLCA President;Prince Olayiwola Shittu unveiling
the plaque to commission the ultra modern secretariat of the Muritala
Muhammed Airport Chapter of the association in Lagos yesterday
Reiterates Support For PAAR

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) yesterday commissioned its newly-built ultra modern secretariat at the Muritala Muhammed Airport amidst a lot of fanfare.
The commissioning was graced by arrowheads of the association, including its National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, Board of Trustees members led by its Chairman, Chief Henry Njoku, as well as the Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs, Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi who was represented by the Zone ‘A' Cordinator of the service; ACG Victor Gbemudu.
Also present at the occasion were the Managing Directors of NAHCO Aviance and SAHCOL, National Airspace Management, Customs Airport Controller and the Commissioner of Police, airport command.
Speaking at the event, ANLCA President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu lauded the Murtala Moahmmed Airport  Chapter of the association for ensuring that the ultra-modern secretariat was finished under eleven months of their being in office.

Monday 9 December 2013

Customs CG, Please Concentrate On PAAR, CEMA, Leave Terminal Operators, Shipping Companies Alo


Customs Comptroller General; Alhaji Dikko Abdulahi Inde

Listening to the Customs Comptroller General; Alhaji Dikko Abdulahi Inde speak last week during his tour of commands and the various meetings with stakeholders’ in Lagos, reminds me of a victorious  Emperor , who is desirous of more empires or captives .
In a bold reference to the eventual take-over of Destination Inspection scheme from the service providers, Dikko declared that he was taking the ‘war’ to yet another territory. Hear him- "Having fought the service providers, it is time to fight concessionaires and shipping companies"! "We should not allow people come into Nigeria with a briefcase and go back with a bus full of our money”.

Again, Vehicle Identity Thieves Resurface At Tin Can Ports

•         Syndicate Based in Belgium
•         Accomplices Found Among Customs Officers, Clearing Agents


A syndicate which specializes in tampering with relevant identity documents of imported second hand vehicles has resurfaced at the Tin Can Island port in Lagos.
Shipping Position Daily investigations revealed that the syndicate which has one leg in Europe is also backed actively by a team of licensed customs agents and some customs officers.
Even though, fingers were pointed at Tin Can port last year  by security official from the United States of America, recent revelations have confirmed that most vehicles; especially trucks which often come in from Europe are tampered with at the port.

Friday 6 December 2013

PAAR: Customs To Acquire 50 Scanners

...As CG Indicts Cotecna, Others Over Epileptic Scanning Machines

In order to ensure efficiency in scanning of containers under its new Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) regime, the Nigeria Custom Service has expressed its readiness to import 50 modern scanners that will be deployed to various ports across the country.
This according to the Comptroller General of  Customs (CGC), Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi Inde, is to be imported over the next five years in order to complement the existing 21 scanners that were inherited from the three destination inspection service providers; Cotecna, SGS, and Global Scan Systems.
Addressing a press conference at the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone 'A’ in Ikeja yesterday, Dikko said that out of the 21 scanners that were inherited from service providers, only few of are functioning.

Thursday 5 December 2013

LASWA Moves 12 million passengers in 7 months


The Lagos State Waterways Authority has disclosed that at least 12million residents of Lagos State used the now-famous waterways transportation between January and July  2013.
The ridership also showed that out  of the  estimated more than 20million persons  currently residing in Lagos, about 1.8million use the waterways to move in and around the city on a monthly basis.
And apparently buoyed by the feat, the State Government  has also assured that it will focus more on water transportation development to ease traffic gridlock in the state in 2014.
A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Bisi Yusuf, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday.

Olokola FTZ Will Serve As Alternative To Lagos Port ----- NAGAFF

 As a build up to its Annual General Meeting (AGM) that is billed to hold this weekend, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has said that when completed, the Olokola Free Trade Zone in Ogun state will serve as a proximity to the seaports in Lagos state.
National President of NAGAFF; Chief Eugene Nweke disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Lagos yesterday.
The NAGAFF president also revealed that 25 per cent of freight forwarders operating in Lagos ports reside in Ogun State, urging the federal government to collaborate with the Ogun state government, because of its proximity to Lagos and the need for trade facilitation.
Nweke reiterated that Olokola as it stands covers a landscape of 10,000 hectares of land with three Free Trade Zones scattered all over the state which in turn is good for business.

Witness Say, Ex-DG NIMASA; Omatseye Did Not Supply Generators

Former Director General of NIMASA; 
Mr Temisan  Raymond Omatseye
The trial of former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Mr Temisan  Raymond Omatseye continued on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Lagos where a prosecution witness, Mr Mohammed Shehu, told  the Court, that the ex-DG  did not execute contract for the supply of generator sets to NIMASA.
Omatseye is standing trial on an amended 27 count-charge of alleged contract scam.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution, Mr Godwin Obla (SAN), fielded Shehu, a former Acting Director of Procurement in NIMASA.
Shehu told the court under cross examination that he had a duty to ensure that contracts awarded by the director-general were in compliance with the Public Procurement Act.
``It is my duty to ensure that due process is followed in the award of any contract as stipulated by the Public Procurement Act.

FEC Approves N221.9 Bn For Construction Of Lekki Deep Sea Port In Lagos


Minister of Transport, Alhaji Idris Umard
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday in Abuja approved the signing of an agreement for the development of the Lekki deep sea port in Lagos State.
The Minister of Transport, Alhaji Idris Umar, stated this while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the weekly FEC meeting presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.
He said the seaport project would be executed at the cost of 1.345 billion dollars (about N221.9 billion).
Umar said it would be executed through the Private-Public-Partnership arrangement, and has been concessioned to Messrs Lekki Ports LFTZ Enterprise for 45 years.

Customs CG Blasts APM Terminal


• Says Firm Lied About Fixing Terminal In Apapa To World Standard
 
The Nigeria Customs Service has said that port concessionaire; APM Terminal had been peddling falsehood to its parent body; Maersk Line, about its level of efficiency in the port and about its operations at the Apapa port.
Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi leveled the allegation yesterday during a meeting with stakeholders at the Apapa port.
Dikko stated that he was moved to anger when he visited the headquarters of the APMT in the Netherlands last month and realized that the company in Apapa had sent video clips showing how it had purportedly developed the terminal to world standard.
But narrating his encounter, Dikko said that he disagreed sharply and that the APMT headquarters in Netherlands had decided to visit the Apapa port soon to ascertain the true picture of port development that has been done by APMT.

Wednesday 4 December 2013

Customs CG; Dikko Flags-off Trade Hub Centre At Balogun Market

CG Customs; Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko.
...Issues First PAAR in 58Minutes

The Nigeria Customs Service has commissioned a trade hub centre and information facilities at the Balogun market and other markets situated within the Trade Fair Complex as part of processes to officially usher-in the Nigerian Trade Hub and the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) regime.
The centre according to the Custom boss is to assist the traders in securing information about products and their status even before attempts are made to import them.
Dikko mandated the ICT unit of the customs to ensure that competent hands are trained among the traders so that the centre can be handed over to them. He assured that the centre will be handed over to the traders as soon as competent hands have been trained by customs to carry on operation of the facility.

Nigerian sailor; Harrison Okene who survived for almost three days underwater


Harrison Odjegba Okene, second left, poses inside a decompression 
chamber with members of the DCN Diving team who saved his life
 after being trapped for three days underwater. (DCN Diving)  
Do you remember the accident involving JASON 4 in May this year, wherein all the crew aboard the Tug Boat sank along with the craft?

Harrison Okene, 29, spent two days trapped in freezing cold water and breathing from an air bubble in an upturned tugboat.

Aggrieved Clearing Agents Protest At TICT

• Over Plans By Terminal Operator To  SignAgreement With A New Shipping Line, Alleged Incompetence
Aggrieved freight forwarders operating at Tin Can Island port yesterday staged a protest at Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) over alleged arbitrary charges,  incompetence, and moves by the concessionaire into enter a new deal with a certain shipping company called Arab Shipping Line.
Some of the placards that were carried by the  agents and which were sighted by Shipping Position Daily  read: "TICT enough is a enough" ,"we need to stop all the arbitrary charges by the terminal operators ,TICT is a 419 ",Fake auctions to fresh containers" Arab Shipping please avoid TICT, they are incompetent".
The protest which started at the head office of TICT at Point Road in Apapa at about 9.am, was later taken to the terminal at the port at about 11 am.

Tuesday 3 December 2013

Customs CG; Dikko's Visit Paralyses Commercial Activities At Tin Can Port

Scores of freight forwarders who were yesterday locked out of
Tin Can Island Command of Customs for hours
during the visit of the Customs CG
• “I Remain Custom Boss”---CG Brags

Activities were placed on hold yesterday at the Tin Can Island Port when the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC); Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi Inde visited the Tin Can command of the service to update officers about take over of destination inspection from the service providers.
The visit was part of the CGC’s one-week long working tour of all commands in Lagos and series of sensitization meetings scheduled with stakeholders.
Scores of freight forwarders were spotted yesterday by Shipping Position Daily at the entrance of the Tin Can Custom command protesting under the scorching sun that they were not allowed to carry out their legitimate businesses for several hours. Some of the freight forwarders also complained of being harassed by officers of the Tin Can customs command.

Monday 2 December 2013

Ogun Governor Gives Kudos To NAGAFF Over Olokola Free Trade Zone


The Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has commended the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) over the association’s commitment to the development of the maritime industry in particular, and the nation in general.
Governor Amosun gave this commendation on Friday while playing host to a delegation of NAGAFF which paid him a courtesy visit in his office at
Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta as part of the preparations for the association’s Annual General Meeting which will holds in Abeokuta from Friday December 6, to Sunday December 8, 2013.
The Governor who was delighted at the presentation by the delegation on the benefits of the Olokola Free Trade Zone to the development of the state pledged the support of his government to NAGAFF on the AGM and the project.

Tafida becomes IMO 1st Vice President: So what?



Typically Nigeria, everyone have been congratulating Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK; Dr Dalhatu Tafida over his ‘election’ on Monday as the First Vice President of the 28th General Assembly of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
So, I begin to wonder if he actually campaigned for the post, or it was just the turn of West and Central Africa to occupy the position and the lot fell on Nigeria. The fact is - it was the turn of West Africa to fill the slot and Nigeria, having backed out of the contest for seat in the Council of the IMO was compensated.

Fresh Anxiety Over Customs CG’s Job

CG Customs, Alh. Abdullahi Inde Dokko.
Even though he was rumored to have been granted a tenure extension of two years, and even though some argued that his appointment is not tenured, there are indications that the appointment of the Comptroller  General of Nigeria Customs Service; Alhaji Dikko Abdulahi Inde is once again shaking.
 Sources at the Ministry of Finance and the Customs Service confirmed to Shipping Position Daily that the Customs boss may have been handed a terminal letter to wind up in December.
 He was said to have been under intense pressure since August when his tenure expired from lobbyist who are bent on exiting him from the highly coveted office.
 Our correspondent also confirmed that contrary to speculations, the Customs CG has not received any official letter from either the Presidency or the supervisory Federal Ministry of Finance for him to continue to function as the head of Customs.