The Nation Newspaper

Category: Maritime

  • Nigeria, Benin Customs begin sensitisation on connectivity

    Nigeria Customs Service and the Customs administration of neighbouring Republic of Benin have finalised the technical aspects of connectivity and are set to sensitise stakeholders tomorrow on the business process and the inherent benefits in the project. Connectivity between both customs administrations is expected to achieve ease of doing business, promote trade, prevent revenue losses and curb smuggling across their common borders.

    The new initiative, said to be a step further in the ECOWAS Alisa project is expected to be launched towards the end of this month. The spokesman for Nigeria Customs, Joseph Attah, described the move as one that will impact greatly and positively on the fortunes of trans border trade actors in both countries.

    Attah,a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, said “Automation of manifest of imported goods into both countries,under the connectivity regime, will be captured for customs declaration in both countries.

    “What we mean is that,whatever declaration you make in either country will be known by customs administration of the other Country. It will be impossible to now make a declaration at one end and later change or adjust earlier made declaration in the other country to avoid arrest or payment of appropriate taxes.

    “This addresses the possible incidents of duty evasion through insincere declarations or attempt to hide and smuggle a prohibited item into the Country. Whatever you are declaring on the other side is electronically transmitted to this side and vise versa and will form the basses for you assessment.

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    It becomes impossible to change declaration concerning the consignment. By this,we shall be preventing smuggling electronically.

    “This does not affect the extant procedures peculiar to both countries on prohibition list, contraband and country by country rules on processing of certain items for importation. Laws of both countries applies to items so declared ” Attah said.

    He added that in addition to single declarations being used by customs administration of broth counties in a transparent platform , the new system will be time saving and no doubt facilitate trade and reduce cost of doing business while curbing possible corrupt tendencies.

    Revenue collection, would be more accurate while security will be enhanced with the deployment of non intrusive equipment such as scanners and others that will detect items that could compromise security, fuel insurgency or other criminal acts in both Countries.

    He also said the existing trade relationship between both countries would be strengthened by the new initiative as it will forge a more enduring partnership aimed at promoting legitimate trade and discouraging trans border ilgalities.

    Governments of both countries, according to Attah, would be able to access more accurate and reliable trade data or statistics for national planning and other economic resource materials.

    Levels of compliance to trade and fiscal policies by members of the trading community is expected to increase with the new system whose backbone is sustained by an internationally recognised ICT for trade solution provider,Webb Fontaine.

    Webb Fontaine has a record of helping to deploy ICT for improved risk management, preventing revenue losses and promoting trade in line with policies of governments it interfaces with. Its this age long experiences that forms the backbone of this Customs to Customs connectivity in Seme/Krake border.

  • WACT to acquire $10m equipment

    The West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), Onne Port, Rivers State is preparing to take delivery of two new mobile harbour cranes from Liebherr, as part of a $10 million upgrade.

    The upgrade will bring WACT,  the biggest container terminal outside Lagos, at par with its peers in Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in terms of equipment and efficiency.

    Speaking during the inauguration of four new specialised terminal trucks and an empty handler in Onne at the weekend, WACT Managing Director Mr. Aamir Mirza said the mobile harbour cranes are expected to arrive in the country next month.

    According to him, the acquisition of four  more specialised terminal trucks brings to 10 the number of such trucks acquired by WACT so far this year, with another four expected before the end of the year.

    He said: “You will recall that four trucks arrived first in February, then we added two in April, and four have just arrived. This is in line with our plan of investing in container handling equipment to maintain our strong position in Eastern Nigerian market.

    “So far, we have 10 terminal trucks and four are still coming on the way. We have 12 that we are already using. So, with this, we are going to have substantial number of trucks. The trucks are required to support the operations of the mobile harbour cranes because when compared to the current vessel cranes, the mobile harbour cranes operate at a faster rate.

    “Already, we are bringing them in and when the two cranes arrive in July, we already have these trucks with us and as soon as those cranes are inaugurated, we would have all the required equipment with us for efficient operation.

    “We have been investing in getting more equipment to our terminal to make sure that we continue to serve our customers better, deliver their cargo on time in a way that will bring more business to our terminal. We want to assure them that we will continue to fulfill the commitment that we have made in making sure that we continue to serve them better as we progress through the year.”

    Expressing appreciation to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for their support, Mirza said apart from investing in equipment, WACT is also focusing on improving communication with customers on major developments.

    “We have also added more computers to the clearing agent’s office so that they can download their invoices and complete their documentation before coming to the terminal. It is basically a mutual relationship that we are trying to maintain with all the stakeholders. We are poised to serve them better; listen to them and take steps to improve the level of service and provide them with necessary support so that our business and theirs continue to grow,” Mirza said.  The Acting Port Manager of Onne Port, Dr. Agbo Julius, who witnessed the commissioning of the four new specialised terminal trucks and empty handler, lauded WACT for its commitment to operational efficiency and service delivery at the port.

    “WACT has improved on its operation and I want to commend them for that. When we come around here and we see how big the place is with operations going on smoothly with very modern equipment, we keep on moving closer to our goal of being the leading port in Africa.

    “The inauguration of this equipment is encouraging because it is not the first time WACT is doing this. When we have operational equipment, it means we will improve our efficiency and service delivery, which is the cornerstone of Onne Port.

    “All of us are working together in ensuring that we make Nigerian ports become the leading ports in Africa,” Julius said.

    Several other stakeholders, including representatives of the Customs Area Controller, Port Harcourt 2 Area Command, Onne, Assistant Comptroller Yahaya Idris; Nigerian Port Consultative Council (NPCC) Chairman, Godwin Ololuka; as well as freight forwarding and truckers associations, who also witnessed the truck inauguration, also lauded WACT for raising the bar in service delivery at the port.

  • Chamber DG, others visit NPA

    Nigerian Chamber of Shipping Director-General, Obiageli Obi, a representative of Lloyd’s Maritime Academy United Kingdom, Mr. James Cullen, and Chairman, Shipping and Maritime Security Committee Mr. Mina Oforiokuma, have visited the management of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).

    Discussions on the occasion centred on the domiciliation of foreign based training in the country  to build capacity and enhance skills of our local content in Nigeria’s maritime domain to optimise its productivity and efficiency.

  • ‘Private, public partnership vital for sea time training’

    Private and governmentowned organisations have been urged to invest in indigenous cadets’ sea time training.

    Some experts gave the advice at conference titled: “A Day with Nigerian Maritime Students”.

    At the conference, organised by Platforms Communications in Lagos, the expertss lamented that lack of sea time portend negative future for cadets in Nigerian-owned maritime academies. They are convinced that training of cadets aboard tugboats and smaller crafts would not bring out the best.

    Conference Chairman and Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN President, Dr. McGeorge Onyung, urged the government and the private sector to invest in the  industry to boost youths’ capacity.

    The SOAN chief urged the students to take their studies very serious and forget about the challenges they might encounter.

    “You have capacities as adults to do exploit. So, I say to you, people don’t go to Olympics to try; You go there to get a gold medal. Don’t say, I went to school, I have tried, I want you to go and get a gold medal,” Onyung said.

    Similarly, Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMMS) former president, Ade Olopoeniyan, a Captain, called on government agencies, maritime colleges as well as maritime stakeholders to fashion out better ways of providing sea time experience for cadets to have proper practical training onboard ships.

    Olopoeniyan admonished the students that the fact remained that most of them would not have the opportunity to practical training on a ship even though the conference was themed “beyond sea time”.

    “I know that a lot of cadets here, when you finish, you will not be able to get that mandatory 12- month on a ship or if the ship is not trading, you are not getting enough practical training. If the ship will just be at anchorage for about six or nine months, you won’t get any training, you are just on a ship, you are not getting enough experience,” he said.

    He, therefore, charged the government agencies, ship owners, stakeholders, maritime colleges, among others, to fashion out better ways of getting sea time for cadets so that they can have proper practical training onboard ships and not just on a ship staying at anchorage for twelve months then you.

    He agreed with Onyung that several vessels on the Nigerian waters were being manned by foreigners. He was confident that if more Nigerians qualify as seafarers, there wouldn’t be need for foreigners on indigenous ships.

    Olopoeniyan used the opportunity offered by the occasion to encourage the students that it is important for them to get certified as this would ensure that they didn’t  only operate on coastal vessels, but also could be on foreign going vessels, which will afford them. The requisite experience and exposure.

    “Then, beyond sea time, maybe after you have gotten your classified by universal certificate or classified by Nigeria certificate, you can decide to come to your second career at shore which was what I did. After I became a captain on a ship, I came down to work ashore, which was my second career and I worked in the Ministry of Transport; I worked in NIMASA and I have retired now. And I am actually into my third career now by just doing consultancy services.

    “I have had three careers as a seafarer, which if you are serious, you can emulate what I have done by actually having first, second and third career as seafarers”, he stated.

    Similarly, the Finance and Administration, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Executive Director Bashir Jamoh, stressed the need for the ferry business to be utilised effectively.

    He called on the government to invest on shipping building which would serve as an alternative for cadets and seafarers to be gainfully employed.

  • NPA, Intels urged to resolve rift amicably

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the oil and gas logistics firm, Intels Nigeria Limited, have been urged to resolve their differences amicably.

    Two groups, Nigerian Importers Integrity Association (NIIA) and Rivers Progressive Youths Forum (RPYF), made this appeal.

    NPA, in a March 29 letter, terminated its boats pilotage monitoring and supervision agreement with Intels based on Article 8 (C) of its February 11, 2011 agreement with Intels.

    NPA accused Intels of failing to remit $145,849,309.33, being outstanding service boat revenue generated from November 1, 2017 to last October 31 into the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

    But Intels denied the allegation, claiming that NPA owed it more than $750 million.

    NIIA President Godwin Onyekachi told The Nation that the matter should be resolved in the interest of government and Intel workers.

    Onyekachi said the contract has enhanced NPA’s revenue and plugged leakages in the system.

    He said: “I think we have gone through this before. Recall that the same matter played out in 2017 and I remember issuing a press statement, urging NPA and Intels to shift grounds and seek amicable solution to the impasse, which they both did. I was, therefore, surprised that less than two years after the issue was resolved, it has reared its head again.

    “I must point out that disputes are not unusual in commercial transactions of this nature, but when such disputes arise, parties involved must seek amicable resolution through dialogue and proven dispute resolution mechanisms.

    “This is even important in this particular matter because thousands of jobs are at stake. Between 2015 and now, more than 10,000 Intels workers have been rendered redundant due to these unfortunate back-and- forth move.

    “Even if it is for the interest of the remaining 5,000 workers of the company, the government should amicably resolve this matter. There is no job anywhere, so no sacrifice can be too much in saving these 5,000 jobs. Look at the huge army of unemployed youths we have in this country, especially in the Niger Delta region. We shouldn’t push more people out into the labour market.

    “Also, Nigeria needs a lot of foreign direct investments to grow her economy at this critical time. The economy will not grow without foreign investments, but when potential investors see how investors are treated, they may not be encouraged to bring their money and expertise into our environment,” Onyekachi argued.

    Also, RPYF General Secretary, Austin Tamuno asked President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the face-off to save small businesses and employment in Rivers State.

    He said:“Apart from several employees of the company, many small businesses in Rivers State rely on Intels, and anything that befalls Intels will affect those businesses.”

     

  • Nigeria gets first private vehicle bonded terminal

    Nigeria has got its first private vehicle bonded terminal.

    The Kano-based terminal is the brainchild of an indigenous firm, Habbas Multiventures.

    Its establishment followed the Federal Government’s approval for private-car terminals to meet demands for imported vehicles. The government banned the importation of vehicles through the land borders in 2017.

    The firm’s Managing Director, Hamisu Abba Sumaila, said no fewer than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs would be created in the next 12 months in the terminal.

    He noted that this would contribute to making Kano a hub for vehicle purchase across the north.

    The terminal, according to him, will serve a better purpose than the popular Cotonou car market as it has space, enabling business environment, proximity to northern states and adequate security for dealers and buyers, and uninterrupted power supply.

    Sumaila said with the Habbas’ intervention, nothing should attract Nigerians into smuggling vehicles across borders as this would not only provide a market for legitimate transactions, it would also reduce the travel stress,  and risks associated with buying single units of vehicles abroad.

    He added that the facility is also an economic resource for Nigerians in the diaspora who are desirous of shipping vehicles home for sale and other purposes.

    According to him, the company’s  research reveals that prior to the government policy banning car import through land borders, many Nigerians from the north were travelling to Benin Republic to buy vehicles.

    Sumaila revealed that the company has opened talks with vehicle importers and marketers  wishing to extend their business presence to the north, urging them to maximise the benefits of the terminal.

    Operational gadgets, such as forklifts and cranes, had been installed at the terminal a  electronic and other requisite connectivity with the Kano Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have been strengthened, he said.

    Located at Judo, Rijiyar Gwangwan District of Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of Kano State, the terminal sits on a four hectares with a reserved five hectares for expansion.

    Fitted with state-of-the-art close circuit television  (CCTV) cameras for safety, security and adequate monitoring, the terminal has a strong presence of security agencies, including the NCS with adequate offices.

    With this arrangement, the importer enjoys 28 days’ grace before paying duty on the vehicles not bought. He is relieved of the stress of raising huge amount to pay at the port of arrival. However, buyers are expected to pay the duty, thus relieving the importer of huge amount required to pay duty for  imported vehicles.

    The NCS licensed firms and individuals setting up vehicle-bonded terminals across in 2016.

     

  • Port Harcourt Area One Customs makes N17.8b

    The Port Harcourt Area One Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) collected N17,826,222,668.31 for the first quarter of 2019, its Area Controller, Mohammed Bande Boyi, has said.

    In a statement, the Area One Public Relations Officer (PRO), Oscar Ivara, said the figure is N4,436,822,181 above what was collected in the same period last year.

    Boyi attributed the feat to higher volume of vessels at the port, more commitment by the command’s officers and regular interaction with stakeholders to achieve compliance.

    He applauded freight forwarders, licensed customs agents, shipping lines and other operators at the port for their cooperation.

    The Controller expressed optimism that the command would surmount its 2019 target with support from other sister government agencies and various customs  units, such as the Strike Force.

     

  • Nigeria overdue for national fleet, says Peterside

    THE Nigerian Maritime Ad-ministration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Dakuku Peterside, has said Nigeria is overdue for a national fleet to boost its position in the comity of  nations.

    Peterside spoke in Lagos when he hosted the National Fleet Implementation Committee (NFIC).

    He said a national fleet would energise the sector, save the huge spend on in-country freight and create jobs.

    He pledged the agency’s support for the committee, saying: “The national fleet implementation is long overdue and so NIMASA will work assiduously with the committee to ensure that the national fleet is restored to its past glory so that our nation can be reckoned with in the comity of maritime nations.”

    According to the DG, NIMASA had taken steps to develop the sector and increase indigenous participation.

    He listed these to include repositioning of the Nigerian Ship Registry, securing a special tax regime, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Customs Service; and changing of trade terms from Free on Board (FoB) to Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF).

    Others are engaging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in negotiating for one digit interest rate for ship owners to help in the acquisition of maritime assets, collaborating with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board; and supporting the Nigerian Navy in capacity building.

    “The national fleet implementation will create employment and wealth opportunities in Nigeria. The focus laboratory will also help Nigerians to understand the maritime sector and bring the players together to solve and understand issues better,” he said.

    The committee Chairman, Hassan Bello, listed the work done by the committee, soliciting NIMASA’s support.

    Bello requested a joint briefing with NIMASA to the Minister of Transportation to get his nod for  the fleet project.

    He said there was need for the Ministry of Transportation and its Budget and National Panning counterpart  to write a joint memo to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and other relevant arms of the government for approval to the project.

    The NFIC was set up by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to work out modalities for the establishment and sustenance of a national fleet.

    The Nigeria National Shipping Line (NNSL) was liquidated in 1995.

     

  • Tin Can Port records increased export

    Despite the poor access roads and other constraints, the volume of exported cargoes at the Tin Can Island Port increased by almost 100 per cent between January and April, the Customs Area Controller of the Command Abdullahi, Baba Musa, has said.

    In a statement, he said the port exported 115,000 metric tonnes (MT) during the period compared with last year, which had said 62,000 (MT).

    He attributed the improvement to increase in government campaign aimed at informing  stakeholders about the benefits of exports.

    Musa praised his officers for sticking to the time release principles of quick but careful approach to process imports and exports in line with the government ease of doing business agenda.

    According to him, cigarettes are among the most exported commodities.

    The controller applauded the exporters. He listed commodities exported through the port to include cocoa beans, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, leather, rubber, cigarettes and ginger.

    Other exports include zinc ore, soft drinks, beer, tissue paper, bathroom slippers and frozen shrimps.

    The controller explained that monthly export figure in the command has been impressive, showing that many Nigerians are embracing the line of business.

    For the first quarter of the year, the command processed 83,218 tonnes with Free on Board (FoB) value of N32,447,668,739

    Musa gave a breakdown of the exports, as follows: last January, 24,623.5MT with FoB value of N13,001,246,995 wwere processed; February had 26,045.6 MT with FoB of N12,331,535,344 and March  32,548.9MT with FoB of N11,148,869,400.

     

  • Congestion: Truck drivers accuse Navy of sabotage

    The conversion of the Lilypond terminal to a transit truck park by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to ease the congestion at the ports may have become a failed initiative, barely three weeks after its commencement. At the weekend, truck drivers and owners operating at the Lagos Ports accused the Nigerian Navy of scuttling the call-up system and use of Lilypond terminal for the purpose it was put in place by the NPA.

    The Navy personnel deployed to maintain order at the port were also accused of extortion by some  truck drivers, who claimed that most of them spent several days at the truck park without gaining access to the port due to demand for bribes by Naval officials.

    The unfolding development has been the fear of several stakeholders ab initio, when the idea of Lilypond conversion to a truck park was mooted. The Chairman, Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi, who narrated the plight of his members, accused officials of the Nigerian Navy of working against the regulation of the truck park as some trucks that are not in the park get favoured ahead of those at the facility.

    He explained that the trucks that are parked at Lilypond at times are abandoned while the Navy will be passing others that are not in the park, a situation he said is against the regulation.

    “The regulation says the place should serve as a transit park, which means trucks can only be distributed to any loading point from Lilypond, but as it is now, there are still lots of favouritism, perhaps this is an effort to sabotage the new arrangement because Navy at times still want to show supremacy that they are in charge which shouldn’t be,” Ogunremi said.

    He, therefore, called on the NPA to direct the Navy to hands off traffic management at Apapa for officials of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). “Navy should be told to go back to their barracks and leave the whole traffic management to LASTMA, FRSC and police to manage,” he said.

    A truck driver, Sehinde Kolawole, said the situation remains frustrating and advised that trucks heading to Tin Can Island Port should not be mandated to use the Lilypond.

    “I have been here for several days waiting to enter Lilypond, but I don’t think it is right because I am not going to Apapa. Trucks going to Tin Can Port should be allowed to go,” he said.

    Another truck driver, Sheu Ibrahim, corroborated the extortion claim. He lamented that even after paying about N70, 000 in bribe, he is yet to get to his destination within the ports. Besides, he further revealed that when a truck manages to get to barracks that is where Area B police state is located, with or without call-up card, if a driver does not give bribe, such a person will be asked to turn back and go back to the queue again.