The Nation Newspaper

Category: Maritime

  • Agents, importers seek officer’s removal at Tin Can

    • Abdullahi urges Customns to prepare for destination inspection

    No fewer than 200 clearing agents and importers at the Tin Can Port in Apapa, Lagos have protested to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, to redeploy a female officer for allegedly frustrating their business.

    They made the call when Abdullahi toured Customs formations in Lagos last week.

    The importers and clearing agents led by some of their chapter executives, who carried placards, shouted at the top of their voices while demanding for the removal of the female senior officer.

    Addressing the protesters, the Customs boss assured them that the allegations against the officer have been brought to his table and that he would look into the matter.

    “If you ask me to remove her now, who do you want to fill up the vacancy? There are channels through which you can forward your complaints, but be rest assured that I am going to look into this matter,” Dikko promised.

    In another development, Abdullahi has urged officers and men of the service to prepare for the taking over of destination inspection next year, from service providers.

    Dikko gave the order during his tour of some Customs formations in Lagos.

    The Customs boss urged officers to be thorough in screening goods for clearance.

    “We should gain our independence peacefully and we must succeed with this commitment,” he said.

    Dikko promised to increase remuneration of officers to make them more comfortable and diligent in their duties.

    He warned officers against gratification, saying this would affect the yearly revenue target of the service.

    He said what is due to the Federal Government in terms of revenue must be collected.

    “No good thing comes out of corruption,” he said.

    Dikko said officers should convince importers that the service had come of age and could not be influenced by corruption.

    The operators of the destination inspection scheme are to hand over to Customs by the end of this year.

  • NIMASA to create 5,000 jobs in seafaring

    NIMASA to create 5,000 jobs in seafaring

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) plans to create over 5,000 jobs under the National Seafarers Development Programme, its Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi, has said.

    The prospective seafarers are to be trained abroad under the auspices of the programme.

    Last Sunday, NIMASA desptached 525 cadets to the Philippines for training in Marine Engineering, Nautical Science and Naval Architecture.

    Speaking at the send-off party for them, Akpobolokemi said they were being sent abroad to boost the development of the country, assuring them that the agency would give them the necessary financial backing during the training.

    The training, he said, would not only solve domestic seafarers’ need of the country, but ensure that it becomes an exporter of seafarers in future.

    President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by the Transport Minister, Senator Idris Umar, said the training was in line with the government’s policy to create employment for the youth.

    He said the government was aware of the untapped resources in the maritime sector, adding that the government would step up the tempo to ensure that they are tapped to make the country compete favourably and earn foreign exchange like other maritime nations.

    Justifying the training, Umar, who said another 1,000 would leave in January 2013, noted the gap in the nation’s seafaring, adding that many seafarers in the industry are old and on the way out of public service.

    He charged the beneficiaries to see themselves as good ambassadors of the nation, face their studies with seriousness and stay away from any act that can mar the image of the country.

    Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty, Mr Kingsley Kuku, urged the cadets to face their studies, saying that they should count themselves lucky to be beneficiaries of the programme.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Maritime and Chairman of the occasion, Mr Leke Oyewole, said many of the beneficiaries did not know the objective of the training, adding that it and other initiatives of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan were designed to address manpower shortage in the sub-sector.

    He advised them to be of good behaviour and make the nation proud.

  • Use of old vessels detrimental to Cabotage Act

    Why are Nigerians not benefiting from the Cabotage Act? It is because of the acqusition of single haul vessels by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), says Executive Chairman, Blessed Agencies and Shipping, Mr Raymond Oluwa.

    He said the Federal Government should be blamed for the influx of old vessels on the territorial waters.

    “If you allow ship owners to bring old vessels into the country and you register them as cabotage vessels, then you must be ready to give them jobs; forget about IMO laws and the other laws because you have collected money from the owners for registration,” he said.

    Oluwa called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to ensure that indigenous ship owners are given jobs by the oil firms since they were registered by NIMASA under the Act.

    A maritime lawyer, Mr Festus Olayinka, said the payment of fees while applying for waiver under the Act is responsible for the circumvention of the law.

    He alleged that waivers are granted “before approval because those who apply for waivers are made to pay while their applications are still being processed.”

    He added: “The Act stipulates 100 per cent for rating; 60 per cent of officers or Nigerians and 40 per cent for foreigners. But the foreigners come in with a waiver clause that the country does not have qualified hands to man the industry.

    “Also, if you want a waiver to be granted, you apply to NIMASA and your file would be taken to Abuja for ministerial approval. Before the approval comes from Abuja, you must have paid money to NIMASA.

    “After collecting my money, it is as good as saying that you have granted me the waiver because it would be difficult for you to return my money because by the time the file leaves for Abuja, the job would have been done.”

    He said the influx of old vessels in the territorial waters was due to illegal bunkering.

  • NPA to revive Delta port

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) plans to revive the Koko Port in Delta State, its Managing Director Mr Omar Suleiman has said.

    He told The Nation in his office that NPA is collaborating with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other investors to turn Delta port round.

    NPA, he said, is committed to making the ports the preferred destination for cargoes for West and Central Africa by providing the required infrastructure for their operations.

    He said the dredging of the Escravos channel, which leads to Warri Port, was included in this year’s budget, adding that when approved, it would attract merchant ships into the Delta Port.

    “We are going to do everything possible to revitilise the Delta Port. It is one of our priorities and we are determined to achieve it by spending part of our budget for this year on it,” Suleiman said.

     

  • Terminal operators decry govt’s decision on container depots

    The Indigenous Bonded Terminal Association of Nigeria (IBTAN) has criticised the Federal Government’s plan to establish new Inland Container Depots (ICDs) in some parts of the country.

    The association said it is another attempt to kill the indigenous Bonded Terminals which had been struggling to survive since operations at the ports were handed over to concessionaires in 2006.The association said it found it hard to believe that the government will be considering such plan when Indigenous Bonded Terminal Operators and their N1 trillion investments are dying.

    The Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar said at a forum in Abuja that the government would license more ICDs to make for efficient cargo delivery.

    Its Secretary General, Mr. Haruna Omolajomo, who spoke on behalf of the association, said there are six ICDs in the country which are not working years after they were issued licensces.

    He wondered why the government is now talking about licensing new ICDs while the other ones are not working.Haruna listed problems confronting the ICDs to include lack of funds, political factors and lack of functional railway system.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Shipowners lament domination

    Only about 60 of the 600 vessels in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry are owned by indigenous operators, the General Secretary of the Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Captain Niyi Labinjo, told The Nation in Lagos, has said.

    He disclosed that a vessel into offshore operations collects at least $5,000 daily. This, according to him, is the least amount collected by foreign vessels doing business in the nation’s waters.

    As a result of lack of indigenous ships, he said the country loses about N2 trillion yearly.

    He said: “We have plenty of hydrocarbons. As at today, it is 37 billion barrels, but our government is working towards making it 40 billion barrels. That is our proven reserve. We are said to be the 10th world producer of oil. The world everyday uses 84 million barrels per day of oil and Nigeria produces 2.5 million barrels every day. For gas, we have 24 trillion reserves.

    “We have the best shrimps in the world, called tiger shrimps. That is why you have very many Indian fishing companies in Nigeria. All the tiger shrimps are exported. We import into Nigeria every five million metric tonnes of cargo, 100 million metric tonnes of goods. We import 65 million litres of petroleum products every year.

    “In the oil and gas industry, Nigeria has close to 500 oil wells. For each well, there is a rig which is supported by a minimum of five ships, and they are called oil support vessels. He said each of the foreign ships earn $5,000, while others earn $150,000 per day.”

     

     

     

     

  • Operators fault ship policy

    Operators in the maritime industry have faulted the Federal Government’s policy on ship repairs.

    Speaking with The Nation in Lagos, the operators said the government has not offered special incentives for the sector to promote and enhance efficiency in shipping-related services and make the country a logistics hub.

    One of the operators Mr Funsho Badmus said ship building is capital intensive and urged the Federal Government to make special provisions for capacity building.

    He said local ship owners face difficulties in raising funds to facilitate improved business prospects.

    He said the facilities at the existing shipyards were highly inadequate when compared to what is required at international level.

    He said ship repairs is highly competitive and should be supported by national policies and subsidies, adding that without government’s support, the growth of the industry would be difficult.

    He expressed concern over the inability of government to support coastal trade with incentives while other countries do, adding that for the sector to grow, there should be incentives such as lower taxes to offset the costs.

     

  • CVFF beneficiaries to get $25m each

    Beneficiaries of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) will get $25 million each, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said.

    The agency pegged the amount to save the fund from extinction. Its decision, it was learnt, was informed by how the Ship Acquisition and Ship Building Fund (SASBF) of the defunct National Maritime Authority (NMA) was killed.

    A senior official of NIMASA, who craved anonymity, told The Nation that the experience of its management in the disbursement of the SASB fund, showed that while some genuine shipping operators borrowed the money and paid back on time, others have yet to pay back the principal and accumulated interests.

    He said many of those who benefited from the SASB fund diverted the money.

    NIMASA, the official said, is taking precautions to safeguard the CVF fund.

    Findings revealed that the management of the agency has issued the criteria for participation in the CVFF, as it affects ship owners.

    According to the criteria, each applicant must own at least one classed vessel with P & I coverage; have a structured shipping company, which is verifiable and registered with NIMASA; must provide the company and staff profile; the vessel must be Nigerian-owned and must have five years experience.

    The requirements listed by NIMASA for ship agents wishing to participate in the CVFF are:

    •Proof of having husbanded at least 10 vessels (both local and international) within the last three years;

    • Must have a fully established and veritable office; and

    • Must provide the company and staff profile.

    NIMASA demanded that applications should show the type of vessel to be purchased/chartered or the guarantee required, and the amount being applied for not exceeding $25 million.

    Applicants were given a two-week ultimatum, which will expire on June 5.

     

  • Over 8,000 bags of rice smuggled into Nigeria daily, survey shows

    No fewer than 8,000 bags of rice worth over N56 million are smuggled into the country daily, it was learnt, over the weekend. They are smuggled through Ere River in Ado–Odo/Ota in Ogun State.

    The river, which links the country with Cotonou to Owode-Apa and Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, also links Gbaji and Badagry Lagoon up to the Atlantic Ocean.

    When The Nation visited the area last week, locally made boats carrying more than 1,000 bags of rice each, were being used to ferry the commodity into the country.

    Ere River is a rice smuggling point, yet to be discovered by Customs and other security officials posted to the area.

    The boats were seen offloading rice to vehicles that would carry them to places, such as Agbara, Sango-Ota, Ifo and Alaba-Rago Market, Iyana-Ipaja.

    The smugglers have been using the river for their illicit business for years.

    A motorcyclist, who took The Nation’s reporter to the river, alleged that some Customs officials are aware of the smugglers’ activities, but are handicapped because of the calibre of the people involved.

    “The reason I agreed to take you there is to tell you that there is nothing government can do to stop smuggling unless those in power provide employment for the youth.

    “I graduated from the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education more than six years ago but I have not been able to secure employment since I finished from the school. I make my money through the number of rice I convey to the market per day.

    “I am not the only youth involved; we are many. We use our motorcycles to survey where the Customs are staying at a particular time before we ask our vehicles to bring the rice to the road.

    “If you counted the number of people we met at that place, you will notice that they are no fewer than 80 and they are more than that. A majority of them are ex-security officers and the few serving ones have access to arms and ammunition and that was why I told you that it would be dangerous for you to use your camera.

    “The people you saw there are very deadly and they have wasted so many people that have threatened their business,” he said.

    A Customs officer from the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of Zone A at Agbara-Lusada road, said the Customs mounted surveillance in the areas because it suspects the smugglers have a hide-out there.

    Several bags of rice, he said, have been intercepted by hire teams on the axis.

    “Although, I don’t know where the river you mentioned is located, but we cannot deny that smuggling is going on around this place and that is why many of our officers have been posted to curtail the unpatriotic activities of the smugglers.

    “My experience since I was posted to this area is that there is the need for the Federal Executive Council and the Minister of Finance to address the issue of high port charges, which created incentive for tariff avoidance and smuggling, and support the good efforts of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi.

    “Those of us posted to curb the nefarious activities of smugglers in the border areas are not finding it easy.

    “It is a difficult task because a majority of those involved are youths from the area and they know the area very well. Don’t forget that we, security officials, are strangers and we are not expected to detect all the routes that smugglers use in a few days. So, if you have detected a new route, it is your duty as a journalist to inform us before telling the public,” the officer said.

    The smugglers’ activities, was also learnt, are crippling the business of those importing the commodity through the ports.

    Last year, the country was said to have lost N16.3 billion to smuggling.

    A Customs officer at a check point mounted by the Customs before the Agbara Bridge popularly called death trap (Koto Orun) told The Nation that the number of youths now into smuggling has grown because of unemployment.

    Smuggled goods include second hand vehicles, textile materials, used cloths, bags, shoes, tyres, rice, frozen chicken, frozen turkey, vegetable oil, soap, furniture sweets, cigarettes, apples, pineapple and palm oil.

     

  • Nigeria spends N11b on tomatoes import

    Nigeria is spending over N11 billion yearly on the importation of tomatoes, the Director-General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Peter Onwualu, has said.

    He disclosed this at the opening of a workshop on tomato juice processing and marketing in Gusau, Zamfara State.

    He said the country’s overdependence on the importation of tomatoes costs the huge sum and that the trend would continue until adequate domestic food processing and storage facilities are put in place.

    The RMRDC boss said tomato could be processed into sauce, ketchup, paste, jam, among others, likewise onion and pepper, which could also be canned or dried.

    He said using locally developed technologies at lower cost would enhance the production and value-addition to the primary and secondary raw materials to meet the needs of the nation’s industries.

    The RMRDC, according to him, has adopted a strategy to encourage value-addition to local resources, such as fruits and vegetables.