₦airaland Forum

An oil magnate, Mrs. Ada Ugo-Ndali, fainted in the dock on Friday shortly before she was convicted of a N1.7 billion subsidy fraud by a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

Justice Lateefat Okunnu found Ugo-Ndali, the Managing Director of Ontario Oil and Gas Limited, and the company Chairman, Walter Wagbatsoma, guilty of N1.7 billion fuel subsidy fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

MORE PICS http://shipsandports.com.ng/oil-subsidy-fraud-convict-faints-court/

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said on Thursday in Ikeja, that 84 illegal immigrants were apprehended within the Seme border axis.

The commissioner said that the anti-border patrol team unit intercepted the illegal immigrants between Jan. 9 and Jan.11

Owoseni who spoke while addressing journalists, said they claimed they were travelling to Libya.

READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/police-arrests-84-illegal-migrants-heading-to-libya-at-seme/

The Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N256.4 billion revenue between January and December 2016.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Yusuf Bashar, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Lagos by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Uche Ejesieme.

According to him, this is against N266.1 billion recorded in 2015.

“This figure represents a marginal difference when compared with the figure for 2016, with a shortfall of less than N10 billion, attributable to some factors beyond the control of the command,’’ the command’s boss said.

Bashar recalled that in 2016, the command intercepted a large quantity of arms and ammunition based on intelligence reports on Feb. 15, March 7 and April 4, 2016, all handed over to Department of State Security (DSS)

The controller said that there was infrastructural face lift of the office complex which hitherto was in deplorable state.


READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/2016-customs-generates-n256-4bn-tin-can-port/

Members of the public have been falling to the antics of fraudsters who post fake auction advertisements purportedly by Customs in the social media.

Below are tips on how to avoid being a victim:

1. Don’t be fooled by online advertisements for car auction as customs does not place auction advertisements on the social media

2. Customs does not auction or sell vehicles online

3. Be wary of those who are posing as Customs officers online. Many are fraudsters who are out to defraud Nigerians of their hard-earned money

4. No genuine Customs officer will offers to sell you auction vehicle online

READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/tips-avoid-falling-victim-customs-auction-scam/

Illegal migrants from Nigeria, account for 21 per cent of the total 171, 299 immigrants that braved the Mediterranean odds to arrive Italy in 2016.

Figures from the Italian Interior Ministry estimated the record of Nigerian arrivals at 36,000, with most of them claiming they were running away from Boko Haram insurgency or Niger Delta crisis.

The estimate was as at November 2016.

The Nigerian government was briefed by Italian authorities on this development late last year.

Sources said the Nigerian government regarded the high number of Nigerians seeking asylum abroad as ”mind boggling and embarrassing”.

Government is of the view that only a few of the migrants could genuinely claim they were fleeing from Boko Haram insurgency and Niger Delta crisis.

“Most Nigerian migrants pictured in this milieu, are motivated by economic and pecuniary interests,” said a spokesman for Babachir David Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation

READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/36000-nigerians-crossed-mediterranean-sea-italy-2016/

The Liberian Registry has announced strategic new appointments in a number of key areas within the Asian regional offices operated by its US-based manager, the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR).

Wan Ching Chiang has been promoted to Registrations Manager for the Liberian Registry in Singapore.

Chiang is in her fifth year with the Liberian Registry, which she joined as Registrations and Corporate

SEE MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/liberian-registry-strengthens-asia-team-meet-growing-demand/

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has responded to the allegations that he received kickbacks in the $1.3 billion OPL 245 oil block deal involving oil giants ENI and Royal Dutch Shell.

Some Italian investigators had indicted Jonathan, alleging that Claudio Descalzi, ENI chief executive and his predecessor Paolo Scaroni, met with the former president to thrash out the deal “in person”.

But Jonathan said he met with executives of all the oil majors operating in Nigeria in his capacity as the number one citizen of the country, and no illegality was involved.
READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/malabu-oil-deal-didnt-ask-anyone-collect-bribe-jonathan/

Some aggrieved workers of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) went completely naked on Monday to protest the alleged non-payment of their bonuses by the board of the commission.

The workers accused the state government and management of the board of the interventionist agency for oil producing communities in the state of maltreating workers through its refusal to pay workers including the controversial 13-month bonus (end of year bonus).

They also said the management refused to promote and pay retirement entitlements to pensioners of the commission as well as leave bonuses to workers of the commission since 2015 when the present board assumed office.

READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/desopadec-workers-protest-naked-non-payment-bonuses/

Four aviation agencies Chief Executive Officers have been sacked by the federal government.

The CEOs affected include, the DG/CEO, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) – Dr. Anthony Anuforom; The Rector/CEO, the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria, Capt. , Samuel Caulcrick; the Commissioner/CEO, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Mr. Felix Abali and the Ag. MD/CEO, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Emmanuel Anasi.

DG NiMet has eight months to leave office as his second tenure expires August 2017; Acting MD NAMA is also retiring as a civil servant so if removed, he will go back as a Director NAMA before retirement; while the Rector NCAT and Commissioner of AIB have both served 2 years and 10 months into their first tenure.

READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/breaking-fg-sacks-four-aviation-agencies-ceos/

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it will increase the capacity of the Kaduna International Airport to handle the rise in human and cargo traffic to Kaduna when the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja closes for repairs.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government recently announced the closure of the Abuja airport for six weeks beginning from March 8, for repair works to be done in the middle section of its runway and taxi pavement.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Saleh Dunoma, on Monday said, “All we need do is increase our manpower in order to take care of the additional traffic. READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/abuja-airport-closure-faan-increase-capacity-kaduna-airport/

The directive by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) to all Customs officers to declare their assets in January 2016 has proven to be a huge failure as only 1,191 officers have complied out of a total staff strength of about 17,500 leaving a whopping 16,309 as the number of officers who have not declared their assets.

One year after Ali issued the order, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) exclusively informed SHIPS & PORTS DAIILY...

READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/exclusive-17500-customs-officers-1191-declared-assets/

The federal government says drugs, and other pharmaceutical products, are prohibited from being imported into Nigeria, and local manufacturers with special permission to import must pay 20 percent duty.

In a statement by Salisu Dambatta, director information, ministry of finance, the government said it indeed reduced tariff on some goods, dismissing speculations on tariff hike.

Earlier, Nigerians had accused the government of raising import duty on anti-malaria drugs, despite the country’s damning malaria records.

READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/importation-of-drugs-remains-banned-says-fg/

The Federal Ministry of Finance has reissued Nigeria’s import prohibition list.

Items banned from being imported into Nigeria, according to the list, include the following:

Live or dead birds such as frozen poultry; pork, beef; bird eggs, excluding hatching eggs. Others are: Refined vegetable oil, excluding refined linseed, castor and olive oil. Crude vegetable oil is however not banned from importation.

SEE MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/nigeria-releases-import-prohibition-list-says-no-hike-import-duty-food-luxury-goods/

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Saturday says there is no single drop of kerosene in the private and NNPC depots in Lagos.

Rotimi Benjamin, National Chairman Surface Tank Kerosene Peddlers (SUTAKEP) Branch of NUPENG disclosed in Lagos that the product was last brought to the depot on Dec. 27.

Benjamin who is also the Vice Chairman NUPENG Lagos Zonal Council said the scarcity of kerosene has increased the price, making it unaffordable for the masses. READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/acute-kerosene-scarcity-hits-lagos/

A seven-storey building known as Brazas Plaza, located at the Balogun market extension in Lagos Island, was on Saturday gutted by fire, destroying goods, valuables and cash worth several millions of Naira.

The incident resulted in gridlock in most parts of the Island, as a large number of traders and passersby besieged the vicinity, to catch a glimpse of the inferno.

Confirming the incident, the Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, said the fire started around 10.49 hours from the third floor of the building. see more

http://shipsandports.com.ng/fire-destroys-property-goods-lagos-island-market/

The reduction of import duties on 115 items by the Federal Government is aimed at promoting development of the real sector of the economy.

The approval was given by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of the fiscal policy measures of the Federal Government for the country.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, while communicating the approval through a circular on Wednesday, said the move was in line with the provisions of the Economic Community of West African States Common External Tariff. SEE MORE LIST OF ITEMS

http://shipsandports.com.ng/fg-slashed-import-duties-milk-tea-113-items/

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has resumed payment of N65,000 per month to ex-militants as the federal government seeks to end vandalism in the Niger Delta.

According to Piriye Kiyaramo, an officer in the government’s amnesty office, the ex-militants were paid two-month arrears on Wednesday.

“Two months of the ex-militants’ stipends were paid yesterday… the rest of their stipends will be paid later in batches by (central bank) CBN,” Kiyaramo said. READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/nigerian-government-resumes-payment-ex-militants/

“This will be the fifth consecutive year of trade growth below 3%.”

Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General, World Trade Organisation.



“Not too many of our indigenous investors can take the risk as you (LADOL) have done.”

Customs Comptroller-General, Hameed Ali. MORE QUOTES http://shipsandports.com.ng/top-quotes-day-18/

The minister of health, Professor Isaac Adewole says there is no tariff hike on the importation of anti-malaria drugs into the country.

Earlier, Nigerians on social media were circulating news of a hike in import duty for anti-malaria drugs, despite the country’s damning malaria statistics. READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/fg-denies-increasing-tariff-imported-anti-malaria-drugs/

A former Managing Director, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr Kingsley Usoh, has urged importers and other traders to stop bringing sub-standard products into the country.

Usoh made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.
READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/many-sub-standard-products-nigeria/

lasisimalik@yahoo.com

oland:
Are you tired of parents/guidance complaining there is no money because of the recession.Make your way out of the recession.Earn 5k(5000) or more within 24hrs daily with just a token!! of 1k(1000naira)..drop your email to send you full details..

Police have detained two Moroccans who tried to smuggle migrants into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, hidden in a car and one in a suitcase.

When police checked a car on Monday one person was found hidden in the dashboard and another in the hollowed-out back seat.

The man and woman, thought to be Guineans, received first aid as they had had little air to breathe.

Separately, a young African man was found hidden in a woman’s suitcase.

MORE PICS http://shipsandports.com.ng/photos-migrants-found-hidden-suitcase-car-dashboard/

The new Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, on Tuesday arrived the United Nations Headquarters in New York – for the first time, since his assumption of office. He was received by the Deputy Secretary-General, Dr. Amina Mohammed and other officials of the organisation. See photos:MORE PICS
http://shipsandports.com.ng/photos-antonio-guterres-amina-mohammed-assume-office-united-nations/

Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja have discovered parcels of whitish substance that tested positive for cocaine inside foot wears.

The cocaine, according to the statement released on Monday in Lagos by the agency’s spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, weighed 9.150kgs.

“The discovery was made in a shipment of shoes during inward screening of passengers on a Turkish airline flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“The cocaine was industrially concealed in the soles of new foot wears.

“It was the last arrest of 2016 at the Abuja airport with an estimated value of 3.8 million pounds in Europe.

MORE PICS http://shipsandports.com.ng/ndlea-discovers-cocaine-inside-soles-new-foot-wears/

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has passed a vote of no confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari.

The group, which endorsed Buhari in the buildup to the 2015 election, accused the president of blackmailing the Niger Delta region.

In a statement on Sunday, spokesman of MEND, Jomo Gbomo, alleged that President Buhari had been making conflicting and contradictory statements about the politics and economy of the region.
READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/mend-accuses-buhari-deceit-withdraws-support-president/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday recalled reasons for his removal as military Head of State in 1985.

According to him, his refusal to adhere to an advice from the IMF, World Bank to devalue the naira and increase prices of fuel and flour, led to the coup against him.

Buhari spoke on Friday night when he was hosted in Abuja by the Army at the Guards Brigade Regimental Dinner and presented with the captured Boko Haram flag. READ MORE

http://shipsandports.com.ng/removed-1985-ignoring-imf-world-bank-advice-buhari/

A court in eastern China has sentenced 23 people to jail of up to 15 years for smuggling refined fuel, state media reported on Friday.

They were found to have smuggled more than 35,000 tonnes of refined oil since 2013, and authorities confiscated two oil tankers, media reports said, citing the customs administration of Nanjing city data.

READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/china-jails-23-fuel-smugglers/

Chilean authorities said on Thursday they are investigating allegations that female sailors were secretly videotaped in their quarters on a naval vessel and that those images were then shared via social media by other crew members.

The Navy detained the sailors accused of secretly recording their female counterparts.

It said “it roundly rejects these types of actions that insult our personnel and we reiterate our respect for the privacy of those that form part of the institution.”

SEE PICS 18+ http://shipsandports.com.ng/chilean-navy-sailors-trouble-secretly-filming-female-crew-mates/

“Those who are importing through Cotonou are simply smuggling.”

Habib Abdullahi, Former Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority.



“When I first arrived at the command, I could not get to my office because the whole place was blocked with tankers.”

Benjamin Aber, Customs Area Controller, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal. READ MORE

http://shipsandports.com.ng/top-quotes-day-17/

This year the Ships & Ports website remained very active and busy, setting new standards in maritime reportage and creating new records for pageviews and volume of visitors. We had visitors from almost every country of the world including Nigeria, Kenya, UAE, United States of America, United Kingdom, Netherlands, India, Indonesia, Russia, Philiphines and Canada among others.

Without a doubt 2016 has been a tough year for the maritime and oil and gas industries, but we kept faith with our readers and advertisers. While thanking God for taking us this far, we look forward to 2016 with high hopes.

As we bid 2016 goodbye, it is our pleasure to bring to your memory the 20 most read stories on our website in 2016. We exclusively broke most of these stories, which virtually went viral, with several newspapers and other online news sites rehashing them or simply playing catch up.



1. NPA orders staff to stop wearing mini-skirts, spaghetti tops, jeans to work

READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/top-20-read-stories-2016/

The Comptroller General of Customs has approved the redeployment of seven Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACG) with immediate effect.

A document which was released yesterday and obtained by SHIPS & PORTS DAILY listed the affected officers in the exercise to include Zonal Coordinator in charge of Zone ‘A’, ACG Charles Edike who has been redeployed to Zone D in Bauchi while Ade Dosunmu formerly in charge of Enforcement and Investigation now takes over as Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’, Lagos.

ACG Azarema Abdukadir formerly in charge of Zone C takes over as ACG headquarters while Sanusi Umar formerly ACG headquarters moves to Zone C, Port Harcourt

read more http://shipsandports.com.ng/customs-redeploys-edike-6-others/

“Our officers are always cautioned from using their arms but when you are carrying arm and somebody is attacking you, what will you do?”

Usman Abubakar, Spokesman, Ogun Customs Command.



“Due to the general economic down turn, vessels don’t come as they used to come. Bulk cargoes are not coming because they have been denied access to foreign exchange.”

Comptroller Willy Egbudin, Apapa Customs Command.

READ MORE http://shipsandports.com.ng/top-quotes-day-16/