BPE Berates Terminal Operators For Arbitrary Charges At Port

…As Reps say Port and Harbour, National Transport Commission Bill  to be represented
The Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) said yesterday that terminal operators have been taking advantage of certain loopholes in the port concession programme, especially the non-passage of the Ports and Harbour bill to arbitrarily hike  port charges.

The BPE however  called for the passage of the Bill by the National Assembly to enable the Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC) to perform optimally.

EFCC swoops on NIMASA: Anti-graft agency drills Akpobolokemi two others today

FORMER Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA)  Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi and two of  his subordinates are expected to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) to answer questions bordering on some petition against them.
Expected to appear along with the former DG are Director of  Shipping development of the agency, Mr. Enusour Waredi and the Deputy Director in charge of Procurement Mr Obom Oonye. 

Custom Seals Premises Of Stallion Group, 3 Others Over N23billion Rice Import Duty Evasion

• The warehouse of Stallion Group at Iganmu area of Lagos after it was sealed by the Nigeria Customs Service yesterday INSET: •    Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs; Mr. Wale Adeniyi (2nd left) sealing the premises of Olam Rice Company yesterday

The Nigeria Customs Service ‎yesterday sealed the premises of four major importers of rice for their alleged refusal to pay up duties on several metric tonnes of rice they had imported into Nigerian in 2014.

Announcing the Customs action in a press conference in Lagos yesterday, National Public Relations Officer of cust‎oms, Mr. Wale Adeniyi gave the identities of the four defaulters as:
Stallion Group, Olam, Ebony Agro and Conti Agro.

Unconfirmed report also added that Customs had also sealed the premises of Stallion Motors at the old Volkswagen of Nigeria along the Lagos Badagry expressway.

NAGAFF Founder; Aniebonam Faults CRFFN’s POF Collection Method, Says Clever Agents Can Beat Process

...As date of commencement of collection nears

Fresh fear has been raised that the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) may have challenges with its planned collection of Practitioners Operations Fee (POF), even as the payment process is yet to be linked with the Single Window platform of the Nigeria Customs Service and other government revenue collecting agencies.

Founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF); Dr. Boniface Aniebonam heightened  the fear in Lagos yesterday, where he picked holes in the method of collection, saying that there are too many loopholes for freight forwarders to exploit.

FG Shops For Substantive DG For NIMASA

...As agency gets 2 Acting DG in three days

Even though it has had two acting Director Generals within three days, the Federal Government has commenced moves to appoint a substantive CEO for the strategic Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Shipping Position Daily confirmed last week that moves by a former DG (names withheld) to stage a come-back has been rebuffed by the team that is currently screening three nominees for the office of DG NIMASA.

President Buhari Will Get Maritime Road Map By September 2015----PCC

The Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC) has assured that a detailed road map on how to reposition Nigeria's maritime industry will be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari by September 2015.
At a stakeholders roundtable which held in Lagos yesterday on 'Setting Maritime Agenda for the Attainment of Vision 20:20' Chairman of NPCC; Otunba Kunle Folarin said that key stakeholders have been drawn from the 40 sub-sectors of the maritime industry to come up with an agenda for the Federal Government.

Water Transporters Call For Resuscitation of MASECA Bill

Four years after it was abruptly withdrawn from the Senate by former President Goodluck Jonathan, water transporters under the aegis of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Liverpool Branch, have called for the resuscitation of the Maritime Security Agency ‎(MASECA) Bill.
Chairman of the unit, Comrade Owolabi Omotayo in a chat with Shipping Position Daily yesterday also called for a total overhaul of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)‎.
‎It would be recalled that the MASECA Bill had scaled third reading at the House of Representatives and it was about to be passed by the Senate four years ago, when former President Goodluck Jonathan abruptly withdrew it.

COUNTDOWN TO STRIKE AT PORTS BEGINS: As Maritime Workers Union Gives NPA July 30 Ultimatum

Less than two weeks after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA), The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) yesterday gave the the agency up till July 30 to meet its demands for payment of the eight months` salary arrears being owed tally clerks and on-board security men.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that, at a meeting between all the parties in Abuja on Friday July 10, a memorandum of understanding was signed. Those who signed included: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh, a representative of Ministry of Transport; H.D Mohammed, National President of the Association of Stevedoring Companies; Bolaji Sunmola, Executive Director of Marine and Operations of NPA; David Omonibeke and President General of MWUN; Comrade Tony Nted Emmanuel.

Anxiety in NIMASA Over Exit Of Ziakede Akpobolokemi

Former DG, NIMASA; Dr Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi

•    Staff score him low on welfare, equity in appointment/promotion of officers, probity
• Stakeholders express mixed reactions

 
Ahead of resumption of work today (Tuesday), there is palpable anxiety at the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) after the sack last week of its Director General; Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Akpobolokemi was removed from office last Thursday via a terse statement issued by the
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity; Mr Femi Adesina.

ISPS Code: Group Accuses NIMASA DG, Ex-NSA Of Looting Of N447Million In 12 Days

Ex-National Security Adviser (NSA); Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and the incumbent Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Dr Ziakede Akpobolokemi

A non-government organisation (NGO); Citizens United for Peace and Stability has accused the duo of the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA); Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and the incumbent Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Dr Ziakede Akpobolokemi of using the International Ships and Ports Security facility (ISPS) code to allegedly fraudulently siphon a whopping N447Million.
The NIMASA is designated authourity (DA) for the implementation of the ISPS Code in Nigeria.
According to the Anti Corruption campaign group, documents revealed last-minute withdrawals from the national treasury under the guise of National security by NIMASA, former NSA and the office of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Ship Acquisition: NISA In Fresh Talks With American Shipowners

President of Nigerian Shipowners’ Association (NISA); Capt Niyi Labinjo (3rd from right) surrounded by members of the association during a press briefing at the NISA secretariat in Lagos yesterday.

‎About two weeks after it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Greek shipowners to acquire 40 vessels, the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) has revealed that its American counterparts are now ready to enter into the same agreement with Nigerians.
President of NISA, Captain Niyi Labinjo gave this hint during a press conference in Lagos yesterday.
He said with this, NISA is gearing up towards providing part of the 900 vessels required for offshore support services by the IOCs between year 2015 and 2020.
The NISA President revealed that the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board under its former Executive Secretary, Mr. Earnest Nwapa had served a notice to all foreign owned, crewed and registered vessels that their contracts will not be renewed on expiration.

Federal High Court Orders Status Quo In Feud Between NISA Members

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered feuding parties in the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) to maintain the status quo ante in the case brought before it by the association’s President; Capt Olaniyi Labinjo.
The NISA president and five corporate members of the association, namely: Energy Factor Marine & Oil Services Limited, Ocean Crest International Services Limited, Pokat Nigeria Limited, Belfor Nigeria Limited and Equitorial Energy Company Limited had approached the court after a June 3, 2015 meeting of a faction of the association.

FG Drops Bid To Acquire 10% Equity In Intels

The Federal Government has dropped its earlier plans to buy 10 percent equity in logistics giant; Intels, Shipping Position Daily has learnt authouritatively.
Source at the Ministry of Transport confirmed to our correspondent last week that, while it was true that government made moves to acquire the shares that were hitherto held by the late Emir of Kano; Alhaji Ado Bayero, an inter agency committee advised against it.
An insider in the Onne Rivers State-based company also confirmed the earlier move, but added also that there are signals that the idea had been dropped.

Latest Report Says 20 Seafarers Abducted In Nigeria In 2 Months

Piracy and sea robbery which spiked in Southern Nigeria in the build-up to the last general elections have once again drawn global attention  to the country, where United Kingdom’s  leading maritime risk and intelligence gathering outfit; Dryad Maritime has disclosed in its latest report that, 20 sea men were abducted from their ships and water crafts between April and May.
Dryad released its analysis of worldwide reported incidents of piracy and crime against mariners from 1st April to 30th June 2015, and highlighted the spike in attacks in Nigeria.
On attacks in the Gulf of Guinea, where Nigeria is dominant player, it said, “kidnapping of crew for ransom remains the most significant threat to mariners in the Gulf of Guinea”
 Specifically, Dryad reported that “at least 20 mariners were taken from vessels off the shores of Rivers and Akwa Ibom States in Nigeria in April and May”.

We Didn’t Commit Any Offence By Spending Part Of The CVFF – NIMASA

Even though there is no official confirmation yet, notable figures in the Nigeria  Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have given an insight into how the multi-billion Naira Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund,(CVFF) was spent.

The CVFF was created by Cabotage Act of 2003 to promote the development of indigenous ship acquisition capacity by providing assistance to Nigerian operators in domestic and coastal shipping.

It is also a consolidated fund accruable from the 2 percent levy payable by ship owners on any vessel engaged in coastal trading as well as revenue accumulated  from tariffs, fines and waiver under the Cabotage Act.

Customs Declares Fresh War Against Importation Of Poultry Products, Destroys 8,000 Cartons

R-L: Chairman‎ NIMAREX 2015 planning committee, Mr. Ayo Adedoyin,
Chairman of the occasion, Admir. S.O Afolayan and other stakeholders
at the official opening of the NIMAREX 2015 Conference and Exhibition in Lagos yesterday.

•    Orders officers to raid cold stores
Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde yesterday at the Seme Border Command of the service, flagged off a fresh campaign against importation of poultry products, with the destruction of 8,000 cartons of smuggled poultry products, valued at about N70Million .

The campaign is tagged: 'Operation Hawk Descend'‎

Bickering Shipowners, Key Stakeholders Boycott NIMAREX 2015 Expo

R-L: Chairman‎ NIMAREX 2015 planning committee, Mr. Ayo Adedoyin, Chairman of the occasion, Admir. S.O Afolayan and other stakeholders at the official opening of the NIMAREX 2015 Conference and Exhibition in Lagos yesterday.

For the first time since it was initiated about five years ago as an annual  networking platform  for local and foreign players in the Nigerian Maritime sector, the 2015 edition of the annual Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) was boycotted by its key stakeholders; including ship owners.

In a clear demonstration that all is not well, proponents of the exposition; that is members of the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) were visibly absent. Other critical stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime and shipping sector were also absent.

Dignitaries expected at the expo, but who failed to turn up without any excuse or representatives include:  the

At Last, FG Gazettes Kaduna Inland Container Depot

...Now a port of origin, destination

The Federal Government has finally gazetted the Kaduna Inland Container Depot (ICD), in what the Nigerian Shippers’ Council describes as a breakthrough in a long quest to decongest Lagos ports and also bring shipping services to the hinterland.
Speaking exclusively with one of our correspondents last week in Lagos, the Council’s Executive Secretary; Mr Hassan Bello explained that, by the development, the Kaduna ICD has now become a port of origin and  port of destination.

Ports And Cargo Terminal Says Cargo Dwell Time Drops In Two Year, But Epileptic Power Supply, Bad Roads, Affecting Our Businesses

Managing Director, Ports and Cargo Handling Service Limited, Mr. John Jerkins
and Executive welcoming the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council;
Barrister Hassan Bello to the terminal as part of Council’s visit
to some terminals at Tin Can Island Port yesterday

Ports and Cargo Handling Services, a subsidiary of Sifax Group has disclosed that cargo dwell time at its terminal at Tin Can Island port has dropped significantly in the last two years.
It however lamented that lack of power supply and issues of bad roads and government policies are killing their business.

The Managing Director, Port and Cargo Handling Service Ltd; Mr John Jenkins made this known when the Executive Secretary Nigerian Shippers' Council, Mr  Hassan Bello and top officials of the regulatory agency paid a working visit to the terminal yesterday.

NCAA Approves NAHCO’s New Tariff

...As NAHCO donates bus to ANLCA

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has approved the recent 20 per cent cargo tariff increase being implemented by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO Aviance), putting paid to months of face-off between licensed customs agents and the handlers.
Manager, Communications and Corporate Services of NAHCO, Mr Tayo Ajakaye, said this in a statement yesterday in Lagos.
The NAHCO provides aircraft, passenger, and cargo handling services, and other related services in Nigeria.

History As Nigerian Ship Owners Receive 40 Ships From Greece

…NISA President; Capt Labinjo Predicts 5 Million Jobs In 4 Years 

Nigerian ship owners and their Greece counterparts yesterday signed a historic agreement on the supply of 

40 ships into the Nigerian Cabotage system at an impressive ceremony that was witnessed by distinguished Nigerian and Greece personalities.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between the Nigeria Ship owners Association (NISA) and their Greece counterparts.