10 YEARS AFTER PORT CONCESSION: Wharf Rats Return To Lagos Ports

• Importers/clearing agents groan as car vandals descend on vehicles at terminals About 10 years into the much-celebrated port concession in Nigeria, there are strong confirmations that one of the key achievements of the reforms is already being weakened. Although, the masterminds of port concession achieved a crowd-free and miscreants-free ports, reports indicate that vandalisation of imported used vehicles have returned to the ports, especially at terminals where such vehicles are handled. Although there were attempts to assert that thieves, popularly called wharf rats in that inglorious pre-port concession era, are no longer in the ports, investigations by our correspondents revealed otherwise. At least three importers whose identities are being withheld, but whose vehicles were vandalised at Tin Can port have narrated their experiences to Shipping Position Daily. At different times, they told our correspondents how their vehicles that were vandalised at the terminals had to be towed outside because they had been badly demobilised. One of them told us that his Toyota Venza which came with a key-less device was vandalised and he had to tow the vehicle out of the terminal, after which he replaced the device at the cost of about N75,000. Another importer alleged that his Highlander SUV was stripped of all the interior accessories. According to him, the vehicle was also rendered immobile, as even the Battery was removed. Yet another alleged that his Lexus 350 SUV was stripped of all its accessories at one of the terminals at Tin Can port. Reliable sources however hinted our correspondent last week that most of the vehicles might have been vandalized at the port of a neighbouring country where the ships were berthed and discharged before the cars were shipped to Nigerian seaports. But, speaking with Shipping Position Daily on the development last week, a clearing agent at PTML Terminal Alhaji Ajisafe Ademola said that most of the time, the dockworkers handling the vehicles are mostly responsible for the act. He also alleged that the evil is usually perpetuated with the collaboration of some spare part sellers who usually hang around the port to buy some of the vehicle parts that have been stolen at cheap prices. “The terminal operators are mostly held responsible for the vandalization; although they have their own personal securities that sometimes monitor the stevedores to prevent the act” “Because of the Nigerian economy, nobody is trust worthy, anything can happen, since not many vehicles are coming into the country, they believe that they might not get other jobs tomorrow” “Spare parts sellers even hang around the ports encouraging the vandals and expecting them, they are aiding and abetting” he said When he was contacted, General Manager of PTML Terminal, a frontline RoRo terminal at Tin Can Port, Mr. Tunde Keshinro denied the allegations. Keshinro advised our correspondent to collect the bill of laden of such vehicles and their chassis number to substantiate the allegations. According to him, “The handling procedure of vehicles at PTML does not leave room for any vehicle to be vandalized, because from the discharge point, there are CCTV cameras monitoring the workforce, both the stevedoring workers, PTML staff handling the vehicle from the ship down to the car park. Outsiders are not allowed to access vehicles except during examination together with security personnel, customs and the agents” “We make provision for security to ensure that vehicles are received in fairly good conditions, the way the vehicle landed is how we deliver it to the owners without any pilferage or vandalization. He who alleges must substantiate, let them provide us with evidence or else it is just a rumour and an allegation” he said. Also speaking with our correspondent, Head of Complaint Unit at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Fadipe Moses an Assistant Director said that there has not been any report of vehicle vandalism brought to the Council. “I have not received any report of vandalization in recent times, the agents might want to say this probably one of the clients of one of their executives was affected, tell them to come forward and complain and document it with us, if you don’t document a complain, how do you substantiate the authenticity” He however acknowledged that: “In the past, there were such reports, but in recent past, there is nothing of such complaints on my table”. But, a clearing agent , Sunday Okafor, who specialised in clearing of used vehicles from both Port and Cargo as well as PTML terminal confirmed to our correspondent last Friday, that cars cleared at both terminals are 100 percent safe, adding that there has not been any case in recent time. He maintained that ‘’it has been a very long time that I have heard about car vandals at the ports, mostly, PTML’’ ‘’Even as we speak, it is difficult for any form of vandal on cars to take place at the terminal because the terminal has all necessary facilities in place to monitor such’’ When contacted for further information, Head Corporate Affairs Sifax Group, Mr. Muyiwa Akande promised to furnish our correspondent with relevant information, but he was yet to do that as at press time.

N13bn Fraud: Court Issues Arrest Warrant For Tompolo

•Ex-militant Shuns Federal High Court’s Invitation

•Ex DG arrives court in clutches

Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of a former Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo (popularly known as Tompolo).
The judge said the warrant had to be issued after Mr. Ekpemupolo failed to respond to invitations to appear before the court.
Government Ekpemupolo has shunned the order of a Federal High Court in Lagos to unconditionally appear yesterday (Thursday) to answer a 40-count of alleged N13bn fraud levelled against him  by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Why We Are Yet To Bring Greece Ships To Nigeria------- NISA

FLASH BACK:

NISA President; Capt Dada Labinjo ( M)  and some executives of the association, signing the MoU on acquisition of ships from Greece in 2015. Left are representatives of Greece ship owners

After about seven months after it assured Nigerians that it had sealed a ship acquisition deal with Greek ship owners, the Nigerian Indigenous Ship owners Association (NISA) yesterday  gave reasons for non-arrival of the ships in Nigeria.

Coordinator, Lagos zone of NISA; Captain Franklin Akinpelumi in an exclusive chat with Shipping Position Daily, in Lagos disclosed that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached with their Greek counterpart is still intact.

MT TANK/MT ELIXIR ACCIDENT: AGF May Commence Criminal Proceedings Against Acting DG NIMASA, 2 Others

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Mr. Hauro Jauro

There are strong indications that the office of  Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) may commence criminal proceedings against the acting Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Mr. Hauro Jauro and two others over alleged denial of information on an accident involving two ships in October 2015 which led to the death of nine crew.

Counsel to  Twinstomp Energy Limited ,  owners of the ill-fated vessel MT Tank; Andrias and Company  is also warming up to slam the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) notice of intention to commence legal proceedings

Customs To Sack 66 Officers For Drug Addiction—CG

Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (retd), yesterday said 66 officers found to be hooked on hard drugs would be eased out.
Ali disclosed this while addressing officers and men of the Plateau/Benue Area Command of the service in Jos.

Transport Minister; Amaechi ‎Promises To Empower Shippers’ Council As Port Economic Regulator

Minister of Transport; Mr Rotimi Amaechi being received  on arrival for an official visit to the corporate head office of the Nigerian Shippers Council by the Executive Secretary; Mr Hassan Bello on Monday

‎...As Executive Secretary;  Bello Begs For  Exclusion From TSA    
Minister of Transport; Mr. Rotimi Amaechi has assured that his office will pay more attention to ensuring that the Nigeria Shippers Council is empowered to regulate‎ all the stakeholders in the maritime sector efficiently.
Amaechi gave this assurance when he visited the agency on Monday. He was full of commendations for the Council, saying that he will learn more from the Shippers Council on how to push the industry forward.
At an interactive session with the staff of the council, he charged them to support the government to achieve its fight against corruption and engender a more stable economy for all Nigerians to participate in.

Amaechi Suspends Work On NIMASA University‎; Okerenkoko

From left: Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and Acting Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro, during the facility visit by the Ministerial delegation to NIMASA Resource Centre at Kirikiri, Lagos… on Monday
 

Minister of Transport; Mr. Rotimi Amaechi has ordered that further construction works at‎ the Nigerian Maritime University in Okerenkoko in Delta State should be suspended for now.
The maritime university and the shipyard project are being spearheaded by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) under the former Director General; Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi.
Amaechi stated this when he held a meeting with management staff of NIMASA as part of his familiarization tour of Lagos ports and maritime agencies on Monday.