At Customs Conference, Finance Minister Says FG’ll Pay Oil Marketers N156bn Today

The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

…As CG harps on synergy among nation’s Customs
The Federal Government yesterday assured that it would by today pay oil marketers N156bn as payment for fuel subsidy, even as it expressed concern over the fuel scarcity being witnessed in some parts of the country, stating that oil
The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who stated this while speaking during an interview with journalists shortly after declaring open the 20th conference of Directors General of Customs of the World Customs Organisation also expressed concern at the fuel queues which are noticeable in some parts of the country.
The 20th Conference of Directors General of Customs of the West and Central Africa Region of the World Customs Organization is being attended by  heads of delegations from the global Customs community, especially delegations from member countries of the World Customs Organization (WCO) West and Central Africa Region and their Expert Working Groups.

ANLCA Says Customs Officers Too Corrupt To Allow E-Transaction At Ports

CG Customs; Alhaji Dikko Abdulahi Inde and National President, ANLCA; Prince Olayiwola Shittu.

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has condemned the Nigeria Customs Service for allegedly frustrating stakeholders’efforts in ensuring paperless transactions at the various seaports in Nigeria.
The association alleged that corruption is the main reason customs officers don’t allow e-transactions to be successful in the port system, because they want to keep enjoying their gratification and extorting customs agents.

EBOLA, INFLUX OF ARMS, AMMUNITION: Customs CG Calls For Review Of Cross Border Movement Of Goods

Delegates at the 14th Meeting of Committee of Experts of World Customs Organisation
for West and Central Africa Region in Abuja yesterday.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, has emphasised  the need to review and create greater awareness for cross border movement of goods and persons in the African region.

Abdullahi made the observation  yesterday at the 14th Meeting of Committee of Experts of World Customs Organisation for West and Central Africa Region in Abuja.

CABOTAGE: NISA Offers Members 1.6Billion Litres, N4.8Billion Monthly Income Opportunity

• Threatens action against foreign operations on Nigeria waters

Following new directives by the Federal Government to the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety (NIMASA) on the implementation of the Cabotage Act, Nigerian Indigenous Ship owners Association (NISA) has told its members that they now have a good opportunity to earn monthly revenue of N4.8Billion from lifting about 1.6Billion litres of petroleum products within the nation’s coastal waters.

At a meeting held in Lagos last weekend by the association; President of NISA, Captain Dada Labinjo said that it’s high time its members fought for their rights, even as he threatened to bar continued foreign participation in Nigeria’s Cabotage.

Shippers’ Council Steps Into System Failure At APMT

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has waded into the problems being faced by licensed customs agents and importers on account of weeks of system breakdown at the APM Terminal inn Apapa port.

The server breakdown has made it difficult for consignees to take delivery of their containers, a development which has been condemned by the Nigerian Shippers Council.


Shipping Position Daily had reported exclusively on Wednesday that, thousands of containers were trapped at APM Terminal for weeks causing panic among agents and importers

NIMAREX 2015 Organisers Postpone Event To June 6th

The Nigeria Maritime Expo'(NIMAREX) 2015 has again postponed the kick-off date for the 2015 edition of the annual event.

This is the second postponement by the NIMAREX 2015 organising committee, which  attributed its action  the inconclusive elections in some part of the country.

The new date for the maritime exhibition is now June 6th to 8th 2015.

The Secretary Planning Committee of the flagship maritime industry international exhibition and conference;  Barrister Osuala Nwagbara said that at the last meeting held by the committee, it was  decided that a shift in  the date waw preferable so as to have a better organised event.

Even though it was scheduled to hold between April 26th to 28th, 2015, Nwagbara said that the shift was  due to re-runs of the elections in some states.

Thousands Of Imported Containers Trapped At APMT In Weeks Of ‘System Breakdown’

…Importers, Agents Count Losses

For close to two weeks, business activities at AP Moller Terminal (APMT) in Apapa port have been near comatose due to server breakdown , leading to frustration and anger on the part of clearing agents and importers, who complained that they have not been able to transact businesses with the terminal.

A visit by our correspondent to the terminal on Monday showed that are a large number of agents waiting to get first hand information from officials of the terminal about the development.

Our correspondent also gathered that the handling of documents that the terminal adopted has not helped matters.
The situation has made it near impossible to either position containers for customs examination or to release containers to the consignees.

Ghana Fixes Commencement ECOWAS CET for July 2

Even though Nigeria began her implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff on April 11, her West African neighbour; Ghana has fixed her own for July 2.
The Director for Multilateral, Regional and Bilateral Trade at the ministry trade and investments (MoTI), Mr Anthony Nyame-Baafi, who made this known, said Cabinet had given its approval and the Ministry of Finance would therefore table the ECOWAS treaty before Parliament in the coming weeks for ratification.
He said Parliament was likely to approve it by the end of June and MoTI had therefore put in place the necessary measures to ensure that the CET took off in July.

Fresh Fear Grips NIMASA, As Ministry Orders Probe Into Promotion, Employment

DG, NIMASA; Mr Ziakede Akpobolokemi

•    No, it’s not true- Spokesperson.
There is palpable fear of demotion among top echelon of the Nigerian Maritime Administration Agency (NIMASA), following a reported directive that all those who may have been promoted illegally should be appropriately ranked. The probe may also affect those who may have been employed illegally.
A senior personnel at the Federal Ministry of Transport confided in one of our correspondents last week that  the Ministry is worried about the discovery that some persons had either been employed and placed on “inappropriate levels” , while some were promoted “inappropriately”.

Customs CG; Dikko Psyches Up Officers To Rev Up Revenue For Buhari Administration

‎The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service
Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi

...Inspects New Patrol Boats
‎The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service; Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi has charged officers and men of the service at the various commands to ensure that they generate enough revenue into government coffers so as to impress the government and ensure smooth running of the administration of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.
Dikko gave the charge yesterday when he visited Lagos to inspect the two newly-acquired patrol boats by the customs namely; Group of Nine, and Customs Pride.
Addressing journalists after inspecting the boats, Dikko who had earlier paid a visit to all the various commands in Lagos, urged the officers to display the same exemplary attitude they used in working for the President Goodluck Jonathan's administration to the in-coming administration.

‎ECOWAS CET: FG Slams Smuggles In 70% Duty, Tax On‎ Used, New Vehicles

 ...ANLCA Urges Members To Study Tariff Carefully
...Customs Boss; Dikko Expected In Lagos Today

Fresh indications have emerged that the Federal Government may have indirectly begun the implementation of its policy on importation of vehicles into Nigeria, even as the newly approved ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) shows that 70% duty has been introduced on all imported used and new vehicles.

A copy of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff which was obtained exclusively by Shipping Position Daily showed that‎ the ECOWAS tariff recommended 20% on vehicle import, but the Federal Government has slammed an additional 50% called Import Adjustment Tax (IAT)

With this development, importers of fully built vehicles may be in for a tough time as the 70% duty is not yet inclusive of levy.

SINGLE HULL TANKERS PHASE-OUT: NIMASA Gives 5-Year Grace Period

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has extended the phase-out date for single-hull tankers by five years, with the new date now December 31, 2020. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) had set an initial deadline of 2015.

According to NIMASA, the decision to grant an extension was in line with the provision of the IMO which allows member states who do not have the capacity to replace their existing single hull tanker fleet to extend the phase out date of certain categories of tankers in their countries provided the vessels do not engage in international trade.

Disappointment As CET Implementation Fails To Commence At Port

Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala

‎Even though the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service had last week directed all Customs Areas Controller to begin immediate implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) Shipping Position Dailygathered that implementation has not commenced.
Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala had in a statement last week approved the implementation of the new tariff in Nigeria, after which the Customs boss had spoken through its image maker; Mr. Wale Adeniyi that all customs command must commence implementation.
But our correspondent who visited the various commands in Lagos yesterday gathered that implementation has not commenced.

Buhari’s Election: Uncertainties Over NIMASA, NPA, Customs, NIWA CEOs Jobs

President -Elect; General Muhammadu Buhari

There is palpable fear among top echelons of the various maritime sector agencies over what may be aptly be explained as fear of the unknown.

Worst hit by this fear are: Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) whose chief executives are in one way or the other linked to the political calculations that preceded the last Presidential elections which was won by General Muhammadu Buhari of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Most pathetic is the position of the DG of NIMASA; Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, who engaged the APC in a ‘battle’ preparatory to the elections.

At Last, FG Releases New ECOWAS CET/2015 Fiscal Measures

Coordinating Minister for the Economy/ Minister of Finance
 Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.

The Federal Government has finally approved the implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) 2015-2019 and 2015 Fiscal Policy Measures.
Shipping Position Daily confirmed that the approval for the implementation of the new Tariff was conveyed in a statement signed by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy/ Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.
The implementation of the ECOWAS CET (2015-2019) together with its Supplementary Protection Measures (SPM) and 2015 Fiscal Policy Measures occurs concurrently and will take effect from 11th April 2015 after the expiration of the 30 days notice required under the provisions of the ECOWAS CET.

Group Petitions President Goodluck Jonathan Over Alleged Unlawful Concession Of Warri Port Terminal

• President Goodluck Jonathan, Transport Minister;
Idris Umar and MD, NPA; Habib Abdulahi

...Indicts Vice President Sambo In Bidding Process

A maritime group based in Delta State under the aegis of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA ) Warri Port Stakeholders Forum has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to probe activities of the Bureau of Public Enterprise(BPE) ,the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Federal Ministry of Transport over concession process of the Warri old port Terminal B.

NIMASA Boils Over N2b Hotel Bills For Ex-Militants

NIMASA DG:  Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi

• It isn’t true, says spokesman
 
For allegedly blowing N2 billion in hotel bills for former Niger Delta militants, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) may have run into trouble with the Ministry of Transport.
NIMASA is said to have spent the money in the past four years to lodge former militants in hotels in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos.
It was learnt that the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, his officials and NIMASA account staff were shocked when they learnt of the bills.
The minister, it was gathered, was furious over the spending, which he considered reckless, considering that over 90 per cent was spent on former militants in exotic hotels.

AREFFN Dares CRFFN On Categorization Of Freight Forwarding Associations

CRFFN Registrar; Sir Mike Jukwe and AREFFN President;  Dr. Frank Ukor

‎Indication has emerged that the recent declaration by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to categorise freight forwarding associations as well as practitioners ‎may not go down well with certain interests.
One of them is the National President of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) Dr. Frank Ukor, who has urged the Council to dump the idea.
Registrar of the CRFFN, Sir Mike Jukwe had announced recently that the Council is ready to enforce the categorization of freight forwarders into seven different groups and that all freight forwarders must belong to a category.

Kenya Joins IMO Secretary-General Race, Body Confirms Six For Candidates

The number of those seeking to occupy the seat of the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has increased with the confirmation of the nomination of Kenya’s Mr. Juvenal Shiundu.     

The IMO) has said that, by March 31, 2015 when nominations for the highly coveted position of its Secretary General, closed, six candidates have been nominated by their Governments for the position.

The present incumbent, Mr. Koji Sekimizu, ends his four-year term as Secretary-General on 31 December 2015.

ELECTIONS: Fear Grips Lagos Tank Farms, Restricts Tanker Drivers Activities To 4pm

Following the electioneering activities in the country and the palpable anxiety of waiting for winner of the Presidential election, petroleum tank farms in Apapa, Lagos have been cautioned to restrict activities of tanker drivers.
Shipping Position Daily who visited the Ibafon axis of Apapa yesterday gathered that loading of fuel has now been restricted to 4pm until the 2015 elections are over.