NIWA Floors Lagos State Over Waterways’ Right

 • Federal High Court says , LASWA is illegal

 

The controversy over whether the Lagos state government has a concurrent jurisdiction over waterways in the state has been laid to rest by Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
The Judge in a ruling which also affected the highbrow Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge in Lagos declared also that the Lagos State Waterways Authourity (LASWA) is an illegal entity; whose creation can not subsume the NIWA
Delivering judgment on Friday in the National Inland Waterways Authourity (NIWA) versus LASWA case, Justice Saliu Saidu ordered that NIWA, by virtue of its enabling Act has a clear mandate to manage the nation’s vast inland waterways, exclusively.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the same Judge had on Thursday also ruled that there was no law authorising the collection of tolls on the bridge by the state government.
In a landmark judgment, the judge said the power to control the Lekki Lagoon and other Federal Navigable Waterways was vested in the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Lagos Seals Shipping Company Over Alleged Tax Evasion

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.        

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) on Wednesday sealed the premises of an indigenous shipping firm; Zeek Shipping td located in Apapa, Lagos, over alleged failure to remit N4 million tax to the state government.
The company is into cargo services, haulage, oil & gas services, marine services as well as product haulage.
The Head of Distrain Unit of LIRS, Mrs Folasade Coker-Afolayan, led a team that closed the company located at No. 25 Rhodes Crescent, Apapa.
Coker-Afolayan told journalists shortly after the closure that the debt accrued since 2011.
Coker-Afolayan said that the amount was workers’ income tax, which the company’s management failed to remit to the state government.

Customs Begins Phased Implementation of Automotive Policy

There are indications that the Nigeria Customs Service may have began the phased implementation of the controversial policy on importation of vehicles, even as importers and their agents have lamented the sudden increase in duties of imported tyres as a fall out of the policy.

It would be recalled that importers and their agents had staged a protest at the Tin Can Island Port recently, kicking against the new tariff on imported vehicles which was rolled out by the Ministry of Finance last year.

Confirming this to Shipping Position Daily yesterday, Image Maker of the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Emmanuel Ekpa said that the ministry had rolled out a fresh policy last week Thursday and that customs has commenced implementation accordingly.

Under the new arrangement, Ekpa said that contrary to the 30% levy and 35% duty proposed in the policy earlier, government has shifted grounds that imported vehicles should pay only 35% duties without levy.

According to him, the automotive policy earlier released will now go into full implementation by July 2014 as directed by the Finance Ministry.

Senate Committee Tackles Contractors Of Abandoned Projects In MAN, Oron

Managing Director, NPA; Mallam Habeeb Abdullahi ( L)
with visiting members of the Senate committee on marine transport inspecting
the renovation work on the NPA’s corporate head office yesterday

• Gives Rector 2 Weeks To Produce Contractors

Apparently shocked by the volume of abandoned contracts in the institute, the Senate Committee on Marine Transport has come hard on contactors handling the various projects at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron in Akwa Ibom State.

The committee has also expressed concern over these projects which dot the academy’s landscape.

 The Committee’s Chairman, Hajia Zainab Kure lamented the cost of the abandoned projects to the economy, saying that "the Rector of the academy has been directed to summon the contractors and resolve whatever the problem is.

Kure whom led members of the committee on a budget fact-finding mission to the academy, also noted that  the projects were still in the same position it met them when the Committee visited two years ago.

1 Dead, 3 Hurt And 1 Missing After A Cargo Ship Catches Fire And Sinks Off Sharajah

One sailor died, three were hurt and one is still missing after a cargo ship caught fire and sank off the coast of Sharajah yesterday.

The accident happened 8 km (5 miles) from the coast at around 9 AM. According to the acting Director-General of Sharjah Civil Defence, Colonel Khalid Obaid Bin Kanoon the fire occurred after the ship had loaded its cargo at Port Khalid. The area was enveloped by a thick blanket of smoke.

PAAR BLAME GAME CONTINUES:

• Operators Accuse Bank Officials Of Underhand Dealings
• Anxiety Over Looming Congestion At Lagos Ports

The on-going blame game over the Customs Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) continued yesterday, with fears of an imminent port congestion being expressed by freight forwarders, who also alleged that some bank officials are already doing brisk business with the essential customs clearance document

The stakeholders raised alarm of an existing racket between the commercial banks and some custom officers in the PAAR office.

Speaking with Shipping Position Daily in an exclusive chat yesterday, President of Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) Dr. Frank Ukoh alleged that in order for your PAAR to be issued within two days, a substantial amount of money is attached to the document which is forwarded from the bank to the customs PAAR office.

Election Crises Hits Association Of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents

The National President; Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents;
Prince Olayiwola Shittu.

• Board Cancels Elections
• May Sack Electoral Committee
• Pro-Shittu, Anti-Shittu Camps Emerge

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) is currently divided between supporters of the outgoing national president; Prince Olayiwola Shittu and loyalists of the Board of Trustees (BoT) over delay in conducting elections into the national executive committee (NECOM) of the association.
The festering crisis is coming less than one month into the expiration of the four-year tenure of the incumbent national president.
After weeks of denial of any in-fighting, a clear indication however emerged last week when the board summoned the President and the chairman of the association’s electoral committee (ASECO); Alhaji Mukaila Babatunde as well as the president’s spokes person; Mr Joe Sanni.
Sources close to the parties confirmed to Shipping Position Daily last Friday that the board actually met and that “some far-reaching decisions “were taken.

MORE KNOCKS FOR CUSTOMS PAAR:

CG Customs; Alhaji Dikko Abdulahi Inde

Chamber Of Shipping Says Customs Is Anti Local Content, PAAR Not Working

Even as freight forwarders and other stakeholders have continued to condemn the delay associated with the Customs Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), a necessity in the procedures for clearing of consignments from the nation's seaports, the Nigerian Chambers of Shipping (NCS) has described the Nigeria Customs Service initiative as anti-local content, saying that PAAR is a total failure.
The Chamber's Director General; Mrs. Ify Akerele gave the verdict when she fielded questions from journalists under the auspices of Maritime Reporters Correspondent of Nigeria (MARCON) in Lagos on Wednesday, where she also urged the Customs to abolish the system, so as to bring about smooth clearance of cargoes from the seaports.

Commercial Banks Score Customs PAAR Low

• Say Cargo Can’t Be Delivered In 48 Hours, PAAR Not Ready In Months

Banks have joined the growing list of critics of the Customs Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), saying that the new cargo clearance system is responsible for the backlog of un-cleared cargo at the various ports across the country.
They registered their fears at a recent meeting that was held at the instance of the Nigeria Customs Service, with to commercial bank officials as well some officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the service provider Web Fontaine.
They said that majority of the yet-to-be-cleared cargo at the ports do not have PAARs with which the banks could work.
The banks also said that there is a near crisis situation at the port following the inability of the Customs to transmit processed Pre- Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) to the banks for on ward transmission to their importers to commence the process of cargo clearance.

A Nigerian Navy boat

Admiral Samuel Alade of the Western Naval Command
 receiving the keys to the Patrol Boats that were donated to the
Nigerian Navy by the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA)
 from the Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi yesterday in Lagos

Navy Arrests 22 Chinese, 4 Ships Suspected Of Illegal Entry Into Nigeria

The Nigerian Navy has arrested four ships and 22 persons, suspected to be Chinese, who allegedly entered Nigeria’s territorial waters illegally.
The Commander of the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Commodore Godwin Ochai, who announced the arrests in Onne, Rivers, yesterday, said the vessels were carrying large tonnes of fish.
He named the vessels as Liadda Zhong Yu 15177, Liadda Zhong Yu 15178, Liao Zhung Yu 15030, and Liao Zhung Yu 15029.
Ochair spoke while handing over the 22 suspected illegal immigrants to the Nigeria Immigration Service and the State Department of Fisheries in Onne, Rivers state for further investigations.
He said the suspects breached international maritime laws and procedure by fishing in Nigeria’s territorial waters without permit.

One dead, eight missing after ships collide off Japan

One Chinese crew member was killed and eight others were missing after two cargo ships collided at the mouth of Tokyo Bay early Tuesday, Japan's coastguard said.

The Panamanian-flagged Beagle III, a 12,630-ton vessel carrying steel coil, sank after colliding with the South Korean-registered Pegasus Prime in the Uraga waterway.........

FG Extends Tin Can Ports Concession For Five Years

New Air-Conditioned Long Distance Coaches Belonging To
The Nigeria Railway Corporation Being Offloaded
At The Lagos Port Complex On Friday
 

The lease period of the concession of Tin Can Island Port, Lagos has been extended by five years by the Federal Government.
The Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki disclosed the extension last weekend shortly after a meeting of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
The two concessionaires are Joseph Dam Port Services Nigeria Ltd and Five Star Logistics.
The concessionaire based the seeking of the extension on the ground that when the lease was granted to it, there was a court case that restrained Joseph Dam from taking over and conducting its obligations of the concessioned contract.
"And the case dragged on for over four years. So Council considered the application and reviewed the issues and granted an extension of the lease period by five years for Joseph Dam Port Services Ltd in respect of Tin Can Island Ports Lagos" he said.

Presidency, National Assembly At Crossroad Over Port and Harbour, NTC Bills

There appears to be a dilemma at both the Presidency and the National Assembly over how to harmonise the various transport and maritime bills currently being considered by both arms of the Federal Government.
Last week, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) reeled out four bills that it wants to forward to the National Assembly for consideration and eventual passage, but our findings indicate that the position of the National Assembly through its marine transport committees is quite at variance with that of the executive.
The four bills that are to be transmitted to the National Assembly are: National Transport Commission Bill, Nigerian Ports and Harbour Authority Bill Nigeria Railway Bill, and the National Inland Waterways Authority Bill.

AFTERMATH OF FESTAC BOAT MISHAP:

Search and Rescue Officials Removing corpses of some of
the victims of Tuesday night boat accident in Lagos.        

Lagos Waterways Authourity Bans Night Travels

The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has banned transport operators on waterways in the state from making night trips.
Waterways in Lagos open at 6 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.
The ban followed the deadly boat mishap on the Festac Canal in which no fewer than 18 people lost their lives.
The Managing Director of LASAWA; Mr Olayinka Marinho, announced the ban while speaking with journalists in Lagos yesterday.
He said that LASAWA had been warning operators on waterways in the state to desist from embarking on night trips and to also ensure that ferry users used life jackets.
Speaking specifically on the Festac tragedy, he said:``The boat was travelling at night, over-loaded, and no one on board wore life jacket, it is unfortunate that people find it hard to heed warnings.
``Four school children and some adults have been confirmed dead, we are still carrying out investigations on the number of male adults on board.

TRAGEDY:

Search and Rescue Officials Removing corpses of some of
 the victims of Tuesday night boat accident in Lagos.

2 Children, 11 Adults Die In Festac Town Boat Mishap

The South-West Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, has confirmed that 13 dead bodies (including two children) had been recovered from the boat that capsized at 4th Ave, opposite 41 Road Junction in FESTAC Town, Lagos Tuesday night.
He however added that the mission to recover the remaining bodies of victims of the boat accident has been suspended.
Contrary to an initial statement by Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA) that 12 persons had died, Farinloye said the figure was 13 as one of the initial seven who were rescued alive died on the way to the hospital. He maintained that 11 bodies were recovered on Tuesday while one body was recovered on Wednesday morning.
According to him, 13 bodies have been recovered while 6 persons survived.

SHOBOIKI GATE: Customs CG Redeploys 200 Officers At Tin Can Port

The Comptroller General of the Service; Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde

...Bans CIU, Enforcement Units From Interference In Cargo Clearance

 

In what appeared as a direct fallout of his recent visit to Tin Can Island command of the Nigeria  Customs Service, where he caught  some officers in under hand dealings, the Comptroller General of the Service; Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde has ordered the immediate redeployment of 200 Assistant Superintendents of Customs (ASC) from the command.

Even though he could not confirm if the redeployments were a fallout of the Customs CG's sting operation carried out at the port recently, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Chris Osunkwo told our correspondent in his office yesterday that no replacement has been made yet for the transferred officers.

"Yesterday, 200 officers at the level of Assistant Superintendent of Customs Grade 2, were redeployed, but I cannot confirm to you if it is as a result of the CGC's visit or any other official reasons" Osunkwo said.

Jonathan, IBB, Others Shun NIMAREX 2014

L-R: Gen Raji Rasaki, former military administrator of Lagos State,
Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar and
the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mallam Habeeb Abdullahi
at the opening ceremony of NIMAREX 2014 yesterday

• Transport Minister Raises Hope On Passage Of Port and Harbour Bills, Others

President Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and Former Military President of Nigeria; General Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida (retd), both of whom had earlier being advertised to grace the 2014 edition of the Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX),yesterday failed to show up. The former President was billed to chair the opening session of the programme.

Even though the President was represented by the Minister of Transport; Sen. Idris Umar and the former President, represented by Former Military Administrator of Lagos State; General Raji Rasaki (retd) stakeholders who had eagerly turned up for the event told our correspondent at the venue yesterday that the absence of government functionaries, and other service chiefs, is an indication of the lack of commitment of government towards the maritime sector.

Speaking at the expo however, Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar expressed government's resolve to transform the shipping sector through the phased implementation of the recommendations of the Presidential Retreat on Maritime Sector and through the re-introduction of bunkering services.

REVEALED!

* Minister of Finance: Dr Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala and 
Minister of Agriculture  and Rural Development: Dr Akinwumi Adesina             

How Finance Minister Almost Frustrated New Date For Tariff On Used Vehicles  

Last week extension of the implementation date of the new tariff on importation of used vehicles was almost frustrated by the Minister of Finance; Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala , Shipping Position Daily can authouritatively reveal.
Our correspondents in Lagos and Abuja scooped that, President Goodluck Jonathan had actually ordered the extension based on a memo that was received from the Minister of Trade and Investments; Dr Olusegun Aganga.
While sources at the Finance Ministry hinted that, the minister was actually in possession of a Presidential directive that, the new tariff should take-off in July; our correspondents in Lagos also learnt that, the sudden commencement of collection of the new tariff by the Customs was instigated by the Minister of Trade.

Freight Forwarders, Importers Protest New Vehicle Tariff

Clearing Agents Protesting The New Tariff On Imported Used Vehicles
At Tin Can Island Port Yesterday

• Ground Operations For Several Hours

• Another Group Threatens To Shut Down Ports

 

 Licensed customs agents operating at the ports in Lagos have kicked against the new tariff on imported vehicles which the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala has directed the Nigeria Customs Service to commence full implementation.

The freight forwarders yesterday grounded all activities at the Tin Can Island Port, the Apapa Port, and the PTML terminals; all in Lagos for several hours, displaying placards with various messages.

Some of the placards had messages like: "35%duty and 35% levy on vehicles is bad" "No to increment in vehicle Tariff" "The average Nigerian cannot buy a brand new car" "enough of unfriendly policies" and so on.

Some of the protesters who took time to speak with Shipping Position Daily lamented that the Federal Government had refused to carry them along in its policy formulation. According to them, the local assembly plants ought to have been functioning before the implementation of the new auto policy.

Tin Can Chairman of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); Prince Kayode Oyinlola told our correspondent that several vehicles have been abandoned inside the port as a result of the policy.

NEW AUTO POLICY:

• Comptroller General of Customs; Alhaji Dikko Abdulahi Inde
and Minister Of Finance; Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala

Tension At Port As Customs Begins Collection of New Tariff On Imported Vehicles   

 

There was palpable tension at the Tin Can Island Port yesterday as the Nigeria Customs Service officially began the implementation of the new tariff on the imported of second-hand vehicles into Nigeria.
Shipping Position Daily correspondent confirmed at the port that the Ministry of Finance had issued a circular to the Comptroller General of Customs that  implementation of the new tariff on imported second hand vehicle should commence on March 1, 2014.
The February 28, 2014 follow-up circular from the Customs headquarters to the effect that collection of new tariffs should commence March 1, was signed by Deputy Comptroller in charge of Tariff and Trade; Aliu GT. It was directed to ACGs, Zonal Coordinators, command Controllers, and heads of units.

Fuel Scarcity May Linger

Confusion At A Filling Station On Apapa Road
As Fuel Scarcity Bites Harder In Lagos Yesterday

• Only 2 Vessels Laden With Petrol To Berth In Lagos Jetty

 

There are strong indications that the lingering scarcity of petrol in the country may continue till next week as vessels expected to bring in the essential products are nowhere close to the jetties.

Our findings also revealed that the petroleum products tank farms located at the Ibafon area of Apapa are almost empty as no vessel has berthed to discharge the product in the last 72 hours.

Shipping Position Daily findings yesterday in Lagos revealed that no mother vessel has been sighted by the operators in the last couple of weeks and no other smaller vessels were seen discharging the product in large quantity at the various jetties at Ijora, Ibafon and down to Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT.).

As at yesterday, only two ships laden with a combine tonnage of 54,000Metric Tonnes of petrol were being expected at the ports. They are: MT Kriton and MT Androussa.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT:

Comptroller General Of Customs: Alhanji Dikko Abdulahi Inde
(Arrowed) Surounded By Licensed Customs Agents Yesterday
St Tin Can Island Port When He Paid An Unscheduled Visit To The Port

Customs CG; Dikko Storms Tin Can Port,   Catches Bribe-Taking Officers Red-Handed 

 

The Comptroller General of Customs; Alhaji Dikko Abdulahi Inde yesterday paid an unexpected visit to the Tin Can Island  port command of the Service, where he caught some officers in compromising conducts and immediately yanked-off the rank of one of them.

 

The visit, which was devoid of the usual razzmatazz saw the Customs boss arriving at Tin Can Island port at about 11 am, from where he reportedly went on an unscheduled visit to some areas considered as notorious for under -hand dealings.

 

Eyewitness reports confirmed the arrest of two officers whose ‘illegal duty’ allegedly included collecting bribes for their bosses.