Importation of Used Vehicles, Not Prohibited Yet – Customs

Even as the countdown to the commencement of the new automotive policy begins, the Nigeria Customs Service has clarified that, Government has not banned importation of used vehicles.
The Public Relations Officer of the Service; Mr Wale Adeniyi said yesterday that the proposed new tariff was meant to discourage the importation of second-hand vehicles, otherwise known as ``Tokunbo”, while encouraging local manufacturers through the proposed tariff.
He said ``the importation of second-hand vehicles otherwise known as Tokunbo has not been prohibited yet.
``The proposed automotive policy seeks to encourage the growth of the local industries by discouraging the importation of tokunbo vehicles through high protectionist tariff rates.’’
The customs spokesperson said the implementation of the new tariff was yet to commence, as the service had to wait for the February 28 deadline, as given by the Federal Government.
He said that importers who opened their letter of credit for the vehicles before Oct. 3, 2013 could still clear imported vehicles at the old rates until Feb. 28, 2014.

Transport Minister Charges Shippers’ Council To Resolve CRFFN Crisis

The myriad of problems rocking the Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) may soon be over as the Ministry of Transport has indicated interests in wading in.
Fresh indications also emerged yesterday that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council will be saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring that CRFFN bounces back to its feet.
Addressing members of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (PCC) during a working visit to the council’s head office in Lagos yesterday, the Executive Secretary of Shippers Council; Barrister Hassan Bello disclosed that in no distance time, the Council will intervene and proffer lasting solutions to the problems affecting the CRFFN.
The executive secretary told members of the Taskforce of the PCC led by its chairman; Alhaji Abayomi Adigun that there have been series of preliminary meetings with the ministry of transport and that the NSC will soon intervene.

Confusion As Customs Server Breaks-down Nationwide

• ANLCA Raises Alarm
• But, CG Says, Pre-Shipment, PAAR, Good For Nigeria   

There were confirmations yesterday that the epileptic Customs server; the backbone of its novel Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) has broken-down at all Customs formation nationwide

The failure which was first noticeable on Monday became pronounced yesterday when release of goods by Customs offices became impossible at all seaports, airports and land borders.

And giving an indication that the breakdown may cause large scale unrest at the various entry points, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) yesterday officially notified its members nationwide.

It however blamed the collapse on the service provider; Webb Fontaine. “The server infrastructure currently being provided by Webb Fontaine to support Customs releases of cargoes  has ceased functioning  since yesterday”, the statement which was made available to Shipping Position Daily confirmed .

CONTROVERSIES TRAIL ‘HIJACKED’ TANKER; MT KERALA

• Owners Insist Pirates Hijacked Tanker Off Angola, Stole Cargo
• “It’s Not True”   --- Angola Navy
• Taker Traced To Nigeria

Sharp disagreement peaked yesterday over the actual fate that befell the Liberian-flagged tanker MT Kerala which was reportedly hijacked by pirates suspected to be Nigerians on January 18, 2014.
The Greek owners of the oil tanker that vanished off the Angolan coast on January 18 claimed yesterday that pirates hijacked the vessel and stole a large quantity of cargo on board, contradicting the Angolan navy’s denial that such an assault took place.
Greece-based Dynacom, owners of the 75,000 deadweight tonne tankersaid it had managed to contact crew on the vessel who reported that the pirates had left.
The company said in a statement that, “Pirates hijacked the vessel offshore Angola and stole a large quantity of cargo by ship-to-ship transfer. The pirates have now disembarked”.

IMPORT DUTY WAIVER ROW:

Customs Recants, Says: “We deny making any accusation of corruption in the implementation of the waivers”

In an apparent volte-face over its earlier allegations of large scale abuse of the controversial import duty waiver, the Nigeria Customs Service last week made a retraction of its earlier stand which it had conveyed to the National Assembly.

The Nigeria Customs Service and the supervisory Ministry of Finance have been engaged in a bitter row over the exact amount of import duty waiver that the Federal Government has been granting to some individuals, state governments and corporate institutions.The first salvo was fired by the Customs which alleged last year in response to inquiries from the legislature, that under the waiver regime supervised by the Minister in charge of Finance Ministry; Dr Ngozi  Okonjo-Iweala, more than 65 percent of  incentives on export were for  questionable goods.

NEMA rescues three from capsized boat in Lagos

Three persons have been rescued from a boat which capsized at Ogogoro village, Boulos, Navy Town, Apapa, Lagos , the National Emergency Management Agency said.

This information was contained in a statement issued by NEMA in Lagos.

NEW AUTOMOTIVE POLICY: President Jonathan Says New Cars Will Be Affordable For Nigerians

The President, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Goodluck Jonathan.

President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday in Davos, Switzerland that his administration is fully committed to rapidly developing Nigeria’s automobile industry through the diligent implementation of the country’s new national automotive policy.

Speaking at a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Nissan Motors, Carlos Ghosn, and representatives of Nissan’s partners in Nigeria on the sidelines of the ongoing World Economic Forum, President Jonathan said that a key objective of the new policy was to make new cars affordable to more Nigerians.

“The only way to reduce the preponderance of second hand cars on our roads is to produce good quality cars with affordable pricing locally,” Jonathan said.

Welcoming the Nissan group’s investment in vehicle production in Nigeria, Jonathan noted that all investors in local automobile production in the country will have a huge ready market for their products.

Nigerian Pirates Fingered As Liberian Flagged Tanker Goes Missing In Gulf Of Guinea

Liberian flagged tanker MT Kerala is suspected to have been hijacked, a specialist maritime intelligence agency; Dryad Maritime warned.
The vessel, owned by Dynacom Tankers, has been reported missing off the coast of Angola, having last been sighted seven nautical miles NNW of Luanda.
However, maritime security experts are suspecting that the tanker is likely to have fallen victim to Nigerian criminal gangs, who says that there is growing maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea region.
The report says that: “If confirmed as a hijack, this would be the furthest south that Nigerian-based criminals had struck for the purposes of refined product cargo theft – a crime hitherto perpetrated across the Gulf of Guinea region, from Abidjan (Ivory Coast) in the west to Port Gentil (Gabon) in the south.”

NPA LAND DEAL: Court Fixes Feb. 6 To Hear Otudeko's $48Million Suit Against Dangote

Dr. Oba Otudeko; Chairman, Honeywell group.  
and  Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman, Dangote Group.

A Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday fixed February 6 to hear a suit filed by Oba Otudeko against Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) over a land dispute.
Justice Okon Abang adjourned the case at the instance of the counsel to Dangote, Mrs Fola Sowemimo, to enable her to file written statement on oath.
Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group, had filed the suit in 2006 at Justice Ramat Mohammed’s court. The suit has now been transferred to Justice Abang after the retirement of Mohammed.
He is claiming $US48 million against the defendants as damages for breach of contract over a 10.8 square metres of land within the Lagos Ports Complex, known as the 5th Apapa Wharf Extension.

Anxiety In Customs Over Promotions And Redeployments

• 28 Deputy Comptrollers Promoted  To Comptrollers

 

The palpable anxiety which has gripped the top echelon of the Nigeria Customs Service reverberated again yesterday following the release of a list of newly-elevated senior officers.

The promotion comes on the heels of last week’s shake-up in the Service, which saw the retirement of three Deputy Comptrollers General and the promotion of many Comptrollers to the rank of Assistant Comptrollers General.
Our correspondent confirmed yesterday that 28 of Deputy Comptrollers have been promoted to the post of Comptrollers.

The promotion also fuelled anxiety of an impending redeployment of senior officers.

A ‘staff order’ which was made available to Shipping Position Daily yesterday in Lagos revealed that 14 of the newly-promoted officers are from the northern part of the country and the south respectively.

MV Marzooqah: False Alarm As Eritrean Forces Rather Than Pirates Board Vessel

Contrary to earlier reports that indicated piracy, the Togolese flagged MV Marzooqah was actually  in territorial waters belonging to isolated nation, report have confirmed.

 Eritrean forces boarded a merchant vessel that was in their territorial waters in an incident the crew initially reported as a pirate attack, maritime officials  have said.

Rice Importers Shake-Off Tariff Hike:

• Six Ships  To Berth, With 148,604Mt
Apparently not finding an alternative, rice importers have returned to the trade, as no fewer than six ships loaded with the staple food item are either being expected or have arrived at Lagos ports.
Even though duty on imported rice has been increased to 110 per cent our investigations revealed last week that ships laden with the commodities are gradually sailing into the Lagos seaports.
Investigations carried out by Shipping Position Daily revealed that a wholesome of 148,604 metric tonnes of rice is expected to arrive at two terminals in Lagos.

One of the ships expected is:  MV Hector, which is expected with 29,145 metric tonnes of rice on the 19th and is expected to berth at ENL terminal at the Lagos port complex. Also, Star Capella is expected at the same terminal on the 26th of January 2014 with 30,000 MT.

Why We Can’t Leave Apapa--- Tank Farm Owners

Even as the groundswell of opposition continues about their location in Apapa, the  Executive Secretary, Jetty Owners and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners Association of Nigeria, Mr Enoch Kanawa, says it will be difficult to relocate the tank farms from the port city of Apapa.
Kanawa said in Lagos yesterday that recent calls by some Nigerians for relocation of tank farms were uncalled for.
According to him, globally, tank farms are located close to the ports because of their closeness to the sea.
“Besides, it is cost effective”, he argued, even as he added that: “Tank farm or tanker accident happens anywhere in the world and Nigeria’s case should not be different.
``The Jan. 7 incident in which a tanker laden with fuel fell at Olodi-Apapa did not occur inside a tank farm, but within the area.

PIRACY: IMB Says Nigerian Pirates Kidnap 36, Hold 51 Hostages in 2013



Some Pirates Arrested By Officers Of The Nigerian Navy
In The Niger Delta Last Year

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has released its 21013 figures, indicating that Nigerian pirates moved further afield in 2013, venturing far into waters off Gabon, Ivory Coast and Togo, where they were linked with at least five of the region’s seven reported vessel hijackingsIn the annual report which was released yesterday and which was obtained by Shipping Position Daily, the IMB added that Nigerian pirates and sea robbers accounted for 31 of the region’s 51 attacks, taking 49 people hostage and kidnapping 36, more than in any year since 2008.

It stated further that “off the coast of Nigeria itself, two ships were hijacked, 13 were boarded and 13 fired upon”, even as it added that West African piracy made up 19% of attacks worldwide last year.
“Nigerian pirates were particularly violent, killing one crewmember, and kidnapping 36 people to hold onshore for ransom”, the report stated.

NIGERIA CUSTOMS BOARD RESTRUCTURES MANAGEMENT

The Nigeria Customs Service Board has approved the restructuring of the Service Management. The restructuring is one of the highlights of the Board Meeting presided over by the Coordinating Minister  of the Economy and the Honorable minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

2. Under the new arrangement, the Management has been re-constituted to reflect the Federal Character Principle of representation. Accordingly, the new Management comprises Six (6) Deputy Comptroller- Generals with one appointed from each of the Six geo-political zones of the country.

All Norwegians are Millionaires Thanks to Oil

Everyone in Norway became a theoretical crown millionaire on Wednesday in a milestone for the world’s biggest sovereign wealth fund that has ballooned thanks to high oil and gas prices.

Set up in 1990, the fund owns around 1 percent of the world’s stocks, as well as bonds and real estate from London to Boston, making the Nordic nation an exception when others are struggling under a mountain of debts.

A preliminary counter on the website of the central bank, which manages the fund, rose to 5.11 trillion crowns ($828.66 billion), fractionally more than a million times Norway’s most recent official population estimate of 5,096,300.

It was the first time it reached the equivalent of a million crowns each, central bank spokesman Thomas Sevang said.

SHAKE UP IN NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE

CG Customs, Alh. Abdullahi Inde Dokko. and 
Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

• Three DCGs Resign Due To Age
• Lobby For DCGs , ACGs Posts Hot Up

A major shake-up has hit the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). Three of the remaining four Deputy Comptrollers General have voluntarily resigned, after a board meeting which was presided over by the Minister of Finance; Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.
Those who retired on Monday were: Dr. Jatau, M. D, who was in charge of Modernization, Research & Economic Relations, Alhaji Saka Yinusa, who was in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection and Garba Makarfi, who was in charge of Human Resource Development. The fourth DCG; Mr Julius Nwagwu had retired last year after attaining the statutory age of 60 years.
Shipping Position Daily confirmed yesterday that only one DCG; Mr John Atteh is left, and that new appointments into the DCG cadres are being expected any moment from now.

REVEALED: How Shipping Companies Scam Nigerian Importers/Agents

Fresh indications have emerged about the various means devised by the shipping companies operating at Nigerian ports to defraud Nigerian importers and clearing agents under various nomenclature.
A comprehensive analysis of shipping company charges in three African Countries: Nigeria, Ghana and Republic of Benin, showed that charges at Nigerian ports remained the highest, courtesy of shipping companies operating at Nigerian ports.
A document which was obtained by Shipping Position Daily showed that the average charges collected on a 20-foot container by shipping companies in Nigeria is about N140, 000.
According to the document, among the three neighboring countries, Nigeria is the only country that collects container deposits to the tune of N75, 000. Other charges not collected in other countries but obtainable in Nigeria includes; MOWCA levy and Stamp duty.

Welcome to Sesan Onileimo Maritime Blog: Clearing Agent Threatens Customs With N250Million ...

Welcome to Sesan Onileimo Maritime Blog: Clearing Agent Threatens Customs With N250Million ...: CG Customs, Alh. Abdullahi Inde Dokko.        For the alleged offences of its officers, the Nigeria Customs Service is facing the risk ...

Clearing Agent Threatens Customs With N250Million Suit

CG Customs, Alh. Abdullahi Inde Dokko.       

For the alleged offences of its officers, the Nigeria Customs Service is facing the risk of a N250Million suit by a top member of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).
An Assistant Controller of Customs in charge of Container Seat at the PTML command of the Nigeria Customs Service, whose identity was simply given as Mr. Mustapha; alongside two Assistant Superintendent of Customs; Mr. Ndubisi Aniebunwa, and another Mr. Jack, are currently battling allegations of battery and assault leveled against them by a member of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); Olorogun Andrew Ugwi.
Olorogun Ugwi who spoke with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos yesterday said that he is suing the Nigeria Customs Service for N250million and that his lawyer is already working on the case.

PETROL TANKER EXPLOSION IN APAPA: 18 Fear Dead, 8 Vehicles Burnt, Money, Goods Worth Millions Destroyed

Remains of the affected tanker laden with PMS whicxh exploded
causing deaths and massive destruction along Kirikiri Road , Berger Suya Bus Stop,
Apapa In Lagos yesterday.INSET: An aftermath of tanker fire incident which razed
several shops, offices, vehicles and equipment at Olodi Apapa in Lagos on
Tuesday night when a truck loaded with petrol caught fire        

No fewer than 18 persons were reported dead on Tuesday night at the highly-populated commercial centre of Kirikiri road connecting to the popular  Berger Suya bus stop, all in Apapa,  Lagos, after a tanker loaded  with petrol exploded.
The tanker was said to have broken down at the busy road interception, spilling some of its content which was ignited by fire from a nearby suya spot, leading to a massive explosion which occurred at around 10.30pm.
Eye witness accounts indicated that two commercial buses with some passengers were caught in the inferno.
Our correspondent who visited the spot also confirmed that commercial activities were placed on a halt as all the automobile spare parts shops were under lock and key due to the fire that rocked one of the buildings which housed vehicle parts.

WORKERS BOMB NPA PET PROJECT

•  Senior Staff Says: "We Don't Need Deepsea Ports, They are Jumbo Projects"

 

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Senior Staff Association of Communication, Corporation and Transport (SSACCTAC) has called on the Federal Government to suspend the construction of deepsea ports in different parts of the country, describing them as wasteful ventures and jumbo projects.

President of the association; Comrade Umar Omeiza Jimoh in an exclusive chat with Shipping Position Daily urged that government should rather focus on connecting the existing ports to the rail system.

Comrade Umar said that apart from the Lekki Deepsea Port, other deepsea port projects like the Olokola deepsea port in Ogun State, the Ibaka Deepsea port in Akwa Ibom and the Badagry Deepsea Port should be cancelled.