IG Of Police; Solomon Arase Wades Into CRFFN Crisis

Inspector General of Police: Mr Solomon Arase

...Probes ANLCA's Alleged Attacks, Threats On CRFFN Officers

 The Inspector General of Police; Mr. Solomon Arase has intervened in the crisis which is currently rocking the five registered freight forwarding associations.

The Police has also commenced investigations into allegations by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) that its staff were recently attacked at the Seme Border by members of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).

You’re Killing Our Port, PTOL Managing Director Tells NPA

L-R:  Mr Richard Smith, Trade and Marketing Director, Central,
W/Africa Cluster, Mr Val Usifoh, Chairman Shipping Association of Nigeria,
Managing Director Nigerian Ports Authority, AlhajiSanusi,
Lamido Ado Bayero and Executive Director Marine and Operations NPA,
Engr David Omonibeke when the Shipping Association executives paid
a courtesy call on the MD of NPA last week.

...Accuses NPA of deliberately starving the terminal of containers

The Managing Director of Ports and Terminal Operators Limited (PTOL); Mrs Lizzy Ovbude has accused Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) of deliberately issuing out policies aimed at killing PTOL terminal at Port Harcourt Port.
Mrs Obvude stated this recently in a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, shortly on arrival from Lagos where she attended a maritime event.
She said that it is unfortunate that the NPA is deliberately

CBN Says No More Forex For Importers Of Rice, Cement, Others

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says importers of rice, cement and other products will no longer access Foreign Exchange from CBN, Banks and Bureau De Change for such importation.
The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, who disclosed this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, said the measure would prevent further depletion of the country’s foreign reserve.
He said the country was spending huge amount to import things that could be produced locally.
Emefiele said the apex bank would not continue to support the importation of such items through the use of the hard earned foreign exchange.

Customs Denies Collection Of NAC Levy At Ports

…Says more tariffs coming
 The Nigeria Customs Service has denied commencement of collection of the National Automotive Council (NAC) levy on vehicles imported into Nigeria.

Assistant Controller of Customs in charge of System Audit of Customs; Mr. Tony Ayanlogu made stated this at the official launch of the Common External Tariff in Lagos on Tuesday, where he added that the  NAC is only being used temporarily as a nomenclature to replace the Import Adjustment Tax (IAT)‎ which was introduced with the CET 2015.

‎ Customs Lifts Ban On Importation Of Furniture, Textiles

L-R: President of NAGAFF; Chief Eugene Nweke, ANLCA President; 
Prince Olayiwola Shittu, Director of Operations Adlad Group;
Prince Aderemi Olikuntuyi and Chairman of AMARTO;
Chief Remi Ogungbemi at the official launching of the CET in Lagos yesterday.

•    To abolish  import prohibition list by 2020

Even as it has officially commenced implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), ‎ the Nigeria Customs Service has also announced the removal of several items from the import prohibition list, top among which are textiles and furniture.

Disclosing this at an official launch of the CET in Lagos yesterday, Zone 'A' Coordinator of Customs, Mr. Victor Gbemudu (an Assistant Comptroller General) said that the banned items are now being accommodated under the Import Adjustment Tax (IAT) in the new CET.

Shippers Council Moves To Audit Terminal Operators

• Pledges Protection of Investments
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council, (NSC) said yesterday that it has commenced moves to subject all private terminals in the nation’s seaports to a comprehensive audit, so as to situate the prevailing delay in the cargo clearance at the ports.
The Council’s executive secretary; Mr Hassan Bello disclosed this during a working visit to APM Terminal at the Lagos Port Complex, where he also promised to collaborate, partner and synergise with the private operators as part of efforts to bring about efficiency at the ports.

Bello said that the Council will work closely with other stakeholders so as to ascertain where the delay is being experienced in the course of cargo delivery.

Unease At NPA As New Managing Director ‘Absconds’ From Office

MD, NPA; Prince Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero

About two months after he was appointed as the managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA), Prince Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero has been away from the organisation consistently.
The apparent disinterest in his new appointment is already taking its toll on operations of the strategic federal government agency.
Investigations by Shipping Position Daily revealed that cumulatively the Kano Prince may not spent more than six hours  at the Marina, Lagos head office of the agency since he was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in April, 2015.

Customs Fingers Dangote, Guinness, Toyota In Alleged N400Million Import Duty Default

Three industrial giants; Guinness ,Dangote and Toyota  have been fingered by the Nigeria Customs Service  in N400Million alleged import duty evasion scam , said to have accumulated since 2014.

The three names were contained in a public notice that was recently sighted by our correspondent on the notice board of the Port and Terminal Multi-purpose Service Limited, (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service.

According to the Nigeria Customs Service, while Toyota owed N82.5million, Dangote owed N18.2million, N80million was outstanding against Guinness.

NPA Says 50% Revenue Lost To Poor Ports Access Roads

Port Manager Tin Can Island Port NPA, Babatunde Longe,
General Manager Western port, NPA, Chief Michael Ajayi and
 Former Tin Can Island Port Manager ,Barrister Ephraim Efiotta
during the GM's tour to Tin Can Island Ports Complex yesterday in Lagos

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) yesterday lamented that the deplorable state of the access roads leading to the two major seaports in Lagos, namely: the Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) and the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC) has negatively affected the ports’ revenue, resulting in a 50% drop.

Although no details of the revenue plunge were given, NPA top officials at the ports said the situation calls for national concern and urgent federal government intervention. 
This  revelation was made by three top officials of the NPA during a working visit by the General Manager, Western Ports; Chief Michael Ajayi  to Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.

NPA Partners FERMA to Commence Repair work on Lagos Ports Access Roads

General Manager, Western Ports, NPA; Chief Michael Kayode Ajayi (M)
And The Managing Director Of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base;
Miss Amy Jadesimi When The General Manager Toured The Base Yesterday
As Part Of His Visit To Facilities Under  The Western Ports Of NPA

‎...Deploys Patrol Boats To Beef-up Security At Waterfronts
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has assured that immediate remedial work on the failed approaches to the two ports in Lagos will soon begin, so as to alleviate the trauma that port users face on daily basis.
This assurance was given yesterday by the new General Manager in charge of the Western Ports of NPA; Chief Michael Kayode Ajayi when he undertook a tour of the concessioned terminals in the Lagos Ports Complex.
Chief Ajayi disclosed that the NPA will be partnering with the Federal Roads Management Authority (FERMA) in order to ensure that remedial works on the dilapidated access roads to Apapa and Tin Can Island Port begins in earnest.

NLC Wants Buhari To Stop Customs From Granting Import Duty Waivers

‎The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to begin the process of amending the Customs and Excise Management Act, especially with a view of stopping the granting of waivers to importers under any guise.

In a congratulatory letter from the union to Buhari, signed by its factional President; Comrade Joe Ajaero, a copy of which was sent to Shipping Position Daily‎, the NLC also tasked the new administration to‎ develop immediate framework and strategies to deal decisively with smuggling, as well as counterfeiting of made-in –Nigeria goods.

Landmark Battle Over Seized Oil Tanker; MT Anuket Emerald Resume In Court This Week

• Charterer Challenges Nigeria’s Claim To EEZ, Says Seized Oil Not Nigeria’s

The epic battle over the real exclusivity of globally recognised maritime boundaries called Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), which has pitched the Nigerian Government against owners and charterers of an oil tanker MT Anuket, and for which 14 foreigners and the ship are being detained resumes this week at a Federal High Court in Lagos.
However, ahead of their trial which resumes this Wednesday, charterers of MT Anuket, Danish bunker company; Monjasa Holding Emerald, as well as UK-based Glencore Energy have denied any wrong doing in the celebrated case in which 14 foreigners from four different countries have been arraigned before the Court in Lagos, on four count criminal charge of conspiracy, unlawful dealing in petroleum products and storing petroleum products without lawful authority.

CRFFN Is A Regulator, Not An Association --- FG

Fresh insights emerged yesterday about other major decisions that were taken at the reconciliation meeting that was called by the Ministry of Transport for registeted freight forwarding associations and their regulatory agency; the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
The meeting that was attended by the  leadership of the five associations, namely: of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), National Association of Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) and  the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) was presided over by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.

INCREDIBLE: New NPA MD; Lamido Ado Bayero Tours Apapa Port In 15 Mins, Says "I am impressed "

L-R: Managing Director, NPA; Alhaji Lamido Ado Bayero, Port Manager,
Apapa Port; Mr. Nasir Anas and Generla Manager, Western Ports;
Chief Michael Ajayi during the visit of the managing director to Apapa port yesterday.

Barely a month after he was appointed as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Alhaji Lamido Ado Bayero yesterday undertook a tour of the Apapa port and the terminals within the Lagos Port Complex (LPC).

The NPA boss arrived at the Bullnose Jetty at about 1.30 pm and was immediately taken in a bus on a sightseeing of the various terminals.

At exactly 1.45pm, the bus had driven through the APM Terminals, GDNL Terminals and the tour ended.

Transport Ministry Meets Warring Freight Forwarders Today

• Anti-ANLCA group sets agenda ahead of meeting
Barring any last minute change the of plans, the five registered freight forwarding associations are to meet today (Wednesday) with officials of the Federal Ministry of transport in Abuja, over the lingering face-off with the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
The bone of contention is the collection of the controversial Practitioners Operations Fees, which is already in the Gazette of the Federal Government.
The face-off which has lasted for about one month, has pitched four of the associations, namely: National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), National Association of Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) and Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN) against the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).

Pressure Mounts On President Buhari To Cancel Tompolo’s Multi-billion Naira Maritime Security Contract

Less than one week after the pioneer chairman of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Alhaji Tijani Ramalan, raised an alarm that the agency pays N1.5bn monthly to Global West Vessel Specialist, a company linked to an ex-militant leader; Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo to protect the nation’s maritime domain, another call has gone to President Muhammadu Buhari to outrightly cancel the controversial contract.
While the ex-NIMASA chairman alleged that despite of the enormous amount being collected by Tompolo, Nigeria still loses more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily to unbridled oil theft, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), in a recent statement  expressed disappointment that in spite of the huge amount of money the immediate past administration spent on the contract yearly, “the water ways are still largely insecure and thousands of barrels of crude oil are still lost daily in oil theft and pipeline vandalisation”.

Indigenous Shipowners Face More Woes As Banks Snub Proposals For Vessel Acquisition, Others

The lingering crisis which has engulfed the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) and which snowballed into counter claims last week has started affecting their businesses. Commercial banks operating in Nigeria have stopped processing loan applications for vessel acquisition and other services from members of the association.

Customs Engages EFCC To Investigate Fake Recruitment, Use Of Fake Bank Accounts

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has engaged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate some bank accounts with NCS’ name by individuals to defraud the public.
The Public Relations Officer of Customs, Mr Wale Adeniyi, announced this in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said it was high level crime for anybody to invite people online and ask them to pay money into a specified bank account for job offers in customs.
Confirming the development, he said : ``We have involved the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate this crime and to expose those at the root of it.
``We don’t understand how and why a bank will open an account for any individual, using the Nigeria Customs Service account name.

NISA CRISIS REACHES CRESCENDO: Factional Members Advise President; Capt Labinjo To Step Down

Labinjo’s  Group Says AGM Illegal, Unconstitutional

The festering crisis in the Nigeria Ship Owners Association (NISA) peaked yesterday after a large number of its members asked the association’s embattled President; Capt Niyi Labinjo to step down on account of allegation of fraud which is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a unanimous decision that was reached at a well-attended meeting of members of the  association yesterday at its Annual General Meeting (AGM), they called on Capt Labinjo to go and solve his problems with the EFFC, saying that the allegation of fraud against  the president sends a wrong signal to both local and international shipping community. 

Reasoning, Not NAGAFF, Dockworkers Stopped Our Protest--- ANLCA

The Tin Can Island port chapter of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) yesterday dispelled insinuation that its protest at the Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) on Monday failed because it did not enjoy the backing if some quarters.
The association maintained yesterday that it was the appeal by well-meaning stakeholders, including agencies of government that made the association to have re-think.
The association, which had braced up and organised its members for a protest against terminal operator; TICT) on Monday, disclosed yesterday that the action was put on hold when its leaders were prevailed upon by notable individuals.

Dockworkers, ANLCA Members Clash At Tin Can Port As Planned Shutdown Of TICT Fails

• Labour frustrates agents' peaceful protest
• NAGAFF dissociates from action
 
Dockworkers operating at the Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) allegedly truncated a planned shutdown of the terminal by members of the Tin Can Island Chapter of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).

ANLCA had notified port stakeholders of the impending shutdown of the TICT terminal‎ by its members over the terminal's alleged insistence on collecting demurrage and other terminal charges from agents, especially on public holidays.

Race For Comptroller General Of Customs Post Hots Up

• Three ACGs in contention
The race for the post of Comptroller General of Customs has commenced and at least three choices from the rank of Assistant Comptroller General have been penciled down.
Shipping Position Daily confirmed last week that, while the new government of President Muhammadu Buhari won’t be in a hurry to announce such appointments, he may be forced to announce replacements sooner than expected.
The incumbent; Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde became the Comptroller-General of the Customs on August 17, 2009; he is in his sixth year.
Sources at the Finance Ministry told our our correspondent that, the former Minister of Finance; Dr Ngozo Okonjo Iweala had pushed for Dikko’s removal a few times, but she failed.
However, it was gathered that one of the reasons she couldn’t pull it through was because her choice would have further pitched the former President against a particular tribe that has been alleging marginalization.