The Nation Newspaper

Category: Maritime

  • NCS seeks community relationship to curb smuggling

    NCS seeks community relationship to curb smuggling

    By Muyiwa Lucas

    The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, has stressed the need for community relationship and information sharing among stakeholders and security agencies within the waterways , as part of efforts to curb smuggling at sea.

    The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Olugboyega Peters, who made this known at the weekend, during the destruction of the poultry products intercepted by his Command, urged smugglers to steer clear of his area as there will be no hiding place for them.

    “My major interest is to embark on customs community approach because we cannot do it alone. We need all stakeholders to assist us to curb smuggling activities,” he said.

    Read Also: Customs impounds foreign rice in private residence

    He recalled that the visit to outstations and villages within the creeks was a blessing in disguise, noting that stakeholders have promised to support collaborate with the customs in fighting smuggling at sea.

    According to him, a total of 466 foreign parboiled 50kg bags of rice and 272 cartons of frozen poultry products were intercepted barely two weeks after he assumed office as the area controller of the command adding that an additional 120 pieces of wrappers and 240 yards of plain materials were also seized.

    He said the seizures were made at Bera Creek in Adodo, Ogun State, Badagry waters, Yekeme waterways, T-junction and brought to the command for proper documentation and destruction in line with the laws and guidelines. The controller added that the seizures had a total of N13,032,350.00 as the Duty Paid Value (DPV).

    Peters said his officers would increase their patrol on waters to prevent smugglers from accessing the  markets through waters. He appealed to the public to embrace legitimate means of livelihood and to avoid smuggling of hazardous items that are inimical to attaining the vision of having a healthy and economically viable society.

  • Push for SON’s return to ports gathers steam

    Push for SON’s return to ports gathers steam

    Freight forwarders claim they have lost over N20 billion to clearing substandard products at the ports. They have renewed the call for the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to return to the ports. They argue that SON’s absence at the ports makes  the monitoring of the influx of substandard products difficult, MUYIWA LUCAS reports.

    Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Director-General, Mr. Osita Aboloma said there is need for the Federal Government to return the standards body to the ports just like other government agencies.

    Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, Aboloma, represented by the Director, Inspectorate and Compliance Department, Obiora Manafa, the DG assured the stakeholders that the agency’s automation had since been completed.

    He therefore urged importers to perfect their documentation and SON Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) before cargoes arrive in the country. He appealed for the support of major freight forwarding associations in the fight against substandard products, saying that since the agency started its sensitisation, compliance level has increased.

    Aboloma explained that it is easier to fight the influx of substandard products at the point of entry rather than chasing them once they have entered the country because of its attendant logistics. “This is important because for us at the enforcement unit of SON, it is very difficult for us to chase substandard products across the country as far as the product has left the port because, immediately the product leaves the port, you don’t know the destination. The product can be in Kano in the next one day, it can be in Port Harcourt in the next two days, it can be in Enugu, it can be in Aba, it can be in Osogbo. So, you don’t know the direction the product will get to immediately it leaves the port,” he explained.

    He added that it could cost as less as a thousand times efforts and logistics to stop the product when it is about leaving the port or inside the port than when already in the open markets.

    The SON DG said over 75 per cent of the imported products come via the seaports and waterways, making it difficult for the SON to ignore the maritime sector operators in the quest for zero imports for substandard products as well as the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Policy.

    Aboloma assured participants and stakeholders in the sector that the mission of the SON is not to destroy peoples’ businesses or sources of livelihood but only to protect Nigerians from the hazards of substandard products.  ”This is our key mandate and primary responsibility,” he said.

    Justifying the routine activities of the organisation aimed at promoting quality products in the country, Aboloma revealed that so far this year, SON has destroyed N480 million worth of substandard mobile phones, while towards the end of last year, the organisation destroyed 5, 000 fake gas cylinders valued at N51.3 million.

    Over N20 billion lost

    Corroborating the need for SON’s return to the ports, the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) disclosed that over the last decade, her members have lost more than N20 billion to fake goods imports.

    ANLCA National President, Mr. Tony Nwabunike, who spoke on behalf of his members, lamented that his members had been badly hit by non-compliance of importers, whom he accused of failing to disclose to their agents the actual content of their containers or degree of compliance with the rules like SONCAP.

    To this end, Nwabunike said the association has taken it upon herself to educate importers on the need for their compliance to safeguard lives and avoid losses emanating from seizures and destruction of fake and substandard goods. He contended that destroying investment channelled wrongly towards fake and substandard goods may look harsh, “but preventing death, injuries and pains of buying poor standard imported items is a great humanitarian task. For the latter, I commend SON for saving lives.”

    “This task is daunting, but we are not relenting because customs brokers have suffered an estimated cumulative losses amounting to over N20 billion in the last 10 years for undertaking to clear goods discovered to be substandard. This is because upon the seizure of suspected fake or substandard goods after payment of duty, it will be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for an importer, whose consignments were seized to pay you the balance of the agreed sum even after the broker has spent his money on the logistics,” he explained.

    He also called on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to integrate SON into Nigeria Customs Information System (NICIS II) as a means to enhance trade and promote ease of doing business at the ports.

    Lending his voice to the debate, a former President of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Eugene Nweke, urged SON management to ensure collaboration with the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to educate stakeholders on what is expected of them and the need to comply with standards.

  • Hazards of ship wrecks on Lagos waterways

    Hazards of ship wrecks on Lagos waterways

    Last week, The Nation took a tour of Lagos waterways, from Marina to Apapa and Ijegun Egba in Ajeromi Ifelodu  Local Government Area, to examine the state of the navigational route and how secure the two ports responsible for over 80 per cent of cargoes coming to the country are. OLUWAKEMI DAUDA reports that over 100 abandoned ships, wrecks and barges lay on the waterways, damaging the environment and the beauty of the coastlines. The abandoned vessels also serve as storage facilities for stolen oil as well as shelter for other criminal activities.

     

     

    No less than 100 ship wrecks and vessels have been abandoned on Lagos waters by unidentified shipping firms and individuals, The Nation has learnt.

    The wrecks, derelicts and abandoned vessels litter the waterways and need to be removed to stem criminalities on the territorial waters and around the port, stakeholders have said.

    It was discovered that the back of Tin-Can Island port in Lagos has become a dumping ground for shipwrecks and abandoned vessels while the people living in Ogogoro Village at the back of the port and along the coastline say the vessels abandoned by local and international shipping firms are making their lives miserable.

    The two Lagos ports are responsible for the highest concentration of shipping traffic to country.

     

    NIMASA steps in

    To ensure safe and secure shipping, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said it has warned all owners of abandoned ships/vessels to remove them or face sanctions ranging from forfeiture or removal by the agency at the owner’s expense.

    Its Director-General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, told The Nation that it was instructive to ensure that our waters remained safe for navigation  to advance our interests.

    He, therefore, warned that all abandoned ships would be declared as wrecks and the agency would ensure that nothing impeded safe navigation in the country’s waters by removing them.

    “In line with our mandate on the protection of the marine environment and safety of navigation within waters and our powers as the receiver of wrecks; owners of all abandoned ships, vessels and derelicts are sternly warned to seek removal plan permits from the agency and ensure the removal of these wrecks and derelicts from our waters and failure of which would attract appropriate sanction,” he said.

    He also reeled out the sanctions to include removal of such wrecks at the owners’ expense as well as forfeiture of the vessels.

    He stated that the agency is empowered to do so in line with the powers vested in it by the Merchant Shipping Act 2007 and other enabling Acts and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) instruments.

    Nigeria is party to the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (Nairobi Convention 2007). The convention is a treaty of the IMO which purpose is prompt and effective removal of shipwrecks located in the parties’ territorial waters, including its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that may be hazardous to navigation or environment. The convention gives states’ authority to remove wrecks. In the case of Nigeria, NIMASA is the receiver of wrecks.

    A resident of Ogogoro village, Mr. John Edward said the areas most affected are Tin Can Island, Kirikiri, Navy Town and Badagry creek areas of the channel.

    According to him, the community has identified over 80 of such abandoned ships and wrecks, which were submerged along the very busy Lagos channel constituting grave danger to ships and crew.

    “The hazards associated with the wrecks are that, most often, especially during high water, they are submerged and hardly visible to boat operators; therefore, they pose the greatest threats during rainy season that is fast approaching.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu pushes for Waterways security

     

    “Apart from endangering shipping, most of the abandoned vessels also constitute environmental pollution and hazards,” he said.

    Another resident of Imore, Mr Gbenga Owolabi, said the government has the responsibility to remove the wrecks.

    “It does not portray  our port well. It also does not show that  as a country within the global shipping community, there is respect for law and order.

    In addition to these reputational injury, there are several navigational aids such as the boyle, markings, light that are not functional or missing or have shifted from their original positions based on the abandoned ships that needed to be fixed by the relevant government agencies.

    “The absence of navigational aids also constitutes risk to shipping, especially at night or during restricted visibilities.

    We are hoping that actions would be taken to clear our channel of those abandoned vessels so that patrol ships can easily move in and out of harbour to respond to emergencies,” he said.

    Edward and Owolabi are not alone. A senior official of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), who craved anonymity, also admitted that the Lagos coastline is littered with abandoned vessels and shipwrecks.

    The senior official said some of the abandoned vessels have been there for over three years, adding that they are now being blamed for erosion that threatens homes and livelihoods of the people living in the riverine community.

    “They said the waves have eaten into their land at a rate of up to 20 miles a month. Because the ship is such a solid object being where it shouldn’t be, they said it causes a direct impediment to the natural flow of the current and stops sedimentation.

    “Worse still is that it causes these eddy currents that immediately start to chew up the entire shoreline.

    “It is terrifying when you listen to people living in those communities. In fact, at night, they complain that they  don’t sleep because they are always thinking that the water could come in at any moment during the rainy season. The problem has been there for more than two years and it is caused by the abandoned ships,” he said.

    He said dismantling ships becomes more complicated the longer they stay on the beach and blamed NIMASA for the number of wrecks and abandoned vessels on Lagos water.

    “NIMASA is  is responsible for the quality of ship that operates in Nigeria’s waters. The agency should take action to remove the abandoned vessels,” he said.

    He said though NIMASA could not be blamed because most of these abandoned ships  are owned by foreigners. “Foreigners are deliberately violating our laws and NIMASA needs to follow due process in removing these wrecks and abandoned ships because of litigation,” he added.

     

     Ship owners responsibility

    Under maritime law, it is the responsibility of the ship owner to remove their faulty vessel from the coast.

    But with many of the vessels having been bought cheap and barely seaworthy to work in the nation’s oil industry, when trouble strikes, they are often abandoned mostly when the owner gets to know that they are no longer serviceable.

    Experts said the abandoned ships act as groynes, halting the flow of sand down the shoreline  and accelerating erosion.

    An expert, Mr Roland Samuel, said lack of regulation on the waters has also helped illicit activity thrive, turning the abandoned ships into hideouts for sea criminals.

    “Copper and bronze and the brass from the ship’s propeller could be sold for as much as N20 million. People will come and steal valuables that are still there because they are abandoned.

    “Section 381(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act 2007 empowers NIMASA on what to do.  Subject to the provisions if any other enactment or law relating to ports, where any vessel is sunk, stranded or abandoned in any port, navigable river or tidal water within Nigeria or in near any approach to any port, navigable river or tidal water, in a manner as in the opinion of the receiver if wreck, to be or to be likely to become an obstruction or danger to navigation, the receiver:

    • May take possession of and raise, remove or destroy, the whole or any part of the vessel;
    • May light or buoy any such vessel or part of the vessel, until the raising removal or destruction of the vessel.”

    The Act has made it the duty of the receiver of wreck to remove or destroy the whole or any part of the vessel when abandoned.

    The implication of abandoned wreck is dangerous for the water and the environment considering that they are on the navigational routes.

    Floods and erosion are imminent in Lagos communities if they are not removed before the rainy season sets in, an expert warned.

    Parts of the duties as a member of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) are to ensure protection of the maritime environment and its security among others.

    Therefore, it is important for NIMASA to clear the navigational channels of abandoned vessels that are hazardous to safe navigation.

    Clearing the wrecked ships will ensure avoidance of erosion and flood, which will prevent loss of lives and properties thereby preventing economic loss.

     

  • Maritime security: Nigeria acquires Special Mission vessels

    Maritime security: Nigeria acquires Special Mission vessels

    By Muyiwa Lucas

     

    Determined to rid the waters of criminal activities, the Federal Government has received two Special Mission Vessels (SMV) in Lagos.

    The reception at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, was organised by the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), under the Deep Blue Project.

    The vessel, DB Lagos and DB Abuja, which arrived the country recently are equipped with sophisticated intelligence gathering capability for timely detection and response to illegal activities in the maritime domain.

    “Piracy is an act inimical to the growth of the maritime sector and we are prepared, more than ever before, to give it all it takes to end this nefarious act,” said the Chief Security Officer, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Murtala Bashir.

    He stated that the officers who would mean the vessels will be given adequate training under the Deep Blue Project so that the special features of the vessels can be adequately utilised for the purpose of combating maritime illegalities.

    NIMASA Director-General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said pirates and other criminals on the country’s maritime domain up to the Gulf of Guinea would soon meet their waterloo, with the arrival and installation of the critical assets under the Deep Blue Project.

    Dakuku, who was represented by the agency’s Executive Director, Operations, Rotimi Fashakin, disclosed that aside these two special mission vessels, 10 Fast Interceptor Boats have also arrived the country and seven more are expected later in the year.

    Read Also: Maritime security: Govt to deploy integrated architecture

     

    “Today marks a new dawn for a more secure and stable maritime environment in Nigeria. This milestone in asset delivery inches us closer to full operational take-off of the Deep Blue Project, hence it marks a huge victory for the Nigerian maritime sector in the fight against maritime insecurity,” he said.

    The DG disclosed that the DB Abuja and DB Lagos, which are built to be intelligently operated, also served as mother vessels to Fast Intervention crafts that are able to respond to distress calls swiftly.

    Each of the interceptor boats has a combined engine capacity of 900HP and can do up to 55knots. He also said each of the vessels would be commanded by a Navy captain with full complement of naval personnel.

    It would be recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) granted approval for a holistic maritime security architecture, which is a multi-pronged approach towards fighting piracy.

    Aside the sea assets, there are also land and air assets, which are still expected in the country before the end of the year.

    NIMASA also operates a Command and Control Centre at the Regional Maritime Resource Coordination Centre (RMRCC), which is also part of the Deep Blue Project.

    Giving a breakdown of the assets being installed under the Deep Blue Project at a press conference in Lagos recently, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi revealed that many of the assets had arrived the country.

    He hinted that the first special mission aircraft would be in the country before the end of the first quarter of the year, while six armoured personnel carriers were already in, and that the first unmanned aerial vehicle was being expected soon.

     

  • Much ado about ‘charitable cargo’ clearing

    Much ado about ‘charitable cargo’ clearing

    Eggheads and critical stakeholders have converged to seek a lasting solution to clearance of charitable cargoes at the country’s seaports. The meeting,  held in Lagos at the instance of the Deputy Senate President, in collaboration with the Nigerian Shippers Council, threw up germane issues believed to be crippling the clearing system in the maritime sector, reports MUYIWA LUCAS

     

    It was not meant to be a ‘blame game’ meeting, but this did not fail to play out. It was at a gathering of critical stakeholders in the maritime sector, last week in Lagos.

    The meeting, tagged: “Ease of Shipping and Clearing Charitable Items In Nigeria”, was summoned at the instance of the Office of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, in collaboration with the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), sought to investigate and provide solutions into why items imported for charity organisations like orphanages, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are always unnecessarily delayed at the country’s ports.

    Represented at the forum by his Special Adviser, NGO, Princess Modupe Ozolua, the Deputy Senate President expressed concerns that charitable items get entangled in high demurrage charges while their clearance is delayed due to denial of import duty waivers by relevant government agencies, and late application for necessary documents by non-profit organisations, among others.

    These delays, he noted, leads to unnecessary loss of items, financial losses and, in extreme cases, loss of human lives arising from not getting such items when needed.

    “It also extends to the denial of, sometimes life-saving relief materials to places they are needed, particularly disease-ravaged areas and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) settlements. And given the IDP crisis Nigeria faces, the material and humanitarian losses can only be imagined,” he said.

     

    Abuse of waivers

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe, noted that the health sector is the major beneficiary of charitable goods and that it is a matter of life and death.

    According to him, many Nigerians have lost their lives due to the delays in receiving drugs and other items meant for the less privileged.

    He asserted that the most important and immediate approach would be to have Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that would put together the best processes and create ease in the procedure.

    “We want to see how we can better implement the existing protocols and laws as it relates to clearing charitable items at Nigerian ports.

    We want to deploy technology to make things faster and we also want to review areas that require legislative intervention in terms of new laws.

    We need to create an interim alternative to address the current emergencies we have in the country to get charitable items swiftly delivered to areas of conflict in the Northeast and the Northwest,” he said.

    The representative of the Chairman, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRFFN), Dr Kayode Farinto lamented that charitable goods are not usually given needed attention by Customs officers.

    He said the Customs, as well as other government agencies are more concerned about revenue generation and most of them do not implement their functions with human face.

    He therefore recommended that the new SOP for clearing charitable goods should recommend penalty for any officer or terminal operators that deliberately cause delay of the items.

    But regulators of the clearing process maintained that there is a gross abuse of the waiver system on goods as granted waivers by the federal government.

    Read Also: N30b overtime cargoes rot at Lagos ports

     

    For instance, an Assistant Comptroller General, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Catherine Ekekezie, noted with dismay the sharp practices being done by importers.

    Ekekezie, who had had the unenviable task of clearing the tag of the Customs being a stumbling block to efficiency at the ports, did not fail to present some of the sharp practices being perpetrated by importers and their agents.

    “We have seen several forgeries being done, and when we investigate they turn out to involve very high powered people; but we still go ahead to do our job as officers of the law,” she told the gathering.

    Ekekezie noted some of the challenges to include false declaration by importers, underpayment of duty, alteration in documents among others.

    She further explained that import waivers on charitable items have been misused and abused not just by businessmen but also by some non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations.

    In an emotion-laden voice, Ekekezie recalled that the NCS have been shocked to find businessmen hide under NGOs to import high duty accessories for sale, yet declaring them as charitable items.

    She cited the case of an importer who brought in over 100 pieces of high end  mobile phones but yet declared same as charitable goods.

    “Improper documentation has also been a major problem. NGOs must get the required documents outlined by the Ministry of Finance before they approach the Customs.

    Corrupt practices by importers and various port officials have also affected this process”, she said, adding that the major challenge of charitable goods clearing is lack of documentation and compliance by the beneficiaries.

    As if lending credence to the Customs ACG’s submissions, the Deputy Senate President observed with dismay that import waivers on charitable items have been misused and abused not just by businessmen but also by some non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations.

    He therefore admonished that all stakeholders including Civil Society Organisations, other not-for-profit organisations, in concert with the government, must comply with necessary application processes and ensure charitable items are not used for commercial purposes, but rather always get them across get to the targeted beneficiaries.

     

    Other initiatives

    Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Shippers Council, Barr Hassan Bello stressed that charitable cargoes must special SOPs in their clearance because most of these cargoes have expiry dates and shouldn’t be subjected to undue delays.

    “We have to come together to facilitate the clearance of these cargoes for Nigerians and other nations who use Nigerian ports for transit trade,” Bello said.

    Stakeholders called for installation of scanners at the ports which they reckon would make the job easier for all. But the Director-General of African Centre for Supply Chain (ACSC) Dr. Obiora Madu, advised that rather than scanners, the country should embrace the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology at the port.

    The RFID is a technology, he explained, uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects including containers, vehicles, cash, clothing, and possessions, or implanted in animals and people for Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC).

    He said most developed countries of the world no longer use scanners at the port; rather they use the RFID which would automatically collect all data on an imported consignment without causing delay.

    “RFID technology goes much farther and it cannot miss anything, if you get to those foreign ports, you would look around for the containers but they are all gone, there is no time wasting.

    So many countries, including Malaysia and other developing countries, are already using this RFID. The technology can resolve even the port congestion that we are battling with right now” he said.

     

    New procedure

    The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, represented at the meeting by the Principal Administrative Officer, Technical Services Department, Mr Frank Oshanipin, revealed that the ministry has put in place automation processes and procedures for granting of import duty waivers for companies and NGOs, from March 1.

    She explained this is to automate the process to remove human contacts, abuses of waivers and ensure efficiency in issuance of Import Duty Exemption Certificates (IDEC)

    Oshanipin cautioned International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) to stop donating rice to Nigerian IDP and orphanage homes saying that these products can be sourced locally.

    He said though textiles and other items are also under outright ban by the ministry, it still allows them into the country for the sake of NGOs. She, however, said rice would not be part of such imports.

    “The online application is expected to reduce the delays to the barest minimum. Within one week, the process of granting duty exemptions would now be completed.

    If the application does not have merit, the applicant would be contacted immediately,” she said, adding that the  lifespan of every import duty exemption is one year after which it must be utilised or the owner would have to come back for revalidation.

     

  • Residents, others seek support for multimillion-dollar Ijegun Port City

    Our Reporter

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Lagos State government and other relevant agencies have been urged to support the promoters of Ijegun Port City to decongest the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports and boost the economy.

    Finding revealed that the promoters of the port city have invested over $11million on assets, dredging and reclaiming of swamp areas.

    The Ijegun Port City is about two killometres from the Tin-Can Island port in Lagos.

    A resident of Ijegun, in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mr Rasaq Baligun, said the Ijegun Port City is worth over $30 million and urged the NPA and the government to collaborate with its promoters to generate employment.

    Balogun said they were happy that the promoters had constructed a one-kilometre road, bridge and water channel that would soon be inaugurated by the government.

    Read Also: N30b overtime cargoes rot at Lagos ports

    An importer, Chief Felix Anderson, urged the management of the NPA to support Westron Properties, the promoter of the port, and key into the initiative of using barges to move containers from the Apapa ports to Ijegun Port City.

    Speaking with The Nation on the efforts of his company to reduce the congestion and free Apapa roads from the perennial gridlock, the Chairman, Westron Properties and a promoter of the port city, Chief George Igboegun, said his company developed the initiative so that the port city could absorb up to 50 per cent of the cargoes at Apapa ports.

    He said with the cooperation from the government and other government agencies, the port city, which  absorbs 25 per cent of the Apapa traffic, would absorb 50 per cent of the cargoes at Lagos ports.

    He said: “The demand for port facilities in the ever-growing city of Lagos has seen an exponential growth in the last few years. The resultant effect is that even the addition of Tin Can Island port could still not meet this demand.

    “This has led to the chaos Apapa has turned into, with the nation losing tonnes of money daily. Efforts by the government to ease the pain of Apapa have not yielded the desired result.

    “The emerging port city of Ijegun is a private sector initiative borne out of necessity.

    “Our company was involved in industrial fishing and we were usually caught up with delays at the Apapa Port with the gridlock on the axis.

    “Our fishing trawlers could not find adequate berthing facilities; while searching for a solution to the problem, we stumbled on the calm waters and natural harbour of Ijegun, and decided to explore the maritime potential with active cooperation of government,” he said.

    Igboegwu said the demand for port facilities in Lagos had seen an exponential growth in the last few years.

    “The resultant effect is that even the addition of Tin Can Port can still not meet this demand.

    “This has led to the chaos Apapa has turned into, with the nation losing money daily.

    “Efforts by the government to ease the pain have not yielded the desired results,’’ he said.

    Igboegwu said the establishment of Ijegun Port City had brought  development and increased the  storage capacity for petroleum products, thus reducing incidences of shortage.

    He said Lagos warehoused about 60 per cent of the nation’s petroleum products, adding that 25 per cent was handled at Ijegun.

    “Today, there are 12 tank farms in Ijegun for liquid petroleum products, holding a storage capacity of about 600,000,000 litres and product storage.

    “Four of these are sited on land developed and sold to the tank farm developers by us;  also, we have land to accommodate further eight of such facilities,’’ he said.

    Igboegwu said that availability of requisite infrastructure for the new city had been a problem, noting, however, that various parties had been making contributions toward this, under the umbrella of the Ijegun Tank Farm Association.

    He said that a new bridge and road built by Westron represented part of its contributions toward bridging the infrastructure gap.

    He said that the projects would present additional development in the area and result in further growth of the new city.

  • Towards eradicating plastic waste

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has launched the Maritime Action Plan on Marine Litter and Plastic Management to help the agency rid the waters of unwanted materials, which can cause food insecurity, environmental degradation and impede safety of navigation on the territorial waters. OLUWAKEMI DAUDA reports.

    MIFFED by the problems caused by plastic waste, Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has launched the Maritime Action Plan on Marine Litter and Plastic Management in Lagos to rid the waters of unwanted materials.

    Peterside charged Nigerians on the use of ocean resources, adding that so many activities depend on the ocean.

    He said: “It is a known fact that our oceans and seas sustain lives but when the threats to ocean health are numerous, it also affects human beings. The state of health of the ocean is related to the state of our health and our economy. Therefore, we must stop the indiscriminate dumping of materials in our ocean.

    “The issue of marine litter and plastics in the seas and oceans has remained a global concern, particularly, following the increased awareness about blue economy and its derivable benefits. The  challenges  of  marine  litter  and  plastic pollution  are  multiple, and include  threat  to  food security, threat  to  economic  activities,  navigational  hazard,  water safety,  threat  to  ecosystem, harmful effects on marine life and bio-diversity, among others.

    Projection by World Economic Forum (WEF)

    A report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) projects that by 2050, plastics in the oceans will outweigh fish, if mitigated. Of 260 million tons of plastic produced in the world yearly, about 10 per cent  ends up in the ocean and 70 per cent of the mass eventually sinks, damaging life on the seabed.

    Nigeria’s marine waste

    Also, the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) in a study says 83 per cent of the 4.8–12.7 million tons of land-based plastic waste that ends up in the ocean from the 192 coastal countries originate from 20 countries, including Nigeria.  A study by Africa Impact Sustainable Initiative also reports that 500 shipping containers of waste is dumped in Africa monthly. In 2010, the yearly mismanaged plastic waste for the continent was put at about 4.8 million tonnes and could reach 11.5 million tonnes in 2025.

    These occurrences are not evident globally or continentally, but also in Nigeria, which is among top 20 nations that contribute 83 per cent of total volume of land based plastic waste that end up in the oceans/seas. It is estimated that over 200,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste from land-based sources in Nigeria, is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean yearly.

    Report from VOA on solid waste

    A recent report last September by the Voice of America (VOA) also shows that Nigeria generates an estimated 32 million tons of solid wasteyearly, one of the highest in Africa. Of that figure, plastic constitutes 2.5 million tons. This poses a great danger to the environment and particularly our marine ecosystem. Many coastal communities in Nigeria have no official waste collection service, meaning that there is nowhere for litter to go. Regrettably, most of the waste generated in these communities ends up in the seas and oceans.

    Implications of plastic waste to the economy

    Peterside said the mplications for the economy are enormous. “The presence of Marine Litter and Plastics in our waters is impacting negatively on the drive to make Nigeria a greener, safer and healthier nation. We all know that solutions to this global challenge are multiple and require consideration of a systematic approach to the various sources generating the pollution, both land and sea-based contributors, and a combination of intervention in different sectors and at different levels. For those within the maritime sector, we are faced with greater threat hence the development of the relevant IMO instruments, which includes the MARPOL-Annex V, London Convention and its Protocol as well as the Nigerian Merchant Shipping Act 2007. This global effort are tackling marine litter and waste dumped into the sea and oceans aligns with the objectives of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 6, 11, 12,14, and 17,” he said.

    Recognising that NIMASA has a responsibility of ensuring that Nigeria has clean seas and oceans, the agency decided to take action in partnership with others to combat the menace of marine litter and plastics. The result of that effort is the Maritime Action Plan on Marine  litters and Plastics, which NIMASA  presented in Lagos, a few days ago.

    ‘Why the move by NIMASA on plastic waste is important?’

    The discussions on marine litter, as championed by NIMASA, stakeholders said, are essential because oceans, seas and rivers are the lifeblood of humanity, but they are being turned into rubbish dumps.

    A maritime lawyer, Mr  Segun Adesoji, said Nigerians should support NIMASA to clean the waters, and to act now.

    “What NIMASA intends to do with its campaign against marine litter is to turn the tide on plastic and other  waste, protect biodiversity and keep the oceans rich and clean. It is an investment in our own survival, the survival of our children and the future generations and our nation,” he said

    What is marine litter?

    Marine litter has been defined by the United Nations as “any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment. Marine litter consists of items that have been made or used by people and deliberately discarded into the sea or rivers or on beaches; brought indirectly to the sea with rivers, sewage, storm water or winds; accidentally lost, including material lost at sea in bad weather (fishing gear, cargo); or deliberately left by people on beaches and shores’’.

    According to Adesoji, ”Marine litter is found on the beaches and shores, on the water surface, in the water column and on the seabed. It can be found near the source of input but also can be transported over a long distances with sea currents and winds.”

    The maritime lawyer said there was a need to support NIMASA in preserving the waters and seas as it holds a lot of opportunities in developing the economy and providing jobs for the people.

    “We are in support of the latest move by NIMASA to find effective solutions and required actions to improve litter prevention, recycling, and other waste management infrastructure, along with strong national, regional and international partnerships,” Alaka said.

    What causes marine waste?

    Ocean pollution is not a problem limited to one country, or even continent. But it has become clear that what happens in one city can have impacts across the globe. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), about 80 per cent of marine litter originates on land. A majority of scientific studies have concluded that plastic in the ocean is the result of poor or insufficient waste management and lack of sufficient recycling and recovery. UNEP identified these sources as the most important: Poorly managed or poorly resourced landfill sites; sewage treatment and combined sewer overflows; people using beaches for recreation or shore fishing; manufacturing sites, plastic processing, and transport; shore-based solid-waste disposal and processing facilities; inadequately covered waste containers and waste-container vehicles; inappropriate or illegal dumping of domestic and industrial trash or wast; street litter that is washed by rain or snowmelt, or blown by wind into waterways.

    Types of marine waste

    There are many types of marine litter. About 70 per cent of marine litter, such as glass, metal, and various  marine equipment and other refuse sink to the ocean floor.

    Debris and pollution do not belong in the ocean and sea, they are human creation.

    While marine litter consists of various materials; many plastics float or remain in the water, making them more visible.

    Marine waste can harm ecosystem, human

    Marine litter, it was learnt, is not only ugly – it can harm ocean ecosystems, wildlife, and humans. It can injure coral reefs and bottom dwelling species and entangle or drown ocean wildlife. Some marine animals ingest the litter and choke or starve. Medical waste (such as syringes), sharp objects, and large pieces of litter can pose a direct threat to humans.

    A pervasive problem plaguing the world

    Marine litter is one of the most pervasive and solvable pollution problem plaguing the world’s oceans and waterways. Nets, food wrappers, cigarette filters, bottles, resin pellets, and other debris items can have serious impacts on wildlife, habitat, and human safety. Successful management of the problem requires a comprehensive understanding of both marine debris and human behaviour. Knowledge is key for consumers to make appropriate choices when it comes to using and disposing of waste items. Education and outreach programs, strong laws and policies, and governmental and private enforcement are the building blocks for a successful marine pollution prevention initiative.

    The plastic industry also has a role to play in educating its employees and customers, and searching for technological mitigation strategies.

    Working  in partnership with industries, local, state government

    Peterside has left nobody in doubt that he was appointed by President Muhammadu Bihari to protect the nation’s ocean and sea.

    Findings revealed that ocean pollution is not a problem limited to one country, or even one continent. But it’s becoming increasingly clear that what happens in one state can have impacts across the country.

    That is why the stakeholders said NIMASA needs to work in partnership with local, state, the Federal Government, industry players, NGOs and the United Nations in resolving that good prevention and waste management is the key to keeping waste out of the nation’s territorial waters.

    Problems and threats by marine litter:

    Investigation revealed that there are numerous problems and threats associated with marine litter, which include environmental, social and economic impacts. These problems are interconnected and difficult to solve separately.

    Its general implications for the Nigerian economy are also enormous, such as beach cleaning, loss of tourism and tits negative impacts on fishing industry. It poses a considerable threat to the health and productivity of marine ecosystems. No wonder Peterside said, “The presence of marine litter in our waters is impacting negatively on NIMASA’s Strategic Objectives, most notably the drive to make Nigeria a greener, wealthier and fairer, safer and stronger and healthier nation.”

    Risk to human health:

    Marine litter can pose significant risks to human health and is considered a public health issue, both as beached litter or circulating in coastal waters

    Beached marine litter such as broken glass, medical waste, fishing line, and discarded syringes can harm beach users as well as the risks associated with the leaching of poisonous chemicals.

    Findings revealed that In the United Kingdom, between 1988 and 1991, four per cent of injuries by needles reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) in the Southwest of England were sustained on the beach.

    Sewage related debris is particularly harmful and is considered a potential biohazard and may act as a vector for viruses and bacteria.

    Hazzards to vessels, ferries and trawlers:

    The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala Usman who was represented at the event by the  Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Mr Seko te Davis said  that marine litter poses navigational hazards to all kinds of vessels such as submarines, passenger ferries, fishing trawlers and can result in loss of life.

    The major risks to navigation from marine litter mostly during poor weather conditions, according to Usman include:

    • fouling and entanglement of a vessel’s propeller in derelict fishing gear: reducing stability and the ability to manoeuvre;
    • blockage of water intakes by plastic bags;
    • subsurface debris can foul anchors and equipment deployed from trawlers and research vessels;
    • collisions can damage a vessel’s propeller shaft seal;
    • recovery procedures which require divers increases risk of personal injury

    “Apart from the normal navigational hazards by pleasure craft and commercial ships, the same risks also apply to military activities which are active in the marine, submarine and inter-littoral zones. Marine litter can disturb the physical environment, affecting the ability to detect certain phenomena many of which are important to the Navy’s defence capability,” she said.

     Threats to fisherman:

    A boat operator and fisherman in Ojo Area of Lagos, Mr Sunday Davies said they are are also facing threat from marine litter. Threats to fishermen, according to Davies include the snagging of fishing gear on marine litter, increasing the risk of capsize, and in some circumstances resulting in loss of life of some of their members.

    “Remediation and preventative measures are only available for Captains of big vessels and trawler through the deployment of surveillance equipment by NIMASA to identify the location of lost objects; the notification to mariners of the location of floating or sunken containers, cargo or debris; the emergency towing of floating containers; and the transfer of cargo from a stricken vessel, all of which are dependent on the management of the agency,” Davies said.

    Impact of marine litter to Nigerian economy

    “Marine litter has a fast, direct and indirect impact upon the Nigerian economy. For several years policy makers and communities have experienced the problem of marine litter on beaches, waterways, bays and ports and the subsequent impacts on a range of economic activities.

    “For instance, costs for cleaning operations or lost fishing revenue from entanglement are still captured in traditional economic calculations but the economic implications of degraded ecosystem services are still difficult to value,” said a ship owner Mr Fola Badmus.

    What stakeholders say

    A university don and maritime lawyer, Mr. Dipo Alaka, said marine litter directly impacts on ocean life, marine habitats, human health, and navigational safety with potential impacts on socio-economic development of nations.

    This, he said, necessitated the need for NIMASA to collaborate with UNEP Global Partnership Action (GPA) in 2015 to carry out a scientific study on marine litter challenge in Nigeria, thereby culminating to the development of the national action plan on marine litter and its campaign concept.

    Employment generation:

    The issue of marine litters, stakeholders say, has always been a challenge of the nation’s Maritime sector, and that is why  Peterside came up with the strategy of employing locals as marine litter marshals to serve as watchdog around their areas.

    Stakeholders say the strategy is worth emulating. Apart from tackling unemployment, it gives youths a sense of belonging as stakeholders in their environment. The initiative is also seen as part of efforts to tackle youth restiveness in the riverine areas, which hitherto was a challenge for the Federal Government.

    NIMASA as the agency responsible for Marine environment:

    NIMASA as the agency of government responsible for marine environment management in its continuous quest to reposition the Nigerian maritime sector in line with global best practices has taken the step to engage some young Nigerians as marine litter marshals who are expected to ensure that the oceans are kept clean and safe.

    Marine litter as a global problem:

    A former General Manager, Public Affairs of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Chief Micheal Kayode Ajayi said the Federal Government through the Ministry of Transportation and NIMASA must strengthen their joint measures to combat marine litter and coordinate its future action plan.

    “We need a broad-based package of measures and the creative strength of the government and the civil society to cope with the amounts of litter in our oceans. Which was exactly why NIMASA launched the Action Plan?

    What needs to be done?

    The Vice President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr Kayode Farinto, said NIMASA must ensure that plastics makers in the country are working with the agency, NGOs and other public and private sector actors in order to develop and pilot systemic interventions that will focus resources where they can have the most immediate and significant impact in areas and economies where the most waste enters the ocean.

    Effects of marine litter:

    Investigation has shown that marine litter causes marine environmental, economic, health and aesthetic problems, including possible transfer of toxic substances and invasive species, destruction of marine habitats and loss of biodiversity. It also threatens marine life through entanglement, suffocation and ingestion as well as poses a risk to human health and life hence, the need to find solutions to it.

    Solution to the problem:

    “Solutions to this endemic problem must include reduction, reuse, increased recycling, tough litter abatement laws, and well-run municipal waste management systems.

    “A voluntary commitment by the retail sector to reduce the use of plastic bags, in addition to a new recycling law with higher quotas for plastic waste, would also ensure the prevention of plastic waste in the oceans and seas,” Farinto said.

  • APMT offers 50% discount on overtime cargoes

    By Muyiwa Lucas

    The Management of APM Terminals Apapa has announced a 50 per cent discount on 1,290 longstanding containers at the port.  APM Terminals Apapa said the move is aimed at decongesting the port.

    “In support of the efforts of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to decongest the port to enable the discharge of new containers, urgently requests the importers of below listed 1290 containers that have been in the terminal for 365 days to 4000 days, to clear them.

    “To assist importers, and in support of government policy, the Terminal will offer 50 per cent discount on the storage charges for any of the containers delivered until March 15, 2020. Full tariff will be payable from March 16, 2020,” APM Terminals said in a notice to port users on Monday.

    Recently, APM Terminals Apapa had urged importers to ensure prompt delivery of their containers to avoid buildup at the port as a result of increasing volumes.

    Read Also: Maersk, Safmarine deny dumping Lagos ports

    “We have recently experienced a substantial increase in volume of containers arriving through the seaports. This positive development can be attributed to various positive government policies such as improvement in the implementation of Ease of Doing Business policy, the Agriculture Promotion Policy and closure of land borders to curtail smuggling activities amongst others.

    “However, if these containers are not cleared by customers soon enough, this volume increase could lead to high yard density which could impact berthing of vessels resulting in vessel queues. We are anticipating further improvement in throughput ahead of Christmas and year end.

    “We therefore urge all the relevant stakeholders and the wider port community to ensure timely delivery of containers in an effective manner without compromising government’s policies and procedures. The terminal is willing to offer discount for longstanding containers commensurate with dwell time and therefore urge customers with containers in this category to take advantage of the offer and take delivery of their containers.

    “We commend the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for operating the Lilypond Transit Truck park and the Presidential Task Team on decongesting Apapa access roads for their effective implementation of the call-up system and traffic management system respectively.

    “As for the terminal, we assure the shipping lines and our landside customers, that we are dedicating adequate resources despite the seasonal bad weather, working closely with the Port authority, other relevant agencies and stakeholders for improved terminal performance to ensure prompt cargo delivery after release by the Nigeria Customs Service,” the company had said.

  • Fed Govt enforces anti-piracy law

    By Muyiwa Lucas

    The Federal Government has embarked on measures to ensure smooth enforcement of the new anti-piracy law to stem criminality on the waters.

    This was made known in Lagos at the Strategic Admiralty Law Seminar for Judges organised by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    The theme of the conference was: “Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, 2019: Key to accelerating and achieving safe and secure shipping in Nigeria.” It was meant to sensitise judicial sector actors on the import of the anti-piracy law.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Directors-General of NIMASA and NIALS, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and Prof. Mohammed Tawfiq Ladan, emphasised the need for the implementation of the law. They called for cooperation among the enforcement agencies, stressing that stringent penalties await maritime criminals.

    Read Also: Fed Govt: no going back on social media regulation

    Peterside noted that there was a robust framework for the criminalisation and punishment of piracy and other maritime crimes in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.

    He said the seminar afforded the Judiciary and the agency an opportunity to dialogue on issues of mutual importance, particularly, the sensitisation of judges on contemporary maritime law within and outside the Nigeria.

    The seminar was previously meant for Judges of the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal, and High Courts of the littoral states. But this year, the scope of participation to include law enforcement agencies.

    “With the world’s waters accounting for over 80 per cent of transportation requirements in the global trading supply chain network across established international routes and trade lanes, the threats of piracy, armed robbery at sea and other maritime crimes have been an issue of global concern.

    “The Gulf of Guinea, sadly, had been at the epicentre of maritime security discussions globally, given the incidents recorded in the region. The challenge of maritime insecurity in the region had been further compounded by a deficit of legislation to address the challenge.”

    He said the Act had addressed that challenge.

    The DG said the theme of the seminar was aimed at understanding the Act and the collaborative mechanisms between the Judiciary and enforcement agencies in the implementation of the Act.

    “At the end, it is expected that there would be enhanced knowledge of participants in areas of the core mandate of NIMASA, heightened awareness on the provisions of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act and its enforceability, assessment of the standard operating procedures in tackling maritime crimes and the gaps and options for improvement and reform,” he stated.

    Ladan said with the economy generating more than 70 per cent of sea-borne trade in West Africa, the country and region will prosper if the seas were safe for investment and commerce.

    According to Ladan, “Through this strategic maritime law seminar, we wish to enhance the capacity of, and remind our, Justice sector actors that we will all prosper when the seas around us are safe, secure and free for all to use and exploit natural resources, promote trade and investment, tourism, marine science and technology, maritime transport, infrastructure development, and fisheries.”

    He said: “Through this seminar, we hope to build greater understanding of the common challenges of maritime safety and security and how the SPOMO Act 2019 seeks to promote synergy among justice sector actors (judges, prosecutors, anti-corruption agencies, security and law enforcement agencies) to effectively respond to the multiple challenges earlier highlighted.”

    President Muhammadu Buhari signed the SPOMO Act into law on June 24, last year. The law aims to tackle the menace of piracy and armed robbery on the country’s waters and exclusive economic zone with a strong and specific legal instrument that prescribes punishment for offenders and deters criminal elements. It is the first standalone antipiracy law in the Gulf of Guinea region.

    The Act prescribes jail terms of between 15 years and life, and fines ranging from N50 million to N500 million for convicted individuals and corporate organisations.

  • Ports: ‘Time for modernisation’

    The port system has been criticised for its lack of efficiency. This has made it a nightmare for stakeholders in the sector. The chaos is blamed on congestion and lack of modern infrastructure. Experts say there is an urgent need for a modernisation and overhaul of the ports, MUYIWA LUCAS reports.

    The President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Iju Tony Nwabunike, may be self-effacing. But the soft-spoken freight forwarder seems to have embarked on a ‘crusade’ lately. The reasons for his crusade are quite understandable – the need for the country to have a virile and efficient port system.

    Last week, Nwabunike said there is a need for the speedy modernisation of the ports to enhance trade and competitiveness.

    He spoke at a roundtable in Lagos organised by the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON).

    According to him, several African countries, including Ghana and Cote D’Voire, are improving on their ports infrastructure ahead of the take-off of Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). One of such improvement, he noted, include access to port entry which is based on biometric data.

    He therefore feared that Nigeria might be left behind by other countries waiting to take advantage of the AfCFTA regime for intra African trade in line.

    According to him, AfCFTA will be a big embarrassment to the country if people come here to see that we are not prepared. “If you find out the preparation by Morocco, Algeria, South Africa and Egypt, you will know that we are going to find ourselves in an awkward situation on AfCFTA using ECOWAS trade liberalisation.

    He explained that in the table of countries ranked between one and 15 for port modernisation, Nigeria is not among the first five. This, he said, called for concern and the urgent need to make the country’s port like other international ones.

    “Not only our seaports, but also our land borders and airports. Lome Port, a small port, for example, is very decent. If you go there, you won’t believe it is in Africa, not to talk of being in West Africa. It is all about human beings and government policies. I think we can achieve it if we are very serious about it,” he said, adding that a modernised port will assist in achieving the government’s ease of doing business and trade facilitation.

    “We are only talking about the gridlock in our ports, we are not talking about dumping of containers, we are not talking about the concessionaires and shipping companies doing whatever they like to do. We are not talking about lack of scanners in the ports, we are not talking about multiplicity of government agencies at the ports, incessant influx of substandard and fake products coming into the country. We are going to talk about the truck and truck owners, the gridlock vis a vis the NPA and Customs, plant quarantine; not forgetting the issues of NICIS II; whether it’s going to be seamless and how they want to harmonise it. We want to talk about the standardisation of Customs in line with the World Trade Organisation (WCO). There is also need to talk about even the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) because we have them as very key stakeholders in port operations,” he said.

    While the ports in Lagos remain overstretched, leading to the planned cargo diversion to the eatern ports by the port landlord – the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), he said the alternative ports should be other areas like Calabar and others.

    Nwabunike also expressed worries over the under utilisation of Calabar port. He stressed the need for other  eastern ports to be revamped. He described Calabar seaport as very critical to the economy, considering the routes like Ebonyi and Benue states it has as links, leading up to the north.

    According to him, ANLCA has started moves, through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to engage the Federal Government in ensuring that the Calabar port and other seaports in the East are resuscitated for optimal and competitive trade.

    Nwabunike called on the management of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to consider the position of the ANLCA towards revamping the Calabar port for optimal utilisation, pointing out that the association would work to support government for the actualisation of the eastern ports like that of Calabar.

    “We have a lot to discuss with the Federal Government and one of such is the total modernisation of our ports. If you look at our ports, you cannot be compare it with the port of Tema (Ghana) because there are so many negative things to talk about the ports.

    “We mentioned specifically who is dredging the Calabar port for almost seven years. There is this contract for the dredging of Calabar seaport for years and nobody knows about them. Why are they not facilitating the job on time and what is the actual problem? So, the issue is very clear that we need to know the company handling the Calabar port dredging contract and let it be dredged immediately,” he said.

    He urged the contractors handling dredging of Calabar port to expedite actions in completion of the project adding that the peculiarities of the Cross Rivers State-based port has proximity by road to the hitherland and landlocked country in the sub-region, an attribute he said could open up the region for better trading opportunities.

    Nwabunike, nonetheless, thanked the government for her interest in getting Calabar port work at optimal capacity and advised that the contractors given the dredging be directed to start operation as it would go a long way to making the ports more accommodating for ships and reduce the pressure on some of the ports.