The Nation Newspaper

Category: Maritime

  • Govt lashed over election delay

    Govt lashed over election delay

    The Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has blamed the Federal Government for its failure to appoint in the last two years, freight forwarders into the board of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

    The group said it was also not happy over the unnecessary delay of the  election.

    Its Chairman, Chief Henry Njoku, said his association would intervene in the matter.

    The pioneer chairman of CRFFN, who is also a member of ANLCA, Mr Tony Nwabunike, blamed the government for the inaction of the Council, saying that it is the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Transport to conduct the elections.

    He said ANLCA is a member of the Council and that the association expects the government to do the right thing by conducting the election, adding that once this is done, it is ready to get cracking.

    “What has happened in the past two years is that we had no single freight forwarder on that Council and we still call it Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria?

    “If people say the CRFFN is dying, I will understand, since after our election, the first pioneer election, another election has not been conducted and it is solely the duty of the Nigeria Shippers’Council and the Ministry of Transport to conduct this election and as at today, no election has been conducted.

    “So, the council, which is an embodiment of freight forwarders, is being run by a registrar who is an employee,” he said.

  • Cost of clearing used vehicles soars

    The cost of clearing used (tokunbo) vehicles has gone up, taking a toll on businesses, The Nation has learnt.

    The problem is caused by the 35 per cent hike in duty on imported vehicles.

    Customs, it was learnt, get only  between 10 and 12 containers  daily instead of the over 50  it  did before the 35 per cent duty policy came into effect.

    The stakeholders said the implementation of the duty could lead to empty terminals as the end of the year approaches.

    Last week, some of the roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) terminals at the Lagos ports were feeling the heat of the policy; the terminal operators were contemplating diversifying.

    At one of the busiest Roro terminals last week, all was dull and the number of vehicles could be counted easily.

    Security officials at the terminals, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, lamented the duty’s implementation and the reduction in the age of vehicles that are allowed into the country from 15 to eight years.

    There were some new vehicles on which importers hitherto paid N600,000 duty, but are now paying as much as N3 million.

    For example, imported truck heads, which attracted N50,000 now attracts N250,000 as duty.

    Also, duty on a fire service truck that was N120,000 before the policy is N1.2 million. Also, duty on a tipper lorry that was N60,000 before the policy is between N350,000 and N360,000.

    These amounts, it was learnt, are not part of other charges.

    A member of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr Kayode Ogunsanu, noted that there had been a reduction in the importation of vehicles at Lagos terminals.

    The Treasurer, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Mr Simeon Olua, also confirmed that the situation was almost the same in most of the terminals.

    “Importers are suffering due to the 35 per cent increase in duty on vehicles. I was with one of the senior officials of Customs and he agreed that importation had dropped. If you move from here to another terminal, the story is the same.

    “Few days ago, my friend had a 2014 vehicle to clear and they insisted on collecting N3 million and this is the same vehicle that we normally paid N600,000; so you can see the bad effect of the policy on our job.

    “Before the new tariff policy, imported vehicles attracted 20 per cent duty and two per cent levy. The government says the policy is a key component of the Nigeria Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), which is aimed at limiting importation of used vehicles to encourage local manufacturing of new and affordable ones.

    “With the new tariff regime, cost of clearing a used car has gone up astronomically. Yet, the made-in- Nigeria cars are only seen on paper and television, giving rise to suspicion that the government is only looking for money to conduct the 2015 elections. If not, where are the made-in-Nigeria vehicles? It is over seven months since the policy was introduced, where are the vehicles for which they are making Nigerians to pay huge import duties needlessly and endlessly?” he asked.

    Also, a senior official of one of the terminals said with the 35 per cent duty, the terminals handling vehicle imports were being deprived of revenue as importers have moved to the ports of neighbouring countries.

    There has been an increase in shipment of vehicles to Cotonou port since the policy took effect.

    A shipping agency official, who does not want his name in print, said the impact of the implementation of the duty on used vehicles, was being felt at the ports of loading and in the country.

    He gave an instance where a particular port of loading in Europe was handlng 100 cars daily, but has now dropped to about 30. A larger part of the export, he alleged, were destined for Cotonou port.

    He urged the government to note that anywhere, to develop an industry as complex as car manufacturing takes decades and is done through subsidy.

  • 5,000 cadets lack sea time training, say agents

    The National Association of  Nigeria Licensed Customs  Agents (ANLCA) has raised the alarm that over 5,000 cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron in Akwa Ibom State lack the mandatory sea time training, urging the Federal Government to address the problem.

    The association said the government should pay more attention to the seafarers so that they can compete favourably with their counterparts elsewhere and stem piracy on the nation’s territorial waters.

    Its National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said there was an urgent need for the Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and MAN to collaborate and give the cadets the necessary mandatory sea time training.

    Shittu, however, said the re-establishment of a national carrier and the revival of the business of indigenous ship owners would help in providing solution to the problem of inadequate sea time training for the cadets.

    He urged the Federal Government to use the accumulating Cabotage Vessel Financing Funds (CVFF) to acquire vessels for indigenous ship owners who will then be mandated to use the vessels to train the cadets.

    The CVFF fund is domiciled in NIMASA and is worth billions of Naira, a situation that has made stakeholders to call for the use of the money for the benefit of indigenous shipping firms.

    Shittu said since the IMO had directed that the single hull vessels be phased out next year, the Federal Government should direct NIMASA to inject the CVFF funds into the sector to assist vessels that will train the cadets and fly the nation’s flag.

    He said more jobs would be created for seafarers if NIMASA released the money for the purpose it was meant.

    The ANLCA chief said by next year, Nigerian ship owners would not qualify to operate on international waters and create jobs for the cadets unless they have double hull tankers.

    He said: “It is disheartening that more than 10 years after the Cabotage Act was passed into law, the welfare of seafarers are even worse than pre-Cabotage regime. Up till now, foreign vessels still traverse and dominate our waters unchecked. The story may not change unless the indigenous ship owners are assisted with the CVF funds to own ships that can engage in international trade. Then, it would be easy to put our cadets on board ships.

    “By 2015, it is only if Nigerian ship owners have double hull tankers that they will be able to qualify to operate on international waters and  thereby create jobs for more seafarers.

    “Shipping relies heavily on the initiative, cooperation and constant vigilance of seafarers to help prevent breaches of maritime security and without their support and whole-hearted commitment, the security measure the ISPS code intends to put in place may be jeopadised.”

    However, the Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Patrick Akpobolo-kemi, said the agency would review condition of service for seafarers.

  • Ebola: No increase in freight rates on cargoes

    The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Mr Hassan Bello has allayed the fear of importers and consumers, saying that there is no increase in the cost of freight on Nigeria-bound cargoes.

    He said the report that the European ship owners had increased freight rates on cargoes and also imposed surcharge on vessels and crew coming to Nigeria and other West African countries affected by the Ebola virus is not true.

    “There is no truth in the allegation. We have checked with the line carriers and their agents in Nigeria and they have all denied the increase. Ordinarily, when something like that is happening, it ought to be published.

    “What we have are the normal rates; the congestion charge, risk insurance and so on,” he said.

    Bello, however, said there was need to eliminate touts in freight forwarding practice, and urged practitioners to seek requisite knowledge in their chosen profession.

    According to Bello, the freight forwarding is a profession and the practitioners need to be trained to meet international best practices.

    He said as the economy continues to grow, freight forwarders also have a key role to play and that is why they should undergo training in freight forwarding.

    He said: “We must all do away with thugs and touts in the freight forwarding profession because we cannot afford to have them in port operations.

    “I don’t want to see touts as a freight forwarder, rather I want to see someone that is educated and can have the knowledge of international in the practice.

    “A freight forwarder needs training constantly, he needs to have an office where he must operate from because it goes beyond clearing of a cargo from the port.

    “If we have a strong freight forwarders in Nigeria, then most of our profession is also solved.”

    The secretary further described  freight forwarders as vital to trade, adding that there is need for professional training for the practitioners.

  • Cost of clearing tokunbo vehicles soars

    The cost of clearing used (tokunbo) vehicles has gone up astronomically, taking a big toll on businesses, an investigation has revealed. The problem is caused by the 35 per cent hike in duty on imported vehicles.

    Customs, it was learnt, get only  between 10 and 12 containers to scan daily instead of the over 50  it  did before the 35 per cent duty policy came into effect.

    The stakeholders said the implementation of the duty imposed on imported vehicles by the Federal Government was taking its toll on the ports, warning that most of the terminals might be empty as we  approach the end of the year.

    Last week, some of the Roro terminals at the Lagos ports were suffering the effects of the policy and the operators of the terminals were contemplating diversifying.

    At one of the busiest Roro terminals last week, the terminal was almost empty and the number of vehicles could be counted easily.

    Security officials of the terminals, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, lamented the duty by Customs and the reduction in the age of vehicles that are allowed into the country from 15 to eight years.

    There were some new vehicles which the importer pays N600, 000 as duty but are paying as much as N3million for.

    Imported truck heads, which attracted N50,000 now attracts N250,000 as duty.

    Also, duty on a fire service truck that was N120,000 before the policy is N1.2 million. Also, duty on a tipper lorry that was N60,000 before the policy is between N350,000 and N360,000.

    These amounts, it was learnt, are not part of other charges.

    A member of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr Kayode Ogunsanu, noted that there had been a reduction in the importation of vehicles at Lagos terminals.

    The Treasurer, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Mr Simeon Olua, also confirmed that the situation was almost the same in most of the terminals.

    “Importers are suffering due to the 35 per cent increase in duty on vehicles. I was with one of the senior officials of Customs and he agreed that importation had dropped. If you move from here to another terminal, the story is the same.

    “Few days ago, my friend had a 2014 vehicle to clear and they insisted on collecting N3 million and this is the same vehicle that we normally paid N600,000; so you can see the bad effect of the policy on our job.

    “Before the new tariff policy, imported vehicles attracted 20 per cent duty and two per cent levy. The government says the policy is a key component of the Nigeria Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), which is aimed at limiting importation of used vehicles to encourage local manufacturing of new and affordable ones.

    “With the new tariff regime, cost of clearing a used car has gone up astronomically. Yet, the made-in- Nigeria cars are only seen on paper and television, giving rise to suspicion that the government is only looking for money to conduct the 2015 elections. If not, where are the made-in-Nigeria vehicles? It is over seven months since the policy was introduced, where are the vehicles because of which they making Nigerians to pay huge import duty needlessly and endlessly,” he said.

    Also, a senior official of one of the terminals said with the 35 per cent duty, the terminals handling vehicle imports were being deprived of revenue as importers move to the ports of neighbouring countries.

    There has been an increase in shipment of vehicles to Cotonou port since the policy took effect.

    A shipping agency official, who does not want his name in print, said the impact of the implementation of the duty on used vehicles, was being felt at the ports of loading and in the country.

    He gave an instance where a particular port of loading in Europe was handlng 100 cars a day, but has now dropped to about 30 daily. A larger part of the export, he alleged, were destined for Cotonou port.

    He urged the government to note that anywhere, to develop an industry as complex as car manufacturing takes decades and done through subsidy.

  • Shippers Council to make ports competitive

    The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) is set to make the nation’s seaports competitive, The Nation has learnt.

    The Council, it was gathered, is not happy that the ports have lost the comparative advantage in terms of cost and others to ports of neighbouring countries, especially in cargo clearance hence the need to appoint an economic regulator for the ports.

    Its Executive Secretary Mr Hassan Bello said the loss informed the decision of the Federal Government to appoint NSC as regulators of the ports.

    He said the country will regain the loss, adding that the Council and the affected stakeholders must see themselves as partner in progress.

    Bello said the absence of an economic regulator after the ports were concessioned made it difficult for Nigerians to reap the full benefits of the port reform programme of the government.

    “After the implementation of the Federal Government’s port reform programme which led to the concession of port terminals to private operators, the government noticed a disturbing vacuum in the sector, namely, the absence of an economic regulator that will act as a referee in the industry.

    “This vacuum made it difficult for Nigerians to enjoy the gains of the programme

    “The inefficiency in the procedures and operations of agencies and service providers and even users is adversely affecting and undermining Nigeria’s competitive advantage in international trade.”

    He said effective regulation requires much more than just competent economic and financial analysis, but must also being able to manage complex interaction with the regulated firms, consumers, politicians, courts, the media, and other interests.

    Bello said much was being expected from the council, adding that the benefits of a regulated port industry would lead to improved revenue generation, infrastructural development, creation of efficient market, reduction of cost of business and improved Global Competitive Index and consequent attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

  • Agents blame Fed Govt for CRFFN non-election

    The Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has blamed the Federal Government for its failure to appoint in the last two years, freight forwarders into the board of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

    The group said it was also not happy over the unnecessary delay of the  election.

    Its Chairman, Chief Henry Njoku, said his association would intervene in the matter.

    The pioneer chairman of CRFFN, who is also a member of ANLCA, Mr Tony Nwabunike, blamed the government for the inaction of the Council, saying that it is the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Transport to conduct the elections.

    He said ANLCA is a member of the Council and that the association expects the government to do the right thing by conducting the election, adding that once this is done, it is ready to get cracking.

    “What has happened in the past two years is that we had no single freight forwarder on that Council and we still call it Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria?

    “If people say the CRFFN is dying, I will understand, since after our election, the first pioneer election, another election has not been conducted and it is solely the duty of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council and the Ministry of Transport to conduct this election and as at today, no election has been conducted.

    “So, the council, which is an embodiment of freight forwarders, is being run by a registrar who is an employee,” he said.

  • Customs deploys over 90 officers to combat smuggling at Yuletide

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operation Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ has deployed over 90 officers to comb most of the unapproved routes in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states as the Muslim Eid-l-Kabir festival is fast approaching, The Nation has learnt.

    Its Area Controller, Turaki Usman Adamu, it was gathered, took the step to reduce the smuggling of rice and other prohibited items during the yuletide.

    Adamu, it was learnt, had also directed that any vehicle intercepted by his officers would no longer be on detention list, but be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    Sources close to the command said the aim was to discourage the influx of vehicles, which may be used for smuggling before, during and after festivals.

    Officers of the zone, a source said, had been positioned in strategic locations to deal with smugglers who might attempt to bring into the country all prohibited items.

    Turaki is employing measures to make smuggling unattractive and un-lucrative for those engaged in the illegal business, it was learnt.

    Officers of the zone, findings revealed, had stepped up their anti- smuggling efforts to boost the nation’s revenue.

    The zone seized over 700 prohibited goods.

    The seizures, investigation revealed, included rice, frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, used tyres, fridges, spaghetti/noodles and other goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N936 million.

    FOU officers, it learnt, also apprehended more than 100 suspects.

    A senior official of the command, who craved anonymity, said the area controller had vowed to make the remaining days to the Eid-l-Kabir Festival tough for smugglers.

    “Over 90 officers and men of the zone have been directed go the extra mile in dealing with the smugglers in view of the fast approaching Muslim festival and the adverse effects of their illegal activities on the security and economy of the country.

    “The unit will continue to justify the confidenc which the Federal Government reposed on us. The remaining part of the year will witness a serious boost in our anti-smuggling crusade.

    “The area controller has assured compliant importers that they will always receive the support of the unit while those who specialized in illegal trade and smuggling will have bad stories to tell before, during and after the festival.

    “The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja-Lagos is the hub and flagship Command of anti-smuggling in the Nigeria Customs Service. The Unit among other responsibilities is vested with the task of suppressing smuggling, facilitation of legitimate trade and monitoring compliance with the fiscal policies of the Federal Government in terms of trade.

    “Our areas of coverage remain the states in the Southwest namely: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo/Osun, Ondo and Ekiti. Some of these states have wide landscape in terms of geographical latitude and as such the task of policing them effectively requires resilience, commitment, dedication and strategic planning.

    “It is, therefore, in view of these critical roles that the unit continues to evolve action plans which were tailored towards ensuring that our effort in actualising our core mandate is not jeopardised by some unpatriotic elements in the country whose stock in trade is to circumvent the laws guiding import and export.

    “In realisation of the need to deal with such scenario, we have put appropriate operational measures in place to deal decisively with the antics of smugglers during the yuletide and beyond,” the official said.

    The Zone Public Relations Officer Uche Ejesieme confirmed that the Area Controller had directed all officers and men of the unit to be at alert as the Muslim festival draw near.

    “The truth is that our officers are combat ready to arrest anybody who may attempt to do illegal business in our ports or border stations.

    “Our officers are everywhere within the zone to suppress smuggling activities and deal with smugglers. From Lagos to Ekiti, our officers are there patrolling 24 hours to prevent smuggling of rice, tokunbo vehicle and other prohibited items through the porous borders.

    Although Ejesieme refused to disclose the number of their officers on patrol, he confirmed that his boss has deployed his officers to man all routes.

  • ISPS Code: NIMASA to clamp down on terminals, jetties

    The Nigerian Maritime Adminisrtation and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will clamp down on  terminals and jetties that are not obeying the International Ships and Port facility Code (ISPS), it was learnt.

    NIMASA is the Designated Authority (DA) charged with implementing the ISPS Code in the country.

    The role was given to the agency in May, last year.

    NIMASA sources said there are over 50 non-compliant terminals and oil jetties.

    The alleged terminals and jetties include Niger Dock jetty, Intercontinental Fishing Jetty, Allison Fisheries Jetty, Ocean Fisheries, Dantata Jetty, Standard Flour Jetty, all in Tin Can; Lister Flour Jetty, Osadjere Fishing Jetty, Eurafic               Oil Jetty, Seagold Fishing Jetty, Ibru Jetty, Port & Marine Service Jetty, Nido Gas Jetty, Atlas Cove Jetty, Nispan Jetty (Folawiyo Energy), Petroleum Wharf Apapa (PWA) jetty, New Oil Jetty (NOJ), Fishery Wharf (Waziri Jetty) and Bulk Oil Plant (BOP) jetty, all in Apapa.

    In Ibafon, are Julius Berger jetty, Single Bouy Mooring (SBM) jetty, Emsee jetty, and Contrans jetty. There are also Adsejere Jetty, Ijora Coal Wharf Jetty, Bakare Adewale Jetty and Tilla Fisheries Jetty. In Ajah, there is another Julius Berger jetty there.

    In Ojo creeks, there is Dolphin Fisheries Jetty and Dee Jones Jetty.

    In the Novo creek, there is Obat Jetty and Commodore Pool jetty while Paradise Jetty is along the Five Cowrie Creek. Moving outside Lagos coast, Nigeria has 36 jetties in Port Harcourt. They are Willbros Jetty in Choba, Tidex Jetty in Ogbogoro, Ajip Jetty in lwofe, Nissco Jetty, Grinkar Jetty, Adamac Jetty, Kent Resources Jetty, Haastrup/Eagle Bulk Cement Jetty, Nepturn Jetty and Saipem Jetty all in Rumuolumeni.

    There are jetties in Onne namely: Adamac Jetty, Wad Jetty, Starx Jetty, Wact Jetty, Dangote Jetty, and Atlas Cement Jetty. In Bonny, we have Mof Jetty, Tskj Jetty, Shell Slot jetty and Brt jetty.

    In Warri, Delta State, there are 25 jetties, namely: Daewoo Jetty, Chevron/Taxaco Jetty, DBN Jetty, Elf Jetty, Shell PDC Jetty, Globes Star Jetty, NWDM Jetty, Tidex Jetty, IWD Jetty, Shoreline jetty, Hercules OFFSHORE Hall Jetty, Hyundai Jetty, Seatruck Jetty, Futeb Jetty, Olowo Jetty, Ocan Jetty, Dufan Jetty, Four STAR Marine Jetty, B J Services Jetty, NBTC Jetty, DSC Jetty, Acro jetty, and NAOC Jetty.

    In Calabar, there are five jetties namely, MC Iver Jetty, Calcemo Jetty, Addax Jetty, NNPC Jetty and QIT Jetty in Eket.

  • ANLCA: over 5,000 cadets lack sea time training

    The National Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has raised an alarm that over 5,000 cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN),Oron in Akwa Ibom State lack the mandatory sea time training, urging the Federal Government to address the problem.

    The association said the government should pay more attention to the seafarers so they can compete favourably with their counterparts else where and stem piracy and sea robbery on the nation’s territorial waters.

    Its National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said there was an urgent need for the Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and MAN to collaborate and give the cadets the necessary mandatory sea time training.

    Shittu, however, identified the re-establishment of a national carrier and the revival of the business of indigenous ship owners would help in solving the challenges of lack of sea time training for the cadets.

    He urged the Federal Government to use the accumulating Cabotage Vessel Financing Funds (CVFF) to acquire vessels for indigenous ship owners who will then be mandated to use the vessels to train the cadets.

    The CVFF fund is domiciled in NIMASA and is worth billions of Naira, a situation that has made stakeholders to call for the use of the money for the benefit of indigenous shipping firms.

    Shittu said since the IMO had directed that the single hull vessels be phased out next year, the Federal Government should direct NIMASA to inject the CVFF funds into the sector to assist vessels that will train the cadets and fly the nation’s flag.

    He said more jobs would be created for seafarers if NIMASA released the money for the purpose it was meant.

    The ANLCA chief said by next year, Nigerian ship owners would not qualify to operate on international waters and create jobs for the cadets unless they have double hull tankers.

    He said: “It is disheartening that more than 10 years after the Cabotage Act was passed into law, the welfare of seafarers are even worse than pre-Cabotage regime. Up till now, foreign vessels still traverse and dominate our waters unchecked. The story may not change unless the indigenous ship owners are assisted with the CVF funds to own ships that can engage in international trade. Then, it would be easy to put our cadets on board ships.

    “By 2015, it is only if Nigerian ship owners have double hull tankers that they will be able to qualify to operate on international waters and  thereby create jobs for more seafarers.

    “Shipping relies heavily on the initiative, cooperation and constant vigilance of seafarers to help prevent breaches of maritime security and without their support and whole-hearted commitment, the security measure the ISPS code intends to put in place may be jeopadised.”

    However, the Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Patrick Akpobolo-kemi, said the agency would review condition of service for seafarers.