I remember going to visit my mum's friend daughter at home, we don't really talk, but I used to like her then, I was asked to go and collect something, baba met the girl alone at home, she asked that I seat while she go get it, as she tries standing up I saw her thigh and John Thomas began reacting, I started thinking of some foolish things so that konji will come down na lie ooo, it was even stretching the more, she came out gave me what I want, and decided to walk me, she noticed the strong object and she was bold enough to instantly asked what's that, those words makes konji come down instantly and I just said nothing she smiled as I walked away��

Shipping Position

Some maritime and tourism experts on Friday in Lagos held a stakeholders’ forum on enhancing a more conducive business environment on Nigerian waterways.

The stakeholders meeting was attended by tourists boat operators, maritime experts and officials of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

Tarzan Balogun, President, Association of Tourists Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), said that the association had suffered business setbacks due to multiple taxation and changes in government policies.

He urged NIWA to wade in to guide against discouraging and driving investors out of business prematurely.

“As a boat operator conveying over 1000 people on waterways daily, I am quite discouraged because of the issue of multiple taxation which we have been suffering from for years now.

“I used to have so many boats but left with few now, this is as a result of the effect of multiple taxation and changes in government policies, we want this to be looked into,” he said.

Balogun urged NIWA to encourage the use of locally made boats and make sure they were also certified for use like the imported ones.

He said this was the only solution to encourage local production of boats which could also be exported for revenue generation.

Mrs Margret Orakwusi, a maritime lawyer, decried a situation whereby the potential in inland waterways remained highly untapped, urging NIWA to create an attractive atmosphere within the waterways to attract more investors.

She urged NIWA to create partnership with the private sector in order to effect some safety measures on the waterways.

She said there should be some rescue missions and ambulances which would attend to emergency cases because life remained precious and should be treated as such.

Prof. Adebayo Otitoju, a member of ATBOWATON, urged NIWA to create avenues for boat operators to access loans for boat acquisition.

He said most people who loved to embrace a business on waterways were financially constrained to do so.

“People find it difficult to acquire boats for this business, we as association want NIWA to create avenue whereby we can access funds to improve on our businesses on the waterways,” he said.

Mr Kunle Folarin, Chairman, Nigeria Port Consultative Forum, appealed to NIWA to improve safety on waterways and work on the shortage of manpower.

He commended NIWA for the stakeholders meeting which he said should be held often.

In his response, Dr George Moghalu, Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), said that safety on the waterways had been of great concern to NIWA and other security operatives.

He said there were ongoing discussings with relevant security operatives on ways to beef up security on the waterways.

“The Inspector General of Police has really tried and had promised to increase our manpower and provide some other security gadgets.

“We have just signed a memorandum of understanding with an American company to supply life jackets to all jetties across the federation, this is to improve safety measures,” he said.

Moghalu said that the operation of a driver who had not been certified had been criminalised and vessels not certified would no longer be allowed to operate.

He said that consultations would be made to see how funds could be made available to stakeholders to further invest in different forms of waterways business.

He called for the complete list of dredgers and their status in order to standardise the process of dredging in Lagos.

The newly-appointed Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Bashir Jamoh, yesterday assumed office with a pledge to engage industry stakeholders more deeply, so as to come up with policies that would move the maritime sector forward.

The NIMASA boss who made the pledge on his assumption of office in Lagos shortly after taking over from Dr Dakuku Peterside, also promised to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor.

Speaking shortly after he was handed the baton of the agency, Jamoh also promised to harness the deeply viable blue economy for the country.

He said, "since government is a continuum, we shall hit the ground running immediately. We shall study your handover notes diligently to ensure continuity of leadership for the sector”.

``We shall also listen and engage more deeply and more frequently with all our stakeholders both internal and external and we will find time to address issues and make projections soon,'' he said.

Jamoh while congratulating Peterside on the completion of his tenure, described him as a strategist, planner, executioner and articulated person; full of energy, passion and dedication.

According to Jamoh, "today marks a turning point in the history and existence of NIMASA. It is my pleasure to welcome you all to NIMASA as I take the mantle of leadership of this great and strategic agency as its 6th Director General.

"I am confident that with your continuous support, and the calibre of persons in the incoming executive management and board, the agency will achieve the ideals that informed it's establishment in line with global best practices."

"As you already know, NIMASA has the core mandate of promoting and regulating shipping in the country. Concomitant with this mandate is the responsibility of ensuring safety of the Nigerian maritime domain for ease of maritime transportation, which is one of the critical catalysts for economic development.

"It is in realisation of this, and in pursuit of the Next Level agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration that I urge you all to join hands with us to build an enduring and prosperous maritime sector."

"On this note, I will like to thank my predecessor, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and indeed the outgoing board of the agency for their resilience, team spirit and vision to make NIMASA a leading maritime light on the African continent."

"I must acknowledge the great strides we have made in the area of maritime safety and security, particularly with the Deep Blue project and ensuring the enactment of the anti-piracy law.

"On expectations from us, we shall hit the ground running immediately. We shall study our handover notes diligently to ensure continuity of leadership for the maritime sector.

"I can assure you that we will consolidate on these efforts and take them further, as we continue to pursue the ideals of a viable Blue Economy for our country."

Speaking earlier, the former DG of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside commended President Muhammadu Buhari for picking Dr Jamoh, a technocrat and a maritime insider to replace him as DG.

He also stated how he transformed NIMASA from a reputation challenged agency to world class.

In his words, "We came with a broad agenda in 2016. we consistently focused on staff training both local and foreign and improved working conditions and welfare of our staff. What we boast of today are staff who are more knowledgeable and that can compete with their peers at any level both locally and internationally.

"We championed the greatest reform in maritime administration in the history of this agency, we changed the narrative and reinvigorated the industry and put NIMASA back on the international map.

"Today, our workers work around with pride because they know the nation value their contributions and we received support of international community like the IMO.

"Today, the IMO has confirmed that we are the second largest tonnage in Africa after Liberia. We are the first in Africa to put 7000 seafarers on Cabotage in one day. We are the first to publish the first maritime forecast and we have been doing that from 2019 till date and the next edition is ready to be made public."

Dakuku Makes History, Gets Pulled-Out Of NIMASA

Even though he was removed as Director General under very controversial circumstances, Dr Dakuku Peterside was yesterday ceremonially pulled-out of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) by personnel of the Nigerian Navy who formed the agency’s Maritime Guard Command. They were assisted by the Police and others.

The pull-out was historic for the embattled ex-DG whom many thought was going to get re-appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Since 1987 when NIMASA’s progenitor; the National Maritime Authourity (NMA) was founded up till yesterday, no Chef Executive has been so honoured.

Some people wey never leave sango ota in ogun state b4 go just deh here dey form the first the i travel to Canada my brother ur time go come all of us go dey alright last last, but in the mean time humble yourself and enjoy the fresh free carbon monoxide air for naija.

I never travel out b4, can God use somebody here to bless my life.

Shipping Position Daily

Amb. ZhuoPingjian, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, on Friday said that the volume of trade between China and Nigeria reached 19.27 billion U.S. dollars in 2019.

Pingjian made this known in his address at the Forum on Sub-national Cooperation between Nigeria and China that held in Abuja.

He observed that this year would mark the 20th anniversary since the establishment of the Forum on China-Nigeria Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000, as platform for dialogue and international cooperation in Africa.

According to him, as the largest developing country in the world, China takes deep pride in its ever stronger partnership with Nigeria, the largest developing country in Africa.

Pingjian said: “Since establishment of diplomatic ties in 1971 and strategic partnership in 2005, the wide ranging bilateral cooperation between China and Nigeria has been a pace-setter for China-Africa cooperation.

“Thanks to the strategic guidance and personal commitment of President Xi Jinping and President Muhammadu Buhari; China and Nigeria have significantly enhanced political trust and secured fruitful outcomes in practical cooperation.

“China-Nigeria relations are at best in history and face new opportunities of growth, in 2019 the two-way trade between them reached $19.27 around 1900 times of 1971 when diplomatic ties was established.

“The trade growth was 26. 3 per cent ranking first among China’s top 40 trading partners; China’s imports from Nigeria increased 43.1 per cent with numerous achievements made in China-Nigeria cooperation.”

He said that China’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at $14.4 trillion increasing by 6.1 per cent in 2019, adding that the country remained a major trading partner with more than 130 countries.

He described the coronavirus as the most difficult disease to contain since the founding of China, but expressed the confidence that the government would meet its economic and social development goals.

Speaking in the same vein, the Governor of Ekiti, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who is also the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, commended China for its efforts at containing the spread of the epidemic.

Fayemi, represented by Alh. Abdul-Lateef Shittu, Director of Strategy and Research at the Forum, said that Chinese engagement with state and non-state actors strengthened the fight against the coronavirus.

“I will use this opportunity to invite the Ambassador of China in Nigeria to the Forum and brief the entire governors when they have their meeting, which holds once every month.

“We will also put on the agenda what you are doing, so that the states can also learn from what you are doing.

“It is heartwarming to know that you have been able to contain the epidemic.

“If you look at the mortality rate, you will observe that it has gone to down to 3.5 per cent, which is instructive when compared to other outbreaks of diseases in the past.

“The speed at which the Chinese government contained the outbreak with 36,000 people with cases of coronavirus already discharged is a mark of success,” Fayemi said.

He revealed that state governments had put measures in place across Nigeria to tackle any outbreak of disease based on the first case recorded in Lagos.

In a remark, the Deputy Governor of Plateau, Prof. SonniTyoden, said that the coronavirus was not just a Chinese or Nigerian issue, but a global problem.

“This event is apt because it coincides with the confirmation of the first coronavirus case in Nigeria.

“I think we have a lot to learn from Chinese efforts and from the figures reeled out.

“Containing the disease is daunting but the country stood up to the challenge.

Shipping Position Daily

The container ship Maersk Tema has been attacked by pirates off the coast of Guinea, it was confirmed ship manager BSM on Friday.

AIS tracking showed that on Friday morning, the Maersk Tema was under way and making 20 knots off São Tomé in the Gulf of Guinea. At about 0805 hours GMT, at a position about 100 nm to the northwest of São Tomé, she dropped speed to 3.5 knots. She then drifted northeast at half a knot for the remainder of the day.

A BSM spokesperson told Ekstra Bladet that two small vessels approached Maersk Tema while she was under way, and the crew initiated emergency procedures. The local authorities have been alerted.

Maersk Tema is a 2015-built container ship managed by BSM, and she has a capacity of about 5,000 TEU. Her ownership transferred from Oaktree Capital Management to a holding company in 2019. According to Maersk Group, she is not a Maersk ship, and photos show that she does not wear the Maersk liver

Shipping Position Daily

After years of prevarication and apprehension, the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), has finally commenced collection of the Practitioners Operation Fee (POF).

The Registrar of the Council, Mr Samuel Nwakohu, during the launch of the collection on Monday in Lagos, explained the steps to be taken by freight forwarders to make payments on the CRFFN portal.

He however said what the Council has done is a soft launch and that there will be no full implementation until two to three weeks.

The POF is a legal practising fee meant to be paid by freight forwarders and customs brokers.

The POF will see a 20ft container attracting a fee of N1,000 while a 40ft container will attract N2,000 before it can be cleared from the port.

He told journalists at the launch that: “We have worked very hard to make sure the objectives of the POF are effective and achieved

“This soft launch is restricted to the seaport for now; it is a phased thing and we will get to the airport eventually.

“This is also a period to observe the technology; it has been in observation but we should know that there is a difference between the field and things done in the office,” he said.

Nwakohu said that there would be a 16-man response team that would attend to people in case of any issue with the portal.

He said that each account on the portal would have an e-wallet where one could keep funds aside, and in case of any issue, it could be reverted within 48 hours.

The registrar noted that for security reasons during payment, a One-Time Password (OTP) would be generated from the bank, and when that was done, it would enable one to be debited.

The registrar said that the name of the freight forwarder, consignment and description of goods would be on the printout given, and an acknowledgement copy sent to the person’s email.

He said that terminal operators would be provided with an Excel sheet which would be ticked off before one was allowed to carry the cargo out of the port.

“Terminal operators have nothing to do with the process on the portal; the only role they play is to verify the receipt against the control document to ensure one has paid before leaving the port.

“What one needs is to be able to access the portal using their registration number and follow the steps, and the portal accepts all cards for payment

“Very soon, the portal will be accessed through the Google play store for download,” he said.

He also added that there was an environment in the portal that showed the level of activities going on in the port so as to monitor progress.

Shipping Position Daily


The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) says the Nigerian government must ensure that its policies are industry- friendly, as this is the only guarantee for a competitive intra-African trade.



Its President, Mr Mansur Ahmed, spoke on Thursday in Lagos, even as he urged the government to show readiness in addressing the supply side constraints of lack of infrastructure, to enjoy the gains of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).



Ahmed also charged the government to ensure that the regulations are not too harsh for businesses to operate.



He however added that the regulations should be seen as a way of assisting businesses to grow which according to him, will ultimately enhance competitiveness and boost the economies.



The MAN boss reiterated that MAN has been in the forefront of setting the pace for the engagement with other African manufacturers for the agreement.



"The Nigerian government must also lead by example in ensuring that policies are industry friendly as his is the only guarantee for a competitive intra-African trade"



He nevertheless maintained that the nation cannot achieve competitiveness without the provision of infrastructure such as good road network and electricity not only within the nation, but across the borders.



"There is also the aspect of soft infrastructure like visa, tariffs, and foreign exchange that will help ease up the process of carrying out business transaction between countries"



According to him, transportation is vital to enhancing competitiveness in trade.



“For instance, due to poor infrastructure, it will cost a business owner in Nigeria more to transport goods from Lagos to Kano than it will cost a Chinese business owner to transport the same goods from China to Lagos.



“We must address all these issues since the AfCFTA is not just about trade in goods, but also trade in services,” he said.



"We must address all these issues since the AFCFTA is not just about trade in goods but also trade in services. As you may be aware modern industry competitiveness depends to a great extent on provision of adequate and efficient Infrastructure"



Explaining further, Mansur said that electricity constitutes up to 40% of the cost of doing business.



Also speaking, the Director General of MAN, Mr. Segun Kadiri maintained that it is very important that manufacturers be given their pride of place to ensure they enjoyed the full benefits of the AFCFTA.



"With the emergence of AfCFTA, there should free trade and movement of person the African continent, it is only important that manufacturing should be given its pride of , he said.




Kadiri however pushed for a manufacturing agenda in the continent.



"What MAN is pushing is that there must be a manufacturing agenda for the continent which means that we should deliberately promote the production of goods that will be used in the African continent"



"Otherwise we will be yielding a 1.2billion market that we have aggregated for others to take advantage on", he stated.

Shipping Position Daily

Men of Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) have intercepted US$8.061Million from suspected currency traffickers.

Addressing newsmen yesterday, the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) said the foreign currency was intercepted in a bus belonging to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) bus at the airport tarmac.

He informed that one suspect, the driver of the Bus, Chimezie Okonkwo was arrested and taken into custody with the intercepted consignment while adding that after preliminary investigations, the money will be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.

The Customs CG also maintained that the value of the threshold in Nigeria is equivalent of $10,000, while adding that all travelers in and out of Nigeria, must declare any physical cash in excess of this threshold of $10,000 or equivalent of other currencies or monetary instruments.

Explaining further, he said, "the question is often asked, why do Customs or any agency of government need to know if a private person or company is taking out monies for their personal business out of the country. It is for the reason that illegal criminal activities like international terrorism, drug smuggling, arms proliferation are financed by illicit cash movements outside the recognized financial systems. Proceeds from other criminal activities like corrupt enrichments from public treasury are similarly siphoned out of the country in cash.

He told journalists that, "to enforce compliance with the monitoring of cross border cash movement, registers are maintained at all approved points of entry and exit, where voluntary declarations are recorded and maintained. The declarations are then followed up by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ascertain any possible link between the cash movers and criminal networks. At the Murtala Mohammed Airport, the Command put in place additional measures to monitor the implementation of the anti-money laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing operation. These measures include surveillance at the arrival and departure halls, increased patrols at the tarmac and cultivation of intelligence around its area of responsibility,”.

"Acting on such credible information, the command operatives at about 1200 hrs on 16 January 2020, intercepted illegal movement of foreign currency at the ‘E' wing of the Tarmac. The consignment packed in a coaster Bus was loaded in six big bagco bags. One suspect, the driver of the bus, Chimezie Okonkwo was arrested and taken into custody with the intercepted consignment.

"On Saturday, 18 January 2020, an inventory of the consignment was taken, and was witnessed by representatives of the Directorate of State Security, Customs Intelligence Unit, Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Unit, Customs Police and the suspect.

"At the end of the inventory taking, a total number of 20 Sealed wraps were opened, counted, re-sealed and re-wrapped under video coverage from the beginning of the exercise to the end. The total intercepted stood at $8,065, 612 only”, the Customs boss confirmed.

Shipping Position Daily

Men of Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) have intercepted US$8.061Million from suspected currency traffickers.

Addressing newsmen yesterday, the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) said the foreign currency was intercepted in a bus belonging to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) bus at the airport tarmac.

He informed that one suspect, the driver of the Bus, Chimezie Okonkwo was arrested and taken into custody with the intercepted consignment while adding that after preliminary investigations, the money will be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.

The Customs CG also maintained that the value of the threshold in Nigeria is equivalent of $10,000, while adding that all travelers in and out of Nigeria, must declare any physical cash in excess of this threshold of $10,000 or equivalent of other currencies or monetary instruments.

Explaining further, he said, "the question is often asked, why do Customs or any agency of government need to know if a private person or company is taking out monies for their personal business out of the country. It is for the reason that illegal criminal activities like international terrorism, drug smuggling, arms proliferation are financed by illicit cash movements outside the recognized financial systems. Proceeds from other criminal activities like corrupt enrichments from public treasury are similarly siphoned out of the country in cash.

He told journalists that, "to enforce compliance with the monitoring of cross border cash movement, registers are maintained at all approved points of entry and exit, where voluntary declarations are recorded and maintained. The declarations are then followed up by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ascertain any possible link between the cash movers and criminal networks. At the Murtala Mohammed Airport, the Command put in place additional measures to monitor the implementation of the anti-money laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing operation. These measures include surveillance at the arrival and departure halls, increased patrols at the tarmac and cultivation of intelligence around its area of responsibility,”.

"Acting on such credible information, the command operatives at about 1200 hrs on 16 January 2020, intercepted illegal movement of foreign currency at the ‘E' wing of the Tarmac. The consignment packed in a coaster Bus was loaded in six big bagco bags. One suspect, the driver of the bus, Chimezie Okonkwo was arrested and taken into custody with the intercepted consignment.

"On Saturday, 18 January 2020, an inventory of the consignment was taken, and was witnessed by representatives of the Directorate of State Security, Customs Intelligence Unit, Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Unit, Customs Police and the suspect.

"At the end of the inventory taking, a total number of 20 Sealed wraps were opened, counted, re-sealed and re-wrapped under video coverage from the beginning of the exercise to the end. The total intercepted stood at $8,065, 612 only”, the Customs boss confirmed.

The Federal Government says it has strengthened its preparedness and action plan in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to stop the importation of coronavirus into the country.

Dr Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of Health, said this at Coronavirus Inter-ministerial Preparedness and Response Meeting with relevant key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on Friday in Abuja.

Ehanire said the meeting became important because the World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared coronavirus as a global health emergency.

He minister said as part of initial response, the ministry had been working with port authorities to prevent the importation of the virus at the port of entries.

He said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved N71 million for port authorities to support its surveillance activities

“We must assure Nigerians of our capacity to detect and respond to this emergency and other public health threats; our surveillance at the point of entries involve temperature detectors with scanners and visual observation of passengers,’’ the minister said.

In addition, Ehanire said that Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had activated the Coronavirus preparedness group and activated its incidence command system once there is a suspected case in Nigeria.

“NCDC is also working closely with WHO to establish testing capacity in NCDC reference laboratories in Abuja or abroad if need be to handle any suspected case.

“Also, the ministry is strengthening its response plan and from this meeting an action plan is expected to be developed and a committee could be borne,’’ the minister said.

According to him, as at Friday (Jan. 31) more than 970,000 cases have been confirmed mostly in China, 100 cases around the world and deaths roll now 213.

“No confirm cases in Africa; we heard a suspected case (a student in China) in Cote d’ Ivoire but the student has tested negative, one in Kenya whose status is unclear,” he said.

On his part, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the world had confidence in Nigeria to be able to handle any emergency based on the Ebola experience in 2014.

Mohammed assured Nigerians of government effort to stop the importation of the virus and advised them to take prevention measures seriously, especially imbibing good hygiene.

Similarly, the Permanent Secretary of the health ministry, Mr Abdulaziz Abdullahi, said the federal government was willing to deploy resources to stop the importation of the virus into the country like it was done for Ebola in 2014.

“Nigeria remains bench mark in the history of public health in general because of curtailing the spread of Ebola; team work actually makes the dream work, I believe if we work together, we can achieve it again,’’ he said

The permanent secretary said the aim of the meeting was to work together to prevent the importation of the virus into Nigeria, intensify response plan and surveillance in collaboration with the ministry’s partners.

“WHO has declared Coronavirus a global public health emergency, hence there is need to increase surveillance and system activation in the country.”

He, however, called on stakeholders to make sure that the importation do not occur, saying “if it do occur, we must work together to mitigate it’’.

No fewer than 15 members from key line MDAS were present at the meeting.

Also development partners and commissioners from five states hosting international airports attended the meeting.

Shipping Position Daily

Officials of the Port Health Service (PHS) have started active surveillance tagged: “Inspection, Prevention and Control (ICP)’’ of passengers coming in and out of the Nigeria at the Seme border.

A NAN Correspondent, who visited Seme border on Wednesday, observed that the port health officials were stationed at both departure and arrival sides screening immigrants to detect any suspected of having the deadly diseases.

The officials were seen kitted with hand gloves and face masks, screening immigrants from both sides to detect any of the passengers suffering from Coronavirus, Lassa fever and Yellow fever.

An operative of the service, who did not want his name mentioned, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, had directed the PHS to start screening at the border.

According to him, the screening is not only for Lassa fever, there is outbreak of Yellow fever too and Coronavirus is also in Côte d’Ivoire, which is very near to the country.

“We have been directed to screen passengers from both arrival and departure of the border post and our staff are there checking passengers in and outside the post.

“Nobody is exempted from the exercise; our officers are using their own Personal Protection Equipment such as hand gloves and masks.

“Also, we have also sensitised other sister agencies like Customs and Immigration Services on the need to put on hand gloves and masks while attending to passengers at the border post.

“We have also been sensitising the border communities around us on the awareness of the three deadly diseases.

“Now that the deadly Coronavirus is in Cote d’Ivoire, it can easily come down to the country, if care is not taking.

“This is why we are everywhere screening the passengers so that the country will be saved from the Coronavirus,” the official said.

The source said that some of officials of the service had been posted to some routes that some people used to pass or come into the country to checkmate the diseases.

Shipping Position Daily

The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) on Wednesday said that it iis set for the collection of the much talked about Practitioners Operating Fee (POF).

Registrar of the council, Barrister Samuel Nwakohu who said this at the Marina, Lagos office was speaking ahead of the commencement of the collection of the fee.

He however added that the council will commence the collection of the fee “any moment from now”

Nwakohu said that a 20ft container would attract a fee of N1,000 while a 40ft container would attract N2,000 before it was cleared from the port.

"We have been working with our technical partner, SW Global and I am glad to inform all of you that we are ready and that any moment from now, POF will go live.

The Registrar maintained that the council lacks the adequate finance to run its daily activities ,adding that the POF will go a long way in assisting the council with its daily expenses.

"Some of you have heard me over the time talk about the inadequate funding to run this place. My over head to run the council is N 2.7million monthly and it is not regular. I think for last year, we had 7-8 months released and it doesn't come regular as at when due. So it becomes extremely difficult to run the council"

Giving details of the sharing formula for proceeds from the POF, Nwakohu said that 25% will go to the federal government through the Treasury Single Account (TSA), 20% to the council, 20% to the SW Global and 35% to the Practitioners.

"S.W Global is not just for collecting, they get 20% of it not just for collecting POF they are our technical partners, we have been through a lot, like training and funding most of the things we have been doing. They built the portal and they did most of the integration. So it is not just for collecting it is whole package we have"

"We have started the process of integration with Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). But as at today, I am delighted to say you that we have been able to ingrate fully with NPA and NCS"

Stressing further , he said that the council has not been able to integrate fully with NCAA adding that negotiations are ongoing to fully integrate with the agency.



Nwakohu, added that the council has devised technical means of getting the fees collected stressing that there might not be any need to employ people to enforce the collection.

"I am basically informing stakeholders in the industry and freight forwarders in particular how the POF regime is going to function"

"It is not going to be a manual thing ,it is going to be fully automated. We have the mandate of the federal government to ask our technical partner, SW Global to be the ones to collect for us”

"So the system we have put in place if self enforcing, we don't need armed personnel to go and enforce it, technology will enforce it. If you don't pay you can't exit your cargo"

According to him, the council has agreed with the Seaport Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN) on how to go about the collection.

"We have heard meetings with STOAN, we have talked on how they are going to support it and they said they are ready. And we agreed on integration which we said will take about 3-5 weeks but that will not stop the commencement of the collection of POF"

"You must be able to show evidence that you have paid before you can take your container, that is what it is all about with them. By the time we integrate fully what you need to do is to give them reference number of your Bill of Laden"

Nwakohu who admitted that there will be some resistance in the collection of POF however warned that it will be difficult for freight forwarder to do businesses in the port without properly registering with the agency.

"Like I have always told you people in any giving situation you don't expect anybody to comply, there must be pockets of resistance here and there. I want to tell you that what we are doing is fully backed by law"

"I have been very careful saying this, but it will be very difficult to do business as a freight forwarder here in Nigeria if you are not registered with CRFFN because you cannot log in, if you have not paid you can't take your container out"

He predicted that when the platform fully kicks off, it will be generating over N5billion annually into the coffers of the government.

The CRFFN boss also added that it has gone to the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC)to get a business case.

"The full business case which the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) prepared projected N5billion per annum ,but with the technology we have on ground it is my believe that we will surpass that. In the first year we may hit that N5billion because there may be challenges up and there but as the challenges come we will fine tune them" he concluded.

Even as China is grappling with an outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus, that has spread to not less than 17countries including Cote d Voire in West Africa, the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has assured that, all hands are on deck to ensure that the deadly disease does not penetrate into the country.

Speaking exclusively to Shipping Position Daily correspondent the head Media, Communications and Strategies for the service; Dr. Dr. ChigozieNwodo said the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service is collaborating withthe Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to ensure that there is no gapor breach on the veterinary quarantine front at the airports.

He said the World HealthOrganization has described the outbreak as an emergency in China, but stopped short of declaring it a public health emergency of global concern because thedeath toll had yet to meet the threshold.

He however said notwithstanding, at every point of entry for all agricultural quarantine activities in Nigeria;NAQS is obligated to buffer the nation from the potential introduction of thishigh-risk virus, adding that officers are on guard.

According to him, “the World HealthOrganization has described this outbreak as an emergency for China but stopped short of declaring it a public health emergency of global concern because thedeath toll had yet to meet the threshold.”

“It is important to know thatCoronaviruses (CoV) are zoonotic, meaning that they are cross-transmittablebetween human beings and animals.

“According to WHO, signs ofinfection include fever, cough, shortness of breath. In more severe cases, itcan lead to pneumonia, server acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure anddeath. Hence, CoV represent an equal opportunity danger to human life and theagricultural sector with a single case of introduction will have potentiallybroad and prolific ramifications.

“So bearing in mind the zoonoticnature of the virus, the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service iscollaborating with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to ensurethat there is no gap or breach on the veterinary quarantine front at theairports.

“FAAN has issued travel advisory,admonishing passengers to submit themselves to standard quarantine formalities.

“As the single point of command forall agricultural quarantine activities in Nigeria, NAQS is obligated to bufferthe nation from the potential introduction of this high-risk virus. The stakesare high. Therefore, officers are on their professional guard.

“Consequently, all NAQS officersstationed at all ports of entry have heightened their alertness to make certainthat procedural quarantine inspection is performed stringently, diligently andrigorously. There can be no exception or exemption.”.

“The general public is thereforeadvised to report any case related to the above to quarantine posts in theirlocality or the agriculture department in their local government council”, headded.

Shipping Position Daily

…. As ANLCA Okays Collection Of POF

The Minister of State for Transportation, Gbemisola Saraki, has described Nigerian ports as the most expensive in the West African sub-region.

A statement signed by Mr Eric Ojiekwe, Head, Press and Public Relations of the ministry, quoted the minister as saying that the high cost of port operations in the country was occasioned by duplicity of functions by operators in the ports.

It said that the minister spoke on Monday in Abuja, while receiving members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).

She said:“ the high cost of operation has made it difficult for Nigeria to compete with other neighbouring countries.

“ Nigeria is supposed to be the biggest player and the cheapest player but, unfortunately, we are not.

“ But I assure you that changes will be witnessed as we will soon be efficient and effective in our operations in the country,” she said.

On Nigeria becoming dumping ground for empty containers which had contributed to the Apapa gridlock, Saraki said the problem was not a hidden one.

She, however, assured Nigerians that the Federal Government, through the ministry, would soon unveil plans that would bring positive changes.

Saraki commended the organisation for their commitment in bringing about changes in port operations.

She also urged them to always avail themselves for robust discussion as that was the only way the ministry could ascertain if policies were working or not.

Earlier, the National President of the association, Mr Iju Nwabunike, had said that the visit was to keep the minister abreast of happenings in the area she superintends.

“If the minister is better informed, it will guide her decision making while discharging her duties,” he said.

The president commended the ministry for ensuring the revival and growth of the Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria.

He said that the association was in support of the collection of Practioners’ Operating Fees (POF), adding that it would help bring about improvement in the transport chain and the training of their members as professionals.

Nwabunike appealed to the minister to ensure urgent repairs of the port access roads and facilitate automation of transactions at the terminals to minimise human contacts, facilitate trade and guarantee ease of doing business

Shipping Position Daily

For allegedly‘insulting them’ and for allegedmisrepresentation of facts about the CabotageVessel Finance Fund (CVFF), some shipowners are currently up in arms against the Minister of Transportation; MrRotimi Amaechi.

Our reportergathered that the cold war is mainly as a result of last week stakeholdersmeeting the Minister had with ship owners on modalities for the disbursement ofthe CVFF.

Eventhough the media was shut out of the meeting, our reporter observed that aformer Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and SafetyAgency (NIMASA) stormed out of the meeting while lamenting that he came downfrom Abuja just to waste his time.

He washeard saying, “I will come back next week to drop my resignation letter, beforebeing pacified by one of the staff of the agency to return to the meeting.

Shortlyafter the stakeholders’ meeting, the president of one of the ship owners’associations who declined to speak to the press confided in our reporter thatthe Minister of Transportation actually insulted him and as such he was not in a good mood to talk tothe press.

Obviouslyvery angry, he also said: “How can theMinister insult me, he insulted my personality, I am not his mate, imagine himpointing fingers and asking each one of us to mention the number of ship wehave, that’s an insult, but I won’t speak until I have had a one- on -oneconversation with him” he said.

Oneissue that the ship owners are also not comfortable with is the exactproceeds from the CVFF.

Also, aprominent ship owner discredited the US$200 million dollars (or about N72billion) that the Minister said hasaccrued in the CVFF.

Hesaid, “well that is what the minister said, but for me, it is above that, farfar above that”

Whenasked if he is optimistic that the fund will be disbursed to ship owners, hesimply replied “let’s wait and see”.

He alsofaulted the authenticity of the claimthat $200Million had accrued, according to him, “the figure cannot be correct,we need to see the books”.

Recallthat, speaking shortly with the press after the stakeholders meeting, theMinister informed that a committee will be set up to be headed by the DirectorGeneral of NIMASA, he said the committeewill come forward with the proposed guideline which will be presented to theNational Assembly.

Addingthat it is the committee that will determine if it will be a single digits ornot,'' he said

Amaechifurther stated that as part of efforts to mitigate the risk involved in thedisbursement, financial institutions would be involved and the fiscal riskwould be borne by the banks involved.

"Thebanks will be involved in developing the criteria for the disbursement of thefund, so the risk will be borne by the lending institutions", the Ministersaid.

Theminister also noted that the committee would determine the percentage interestto be inserted in the procurement of CVFF.

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ebute Meta, Lagos on Friday, ordered that two men who allegedly robbed and murdered the wife of the Managing Director of Maersk, be in Kirikiri Correectional Centre, pending legal advice.

The police charge: Olamilekan Oke and Adeyinka Akande, both electricians, with five counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder and theft.

Chief Magistrate A.O. Komolafe, who did not take the plea of Oke and Akande, ordered the police to return the case file to the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions.

She adjourned the case until March 26.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, ASP A.A. Adegoke, counsel from State Criminal Investigating and Intelligence Department, (SCIID), Panti, told the court that Oke and Agande committed the offence on Dec. 8, 2019, at about 7.30p.m., at Flat 7A, No. 2, Luggard Avenue, Ikoyi.

He alleged that they conspired and robbed a couple, Mr Gildas and Mrs Bernadett Tohovo-Tohovo.

The prosecution alleged that Oke and Akande, cut off electricity from the couple’s house and broke in.

He alleged that they raped Bernadett, stabbed and suffocated her to death before proceeding to stab Gildas on his neck with a knife, but he survived the wound.

He said that they stole hard currencies, N48,790 and two iPhones belonging to the deceased, he said.

He said the offence contravened the provision of sections 223, 230, 233, 260 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Shipping Position Daily


Uncertainty seems to trail the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel financing funds (CVFF) timeline as a specific date for the disbursement is yet to be ascertained.

You will recall that the Federal Government had announced that it would disburse the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) to indigenous shipowners after about 15 years delay.

Amaechi had stated that his ministry had finally received the approval of the President, Muhammadu Buhari (retd), to commence the disbursement of the fund by January 2020.

However, speaking yesterday during a stakeholders meeting with ship owners, the Minister disclosed that before the funds can be disbursed, a committee has to be set up which will be headed by the Director General of NIMASA and four other stakeholders who will come up with guideline for disbursement of the CVFF.

He said before he became the minister, the fund was initially applied to building university, building faculty of maritime in different universities but however assured that this time around it will be applied to shipowners directly.

According to him “What we have agreed today is to set up a committee that will come forward with the proposed guidelines which will be presented to the National Assembly.

``It is the committee that will determine if it will be a single digits or not,'' he said.

Amaechi further stated that as part of efforts to mitigate the risk involved in the disbursement,  financial institutions would be involved and the fiscal risk would be borne by the banks involved.

"The banks will be involved in developing the criteria for the disbursement of the fund, so the risk will be borne by the lending institutions", the Minister said.

The minister also noted that the committee would determine the interest to be inserted in the procurement of CVFF.

Speaking also, the Director General NIMASA Dr. Dakuku Peterside said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the CVFF and the provision for disbursement.

In his words: "you are aware that the meeting was conveyed at the instance of the honorable minister of transportation. It's was to discuss one single item, the Cabotage  vessel financing fund for which the minister has gotten authorization from mr president.

" So after extensive consultation, it was decided by the stakeholders here that the committee be set up to come up with a draft guideline which the honorable minister will study and pass on to the National Assembly for approval in line with the provisions of the cabotage.

"After then,  we will move to the next phase of actual disbursement using the banks as platform to disburse the fund.

When asked if the fund will be disbursed  before the second quarter of the year, the DG stated that the disbursement  will be determined  by two factors, firstly he said if the National  Assembly  approves the proposed guidelines secondly the financial  institutions.

"Well, that will be determined by two factors, one and the most important one, when the National Assembly approves the proposed guidelines, that will determine to an extent what will happen, the second will be that after the guideline, the provisions of the guidelines which will be religiously, followed by participating banks or bank whatever.

 "So, that will determine so, if stakeholders meet up with the requirements placed by the bank and of course it will be dispersed.

"So I don't think you expect that there will be some magical solution will follow due process. This is a government of the rule of law Simply for the due process.

He again stated that the total fund in the CVFF is about $200 million

Shipping position daily

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in London held a bilateral meeting with his Ghanaian counterpart, Nana Akufo-Addo, and gave more information on why Nigeria’s borders were partially closed.

Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja, said the meeting was held at the sidelines of UK-Africa Investment Summit 2020.

The Nigerian leader stated that the partial closure of the borders were not solely because food products, particularly rice, were being smuggled into Nigeria, but also because arms and ammunition, as well as hard drugs were being ferried into Nigeria.

The Nigerian Leader said he could not keep his eyes open, and watch youths being destroyed through cheap hard drugs, and compromised security caused by unbridled influx of small arms.

“When most of the vehicles carrying rice and other food products through our land borders are intercepted, you find cheap hard drugs, and small arms, under the food products. This has terrible consequences for any country,” he said.

He said it was regrettable that the partial border closure was having “negative economic impact on our neighbours,” but added that “we cannot leave our country, particularly the youths, endangered.”

According to him, the Sahel region is awash with small arms, which accounts for severe security challenges in Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria.

“We are in fact the biggest victims,” he lamented.

On time frame for reopening the borders, President Buhari said it would not happen till the final report of a committee set up on the matter was submitted and considered.

“We will get things sorted out. Our farmers, especially those who grow rice, now have a market, and are happy, and we are also concerned about hard drugs and weapons.

”Once the committee comes up with its recommendations, we will sit and consider them,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo, while showing understanding of the need for Nigeria to protect her citizens, pleaded for “an expedited process, because the Nigerian market is significant for certain categories of business people in Ghana.”

Shipping Position Daily

...To Meet With NPA, Flour Mills Others

The Minister of Transportation, M r Rotimi Ameachi has expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of work going on, on the Ebute-Metta Apapa railway axis.

Ameachi lamented that nothing has been done so far on the axis even as he revealed that the April completion deadline for the Lagos-Ibadan rail project was no longer feasible.

The Minister explained that due to the quantum of work yet to be done, especially on the extension of the rail line to the seaport, he said the April completion deadline might no longer hold

Ameachi who was accompanied on the tour by the minister of state of transportation; Mrs Gbemisola Saraki, and the Executive Governor, Oyo State, Seyi Makinde on the first visit of the year to the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway line however assured that the contractors will continue to work and redouble the efforts to complete the project and meet set targets.

He added that he will meet with the management of Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Flour Mills of Nigeria and important stakeholders over the slow pace of work.

He said China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) had given excuses that the delayed its as a result of vessel at the seaport that cannot even berth because of congestion and the long queue and the crisis of congestion.

In his words "At least, you are impressed with Omi-Adio. The last time we came here, we have to suspend work because they were using what they referred to as stone dust.

“The worst is from Ebute Meta to Apapa. That is painful and that will be the focus from now henceforth.

“All sorts of excuses, I have asked to meet with management of NPA on Thursday or Friday to resolve those issues.

“Again, the second excuse they have is that their (CCECC) vessels are at the seaport, they cannot even berth because of the long queue and the crisis of congestion.

“So, we will address it with NPA. Everybody will be at the meeting.

“NPA, CCECC and TEAM will all be at the meeting,” he said.

TEAM — Technics Engineering Architecture Marketing Nigeria Limited — is a consultant involved in the project.

Shipping Position Daily

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Mr. Boss Mustapha has said that the country is working towards being part of the top 70 compliance country on the World Bank Ease of Doing Business index, even as he commended the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) for helping the country to move from its initial position of 170 to 131



Mustapha stated this during the third Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Corporate Dinner and Merit Awards which held in Lagos over the weekend.



Mustapha said since President Muhammad Buhari signed the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) in July 2016 the initiative has helped the ease of doing business in the country.



He said, "in our bid to improve efficiency and productivity in the industry and country, the council was created to ensure an enabling environment for port efficiency.



"Government will continue to support the maritime sector because on it rests opportunities for wealth creation and economic growth," he said.



Mustapha also commended the Director General of NIMASA; Dr. Dakuku Peterside for the progress made so far by the agency, he said the success was due to the commitment of its staff and stakeholders in the industry and so the need to appreciate them.



Speaking earlier in his welcome address, the host of the event Dr. Dakuku Petersides stated that since the introduction of the NIMASA annual staff commendation awards three years ago, the image and perception of the agency has been transformed.



Dakuku listed some of the key achievements of the agency to include; introduction of final billing system, annual maritime forecast, improved ship registry, increased ship tonnage, among others.



He attributed the achievements to the commitment of the members of staff of the agency, adding that the agency wasn't under any illusion as there was still work to be done in order to build on the modest achievements.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has accused terminal operator; APM Terminal of extortion it pointedly accused the Apapa port-based terminal operator of taking advantage of the back gate that it(NPA) opened for easy exit of containers.

The NPA alleged that it had opened the back gate at the terminal to enhance free movement of cargoes in and out of the terminal, and that, the terminal decided to be collecting money from truck owners and consignees before they can make use of the gate.

The Apapa Port Manager, Mrs. Funmi Olotu who said this at an event in Apapa last week, appealed to the terminal operator to provide spaces for badges to enhance cargo evacuation.

Olotu vowed to always put the terminal on the spot until its managers start doing the right thing.

“I said it yesterday I am going to say it again, APMT I don’t know if you are here, I am going to put you on the spot, if it will take you to start behaving the way we want you to behave in Nigeria. You cannot come and be giving it to us anyhow here, there is sanity from where you are coming from”, she said angrily.

“Nigeria is a great country, don’t come and be telling us about the lapses we have; there is no country without lapses. What we are saying is that these people are coming to you and the vessels are getting bigger, APMT has just four berths, but with the sizes of ships they are having now, those four berths can comfortably take three vessels at a time”

“You are badge operators they come in through Eco Support or through ENL and we have been appealing to APMT give us a badge space within your terminal. Because this boxes are going to end up taking over the whole space so why are they coming through ECO Support”, she explained.

Speaking more on the alleged extortion by APM Terminal, the port manager said: “I opened the back gate for you and gave you an approval, only for them to turn back and start collecting money. Why do you collect money for me for opening the back gate, I only wanted a solution”?

Speaking further, she urged the terminal to acquire more cranes for cargo evacuation, even as she pleaded with them to allow ships with cranes at their terminal to complement the terminal’s inadequacies.

“So we are appealing to you again we need a badge space within the APMT, we need badges to be able to bring trucks and boxes into the port and they can just go straight to where they are supposed to go”, she stressed.

According to her, “Another issue we want to talk about here is flying of trucks, some of you will ask, can trucks fly? yes trucks can fly. Because what we have discovered is during the day when all eyes are open everybody will now comply with the call-up system, but around 5am you will see manufacturers’ trucks”

“And let me talk to manufacturers go and talk to your drivers, most of the things we have observed is that you drivers are matching brake and collecting N20, 000 I have pictorial evidence, videos and documents to back it up”

Stressing further she said, “And I will explain what I mean by matching brake, because you have been given that priority to move around that belt, your drivers will now tell their colleagues I can allow you to stay in front of me if you bring N20, 000”

“So imagine if he does that for five trucks we are talking about N100, 000 and he does not even know the implication of what he is doing. Manufacturers talk to your drivers anything we give you that opening and we see other trucks in front of you we will blacklist that truck. I told them I have all the pictures and plate numbers I am making a compilation” she concluded.

Almost one year after the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) opened its portal for recruitment exercise, the service has finally announced that out of the 828,333 applications received for the exercise, only 163,399 applicants were shortlisted.

This was conveyed in a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer (NPRO) of the service, Mr. Joseph Attah, a Deputy Controller of Customs in Lagos on Monday.

According to him, the Controller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (Rtd) expressed dismay of the criminal activities of some unscrupulous elements who have been trying to hard to hack the process even as he reassured his determination to preside over the process to ensure credibility.

The statement reads, “Following vacancies advertisement by the Nigeria Customs Service last year and the disturbing attempts by internet fraudsters to hack and discredit the recruitment process. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) has expressed dismay over the criminal activities of these elements and gave assurances of his determination to preside over a recruitment process that will be credible, transparent and smooth from the beginning to the end”

“Accordingly, after a painstaking short-listing process, a total of 162,399 have been short-listed out of 828,333 candidates that applied. In-line with our earlier stated guideline, those shortlisted are being notified via their e-mail addresses and telephone numbers”

Attah, however disclosed that all shortlisted applicants would be notified via their email address.

“Consequently, all those notified will do their aptitude tests at a date and centre indicated in their respective notification slips, they are expected to print from their e-mail account”

Explaining further he said that the exercise requires no monetary payment adding that all shortlisted applicants must come to the centers with their notification letters

“For the avoidance of doubt, NCS recruitment process requires NO monetary payment; hence any such request from any quarter should be regarded as fraudulent and ignored.

All short-listed candidates coming to the centers are to come along with the notification slips and identity card. They are to be in their best behaviors and comply with all instructions during the aptitude tests as doing the contrary could lead to instant disqualification” he concluded.

Shipping Position Daily News

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said that it hoped to see more cargoes moving down to the Eastern port this year.

The General Manager Corporate and Strategic Communications of NPA, Mr Adams Jatto, disclosed this in an interview in Lagos on Saturday.

According to him, due to the border closure, the Lagos ports witnessed tremendous influx of cargoes which led to its congestion.

He added that the authority was still making every effort to ensure that it coped with the volume of cargoes coming in, adding that the terminal operators, the handlers, were doing very well in decongesting the port.

“We are aware that we have overtime cargoes in the port due to delays, but efforts are being made by Customs and stakeholders to ensure these cargoes are evacuated to make way for accommodating more cargoes.

“Efforts are also being made to make the Eastern ports more viable because from what we have been seeing due to the border closure, more cargoes are now moving to the East and we hope to see more of that this year.

“Moving these cargoes to the Eastern port is a good thing because it is observed that most of the cargoes that are Lagos bound, most of these consignment are meant for the East.

“We cannot force people to take their cargo from one place to the other, it is the owner of the cargo that determines where the cargo will go.

“So, cargoes meant for the East should be taken to the Eastern port to ease means of their doing business,” he said.

Jatto pointed that there were issues as regards the Eastern ports which NPA was looking into.

He said Onne Port, in Rivers had bad road and the means of evacuating cargo from the port is 90 per cent through the road network.

He noted that the NPA management was talking with agencies involved such as the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta.

According to him, the agencies are the ones who did the road from Port Harcourt to Onne.

Jatto said that there were assurances that the road would be repaired as soon as possible.

He stated that the Authority believed that by the time the road was repaired there would be ease of moving cargo from Onne to places such as Onitsha and Aba.

On the use of badges on the waterways, he said the main focus this year was licensing of operators to ensure that the job was effectively done and measures put to ensure the best operators were licenced.

Jatto said that NPA was concerned about carrying out the responsibility of inspection before permit was issued to operators.

He, however, observed that badge operations were important in terms of cargo movement.

Jatto said that the ultimate goal for NPA was to have an electronic call-up system and parks for the truck to help reduce congestion on the road and ports.

“The port managers are doing their best in the circumstances that we are, the ultimate goal is for us to have the electronic call ups.

“What we have now is being done manually and we expect that this kind of hiccup will be there.

“What we want to do is to ensure we have parks outside the port area, outside Lagos, and the NPA management is discussing with the Ogun and Lagos State governments to ensure we have a park for these trucks.

“We are not looking at the short term solutions but equally on the long term,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to keep hope alive as the Authority was doing things in 2020 to ensure there was free flow of traffic in the port to enhance ease of doing business.

He also urged those in the East to be rest assured that machinery were being put in place to ensure that the Port Harcourt port was reactivated.

He said that the Authority had commenced the procurement process to make the port more viable and revived adding that procurement of tug boats and security boats were in motion to help tackle security issues.

The Nigerian Navy says it has arrested nine suspects at the Bonny waterways in Rivers, in connection with smuggling of undisclosed quantity of crude oil.

Capt. Adegoke Ebo, the Executive Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, disclosed this on Friday in Bonny, while handing over the suspects to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ebo alleged the suspects lifted the oil from illegal refineries scattered across creeks in the Niger Delta.

He said, “In line with the Nigerian Navy policing role, our patrol team intercepted and seized MT Lady Ochy together with eight suspects onboard the vessel on Dec. 1.

“MT Lady Ochy was seized around Sambero River in the state on suspicion of its involvement in crude oil theft.

“At the time of seizure, the vessel was laden with unspecified quantity of petroleum product suspected to be crude oil.’’

Ebo said that shortly after the arrest, the Lagos-registered vessel was towed to anchorage in Bonny Island to enable naval investigators carry out preliminary investigation.

“Following the investigation, we arrested another suspect, who is manager of the vessel.

“The suspect was brought in for questioning bordering around the activities of the vessel as well as his own involvement in the allege crime.

“We have concluded our investigation, and, as such, we are here to hand over the nine suspects, vessel and crude oil to EFCC to continue with investigation,’’ he said.

He assured of the navy’s zero tolerance to crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other illegalities in the nation’s maritime domain.

According to him, the navy is currently on a massive campaign to rid Rivers waterways of illegalities to boost economic and social activities.

Receiving the suspects and seized items, Mr Bala Mohammed, EFCC Port Harcourt Zonal Office thanked the navy for supporting the anti-graft agency to fight economic crime in Rivers.

Mohammed gave the assurance that the commission would speedily investigate the matter with a view to prosecute the suspects.

...Says 68 per cent of vessels trading within the countrys maritime space are Nigerian-flagged.





The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said it recorded 33 percent Increase in the number of wholly -owned Nigerian vessels registered in 2018.



Speaking during the maiden press conference of the agency yesterday, the Director General of NIMASA; Dr. Dakuku Peterside informed that there has been an increase in the number of wholly-owned Nigerian vessels in the Nigerian Cabotage register.



He said the 2018 half year result showed that 125 vessels were registered, representing a 33 per cent increase when compared with the 94 registered in the corresponding period in 2017, ading that currently, there are more than 200 vessels captured in the Cabotage register.





He further disclosed that about 68 per cent of vessels trading within the country’s maritime space are Nigerian-flagged.



He said NIMASA strategy of encouraging Nigerians to go into joint ventures and joint ownership of vessels with foreign operators yielded result with about 20 new vessels currently flying the Nigerian flag under the arrangement as against one in 2018.





According to him "NIMASA has adopted a strategy of encouraging Nigerians to go into joint ventures and joint ownership of vessels with foreign operators on a 60-40 basis, and this has started yielding fruit with about 20 new vessels currently flying the Nigerian flag under this arrangement, as against one in 2018.



"Bareboat charter of vessels has witnessed an increase, while foreign-owned vessels on Nigeria’s Cabotage register has witnessed a decline.



"It will interest you to know that, there has been an increase in the number of wholly-owned Nigerian vessels on the Nigerian Cabotage register. The 2018 half year result showed that 125 vessels were registered, representing a 33 per cent increase when compared with the 94 registered in the corresponding period in 2017.



"Currently, there are more than 200 vessels captured in the Cabotage register.

Also, about 68 per cent of vessels trading within the country’s maritime space are Nigerian-flagged. So the Agency is doing a lot in ensuring adequate attention is paid to the essence of the Cabotage, aimed at encouraging indigenous participation and job creation".



The NIMASA helmsman further stated that critical engagement with relevant agencies in the sector has helped in the conduct of capacity audit of existing shipyards and maritime training institutions in the country.



"One of the critical agencies NIMASA is collaborating with in the capacity-building and Cabotage waiver cessation strategy is the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). NCDMB has the mandate to build local capacity in the oil and gas sector in line with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.



"The NIMASA/NCDMB cooperation is already yielding fruit, as both agencies have achieved the categorisation of vessels for uniformity and harmonised enforcement.

That collaboration has also helped in the conduct of capacity audit of existing shipyards and maritime training institutions in the country." he stated.



As for the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), he maintained that the agency is currently working with the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Transportation to work out the modalities and process of disbursement.



He also added that, NIMASA now has an automated its Final Billing System (FBS) to ensure immediate closure of all vessel’s transactions within two weeks.

“Before now, operators in the industry who come into the country with their vessels stay long on their transactions and incurred charges but the introduction of the system brought about changes.

“The final billing system, an automated system introduced by the agency aided them in the issue of sailing clearance, and helps improve dwell time and turnaround time in the port.

“It ensures immediate closure of all vessels transactions within a period of two weeks and puts an end to double billing and over billing,” he said.

Peterside pointed that the agency improved on maritime domain awareness used in tracking every vessel heading or leaving the country’s territorial waters.

He added that with the domain, a five-year profile would be done to identify and monitor vessels of special interest, illegal activities and help to minimise their effects on the country.

He noted that the business meetings between Nigerian shipping companies and other countries created a lot of opportunities for local businesses to meet their international counterparts.

The director-general said that as regards the Cabotage Waiver Situation Plan, some category of vessels would not be allowed to be imported into the country, saying that it would give room to building ships in-house.

He said the agency would be partnering with the Nigerian Content Development Board to that effect, urging shipowners to build capacity and take the opportunity.

He pointed out that there would be more enforcement of the cabotage regime, saying that the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund when implemented would support local people in coastal trade.

Peterside said that as regards security, there was a drop in the number of accidents on the waterways, saying that an automated maritime safety number existed for people to reach, of which search and rescue marshalls would be reached.

He said that without safety and security, one would not benefit from the coastal water and so the C4I system (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, & Intelligence) which was pre-emptive and reactive ensured the eye view of the countries coastal water.

He said that in the management of pollution of the waterways, the agency had met all international convention requirements and would be able to acquire the International Maritime Organisation’s Standard Operating Procedures for claims in pollution management.

The Nigerian Navy said Wednesday that the three foreign sailors kidnapped by pirates in the oil-rich south of Nigeria last week have been rescued.

The three comprising two Russians and one Indian were saved in an operation late Tuesday by a navy team in the southwestern coastal State of Ondo, spokesperson Suleman Dahun confrmed.

“The rescue happened yesterday around 11pm,” he said, adding that one of the hijackers had been arrested.

Separately, security sources said several pirates had been killed and operations were underway to seize the others.

Recall that, last Thursday, suspected pirates killed four Nigerian navy operatives and abducted three foreign sailors in an attack on a dredging ship last week, security sources said Monday.

Armed assailants raided the oil dredger MV Ambika as it worked in the volatile waterways of the Niger Delta late on Thursday, an intelligence officer told.
"During the incident, a team of naval rescue squad was sent for rescue, however, the hoodlums succeeded in killing four of the naval personnel of the squad during a gun battle," the source said.
"Before the arrival of the naval rescue team, the hoodlums had gained access into the vessel and abducted two Russians and one Indian who were part of the eight crew members on board the vessel."
A naval officer stationed nearby confirmed the incident and said the coffins of the slain sailors had been brought ashore.

The executive secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Mr.Hassan Bello has called on Terminal operators to embrace efficiency to address congestion at the Nations ports’ terminal

Bello made the call when he led the NSC’s team of enforcement and monitoring officers on a working visit to the Terminal (APMT) in Lagos, on Friday.

According to him, the terminal operators have role to play in ensuring that the trucks coming in or leaving the ports are not causing congestion.

He maintained that the delays should not be seen as opportunity to impose extra costs on containers at the detriment of the shippers.

He also urged them to stop imposing charges on containers landed at the ports during yuletide.

The Stakeholder Manager, APM Terminal, Odibe Daniel, said the terminal is contributing to the Federal Government’s economy drive to improve the economy through its services, disclosing that exports which previously made up about 7% of its total cargo throughput now account for 25%.

This increase occurred between 2018 and 2019. He attributed this increase to favorable government policies.
Odibe expressed the terminal operator ‘s readiness to improve on service delivery.

The Enforcement Team from Regulatory Services Department of NSC had earlier paid a fact-finding visit to Apapa Ports quays to investigate the cause of congestion at the port terminals.

In the course of this assignment, the NSC Team discovered that the congestion is as a result of consignees not coming forward to take delivery of cargo. The team reported that APMT has boosted its terminal operations by acquiring more equipment, however, these efforts need to be complimented by the provision of motorable access roads to the ports.

Spotted ? Hmmmm, the man that spotted should be an aboki man

Got the same message but mine is monday, anybody with a clue of what they are into[b]Got the same message but mine is monday, anybody with a clue of what they are into[/b]Got the same message but mine is monday, anybody with a clue of what they are into

God will continue to bless your union sir and will continue to shame the mockers. i pray Lord Jesus For a better union than yours. you are indeed a role model to learn from.