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.