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.