The Nation Newspaper

Category: Maritime

  • Maritime industry to grow by 5% this year

    Maritime industry stakeholders have projected positive growth for the sector if the Federal Government pays adequate attention to it this year, Correspondent OLUWAKEMI DAUDA reports.

    The Nigerian Maritime industry has been projected to grow from 2.5  to five per cent this year. This growth, according to stakeholders,  will result in hiring more maritime services in the course of the year. The growth period, they said, will  cover  the 2019 general elections and  the post-election era.

    The projection is contained in the Nigerian maritime industry forecast for 2018/2019 unveiled in Lagos by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

    The forecast showed that Nigerians should expect total fleet size to grow by 4.41 per cent this year.

    According to Peterside, the outlook is the key parameter that will drive the maritime industry. He highlighted some other key drivers of the sector as geographic factor, availability of skilled labour force, an efficient and effective regulatory environment, manpower and human capacity development, maritime infrastructural development, globalisation and new technology, among others.

    The projection also revealed that oil tanker fleet size will increase by 1.7 per cent during the period under consideration, while the non-oil tanker fleet size is expected to attain 8.72 per cent this year.

    Peterside, who underscored the role  being played by the maritime sector, said it’s a propeller in the exploitation, distribution and exportation of the nation’s ocean resources, with a total annual freight cost estimated at between $5 billion and $6 billion annually. He said the maritime component of the Nigerian oil and gas industry is worth an estimated $8 billion, which further reflected the prominence of maritime to the Nigerian economy.

    “As a regulator, we are driven by values and commitment, as these are the only ways that investors can be attracted to harness the great potential in our maritime sector. On our part, we will continue to work out incentives and maritime sector specific interventions to attract investments,” Peterside said.

    He said the forecast reviewed developments in the industry in 2017; showed expected international and local developments in policy and regulatory environment for the maritime sector last year and this year and also takes a look at emerging opportunities and challenges for the maritime industry. He added that all were done with the sole aim of realising a robust and business friendly maritime domain that will also create avenues for economic prosperity.

    Peterside identified five bills undergoing legislative processes in the National Assembly as key regulatory developments in the maritime industry that will affect the maritime sector this year.

    These are the Anti-Piracy Bill; the establishment of the Maritime Development Bank; Inland Fisheries Amendment Bill; the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Amendment Bill and the Cabotage Act Amendment Bill 2017.

    He said when passed into law, they will help realise the dream of making Nigeria the maritime hub in Africa this year.

     

    Capacity building

    NIMASA, according to the DG, made significant progress, especially in human capacity building last year.

    More substantial progress, he said, needs to be made by the agency this year, in ship regulation, security, port administration and operations, among other skills development, which are related to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) requirement.

     

    NIMASA DG urged to make shipping a viable alternative to oil and gas money

    NIMASA’s Director-General, according to stakeholders, took the right step in repositioning the maritime security landscape last year, and they urged him to continue with the laudable plan this year.

    To former President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, NIMASA must continue to play a leading role in making shipping a viable alternative to the oil and gas money.

     

    Shippers Council and review of the concession agreement

    The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), according to stakeholders, needs government’s maximum support to carry out its role as economic regulator to make the ports attractive and competitive in the sub region.

    The NSC Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello, according to stakeholders, has what it takes to carry out the necessary reforms in our ports and contribute to the on-going review of the concession agreement. To them, it is mandatory to have effective platform to make the ports attractive for business, eliminate arbitrary charges and boost government revenue this year.

     

    The Nigerian Ports Authority

    Last year’s aqcuisition of more than four 60-tonne buller-pull tug boats with state-of-the-art equipment and computerised engines by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), according to stakeholders, would boost efficiency and increase government’s revenue at the ports this year.

    The boats, whose engines were manufactured by Rolls Royce, were built by DAMEN Engineering, Netherlands, under IMO supervision. The boats, which worth over $30 million, are Mt Daura, Mt Ubima, Mt Uromi and Mt Majaya. In 2007, the NPA generated over N299 billion. Although, the figure for last year is yet to be released by the agency, but stakeholders projected that the agency can generate more than N350 billion this year if the shippers take their cargoes to the Eastern ports through the deployment of Flat Bottom Vessels (FBVs) in the area because of the low channels draught.

    The revenue is expected to come from traffic, harbour, administsra-tion and other sources from the ports.

    The NPA Managing Director Ms Hadiza Bala Usman  said the use of FBVs would be given attention as means of finding solution for the limitation in some shallow draught channels, especially in Calabar, and Warrifor ports.

    Usman recalled that a flat bottom 200-meter-long and 61,000MT heavy vessel berted in Calabar last year in spite of the draft limitation of the channel.

     

    Ports’ access roads

    The NPA has projected that the roads leading to the seaports in Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Sapele would be fixed this year as they are currently impassable. Apart from the Wharf/Apapa road, which the NPA contributed N1.8 billion to fix last year, the remaining ports’ access roads have not attracted government’s attention in the last 10 years. Those leading to the Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos are so bad that some stakeholders have described it as a “shame to the nation.”

    The bad roads have constituted  nightmares to consignees, importers, exporters, freight forwarders and other port users, who use the roads to evacuate their goods.

    The roads are in sorry state as port users spend hours daily to access or exit the terminals hence, the  stakeholders are impressing it on the Federal Government and the NPA to fix the roads this year to meet their business aspiration.

     

    Cargo dwell time

    The NPA, importers said, must  ensure that cargo dwell time (CDT), which is the average time a cargo remains in the terminal from the point of discharge to point of exit, must improve significantly this year.

    The country, findings revealed, has the highest cargo dwell time in the Wet African sub-region.

    For instance, ANLCA Vice President, Dr Kayode Farinto said cargo dwell time in Cotonou port is 14 days, Ghana’s Tema port  is 15 days, while Lome has the lowest port time of nine days.

    He, however, said between 2011 and last year, dwell time in Lagos ports rose from 20 to 22 days.

    Importers and other clearing agents like him attributed the delay to lack of National Single Window (NSW) operation at the ports. But the Federal Government through the NPA has projected that the NSW platform would be unveiled this year to address the problem.

     

    Customs and provision of

     scanners

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), generated over N1.1billion last year, inspite of the fact that about 90 per cent of goods still goes through physical examination as against the use of mobile and fixed scanners.

    The Service has projected that mobile and fixed scanners will be provided this year to facilitate trade and boost efficiency at the ports.

    A clearing agent, Mr Segun Ogunsanu, said a lot of dirty deals  take place at ports and international land borders because the scanners are not available.

    The Service has also promised to intensify its anti-smuggling campaign this year to reduce criminali-ties at the ports and border stations and boost government revenue.

     

    Amaechi, Peterside urge to

    disburse CVFF

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Peterside have projected the disbuirsment of the $124million (about N144.64 billion) Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) this year.

    Indigenous ship owners said they would be happy if they could access the Cabotage fund to grow their businesses this year.

    But a maritime lawyer, Dr Dipo Alaka said NIMASA cannot disburse the funds because it does not have the skill to recoup the money after its disbursement.

    “There is a difference between policy making and regulation. On business operations, NIMASA, unfortunately, is given some responsibilities that are best done by the private sector. So, when NIMASA raises those funds from the freight charges and others, it can nominate a bank and deposit the money there and it is the bank’s responsibility to draw the lending process because they have the skills, but when NIMASA  takes up the role of disbursing the funds, it has no capacity,” Alaka said.

     

    Stakeholders’ views

    To Dr Farinto, given the opportunity, the NPA Managing Director will make more progress.

    He specifically mentioned NPA’s review of the concession agreement with terminal operators.

    “Nigeria is not a force to be reckoned with when it comes to shipping because of its lapses but it’s being improved upon gradually. This year, efforts must be placed on and given to more effectiveness in the industry because it takes a lot of work to put in and less discussion should be done but action. “

     

    Unlocking maritime potential

    The industry, according to Farinto,  is key to the  economy. As an oil-producing and exporting country, as well as a consumer nation, the country has a large market for foreign goods, owing to its population. Thus, the industry holds the key to the nation’s growth.  To unlock the potential in this sector, policies and programmes that have  the capacity to boost the economy must be implemented.

    Concerted efforts, according to stakeholders, should be made to address the problems militating against the industry’s efficiency this year.

  • Smooth sailing amid turbulence

    Stakeholders are praising the Federal Government for paying attention to the Maritime sector last year, reports Correspondent OLUWAKEMI DAUDA.

    Stakeholders in maritime have given kudos to the Federal Government, especially the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, for paying attention to an industry which freight is worth about $6 billion.

    They said  Amaechi, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Dr Dakuku Peterside; the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Comptroller-General, Col Hameed Ali and the National Inland Wateways (NIWA) Managing Director, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, are round pegs in round holes.

     

    Gaps in the maritime sector

    In the year under review, Amaechi and the five heads of the maritime agencies, the stakehold-ers said, did their best to ensure that the sector’s potential were realised. The officers, they added, initiated policies, which attracted local and international investors.

     

    NIMASA and the maritime industry forecast

    Stakeholders and operators described the forecast released by  Peterside in the first quarter of last year as a very good.

    The forecast, they said, prepared  how developments on the international scene would affect the maritime last year and this year.

    The forecast, according to a lecturer at the Lagos Business School, Dr. Doyin Salami, was essential tools for growing an industry. He urged investors, local and international to take the forecast serious to grow their businesses.

    The forecast, the first in the sector, will serve as a roadmap for those hoping to do business in the maritime domain.

    A university don and maritime lawyer, Mr Dipo Alaka, said the forecast highlights key drivers of the sector, such as geographic factor, availability of skilled labour force, an efficient and effective regulatory environment, manpower and human capacity development, maritime infrastructural development, globalisation and new technology, among others.

    Also,  the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Secretary-General, and NIMASA former Director-General, Mrs. Mfon Usoro. Usoro, a lawyer, commended the forecast, saying it would move the sector forward.

    She observed that the increased presence of NIMASA in the West and Central Africa sub-regions  indicates that the leadership of the agency was on course.

    Highlights of the forecast  are: the maritime is projected to grow by 2.5 – five per cent; there will be more demand  for maritime services in Nigeria; total fleet size will grow by 4.08 per cent in 2018 and 4.41 per cent in 2019; oil tanker fleet size will decrease by 2.23 per cent in 2018 and increase by 1.7 per cent in 2019; non-oil tanker fleet size will increase by 8.15 per cent in 2018 and 8.72 per cent  in 2019 and the oil rig count will increase by 27.67 per cent in 2018 and 0 per cent in 2019.

    Speaking with The Nation, Peterside said: “As a regulator, we are driven by values and commitment, as these are the only ways that investors can be attracted to harness the great potential in our maritime sector. On our part, we will continue to work out incentives and maritime sector specific interventions to attract investments.”

    Critical to the realisation of the projections in the forecast, Peterside said, are some bills now in the National Assembly. These include the Anti-Piracy Bill, the establishment of the Maritime Development Bank, Inland Fisheries Amendment Bill, the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Amendment Bill and the Cabotage Act Amendment Bill 2017.

    “All these, if passed to Law, will help realise the dream of making Nigeria the maritime hub in Africa,” he said.

     

    Proposed Nigerian Maritime Data Bank

    Experts, lawyers and stakeholders also gave Peterside a pass mark for his policies and his call for the establishment of Nigerian Maritime Data Bank (NMDB).

    For instance, a senior official in the Federal Ministry of Transport (FMoT), who craved anonymity, said the country loses over N10 billion yearly to inaccurate data in the  industry.

    Peterside, the official said, wants the NMDB to become the official information source approved by the government in maritime.

    The vision of the NMDB, according to him, include the following: It will provide all information needed for decision makers and people interested in the maritime transport industry through the NMDB website.

    Other stakeholders said they supported the move by NIMASA to have a credible data bank and urged the agency to ensure that the nation’s ways are safe for business.

     

    Criticism

    International reports on piracy, and other criminal activities on the waterways, importers said, were not given the necessary attention by NIMASA. They called on Peterside to collaborate more with local and foreign agencies to tackle these menace.

     

    NPA in stakeholders’ eyes

    Operators and stakeholders in the industry said Ms Usman brought to the front burner the Apapa gridlock and the industry and ways to resolve them.

    The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Vice President, Dr Kayode Farinto, gave credit to Usman for the collaboration between the NPA, AG Dangote Construction Company Limited and Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc in fixing the road from Wharf/Apapa.

    Farinto, like other stakeholders and residents of Apapa, said they were happy over the completion of work on the Apapa-Wharf Concrete Road.

    With the completion of the road, ANCLA immediate past president, Prince Olayiwola Shittu and other stakeholders said it would end the gridlock on that side of the Apapa Road and boost the 48 hours cargo clearance policy of the government.

    “In September 2017, Hadiza  Usman had expressed displeasure with the slow pace of work by contractors handling the Apapa Road when she visited the construction site.

    “The two-kilometre road starts from the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa to Ijora Bridge end of Western Avenue.

    “During the visit, we remember that Usman insisted that the contractors needed to bring more equipment to site and increase the number of moles used to fast-track the completion of the road as specified in the terms of agreement with the Federal Government.

    “Today, we are happy that the action she took then and the assurance she gave to port users, truck owners/drivers and Apapa residents that the Federal Government, through the NPA, would see to the quick completion of the road to alleviate their suffering have yielded the positive result. It shows that the heads of our maritime agencies are round pegs in round holes,” Shittu said.

    Stakeholders also said they were happy over the quarterly stakeholders’ meeting she organised across the country. Apart from implementing the suggestions made by operators and stakeholders, they said the authority also introduced feedback mechanism to ensure transparency and efficiency in all the ports across the country.

    A motor vehicle importer, Mr Gboyega Emmanuel said the NPA helmsman has recorded significant achievements. Among her many achievements, he said, was the drive to ensure that operators were held accountable.

     

    Measures to boost business at port

    Importers and clearing agents said  to cut losses, increase international trade and boost the economy, the NPA introduced at the end of last year, some positive measures.

    Last year, NPA  directed shipping firms to deploy sweeper vessels to evacuate empty containers from the ports to clear the backlog within four months. The NPA also directed the shipping firms to use Onne Ports for such sweeper vessels.

    According to NPA, the measures will reduce the attendant financial burden that the congestion at the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports has brought on importers.

    The agency also said there would be an increase in rent-free period for cargoes housed in the terminals from  three free days before commencement of rent charges to 21 free days before commencement of rent charges for four months.

    Stakeholders said despite the gridlock in Apapa, NPA failed to make the port outside Lagos attractive for business and urged Usman to address the problem.

    NPA and other agencies, Shittu and other stakeholders said, must bring the issue of National Single Window to the front burner in the new year.

     

    Nigeria Customs Service

    The Nigeria Customs Service under Col. Ali Hameed (rtd) also recorded tremendous success, notwithstanding the slow growth in economic activities.

    As at last November, the service has generated has generated N1.1 trillion for the Federal Government and seized contraband worth more than N40 billion between January and November last year.

    Its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah broke the news at the end-of-the-year breakfast meeting in Lagos last year.

    “Our experiences in this outgoing year have shown that with robust stakeholder engagement, enhanced automation and strict implementation of the import and export guidelines, NCS can generate more revenue and effectively suppress smuggling to the barest minimum.

    Despite the huge cash it made for the country, Customs, stakeholders said, did not do enough last year in terms of efficiency and trade facilitation programme of the Federal Government.

     

    Shippers Council/ MAN

    collaboration

    The collaboration between the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and the Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN) to streamline export, import procedures at port, importers said, was a robust initiative of its Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello.

    Bello said he took the initiative because export trade is important to the Federal Government in its effort in diversifying the economy.

    He said the economy needs to come out from an import dependent economy and encourage manufacturing.

    Findings revealed  that the Council is discussing with export inspection agents and the NSC to ensure that export trade is done seamlessly.

    He said: “The Nigerian Shippers Council will continue to support project and programmes that will improve port efficiency and reduce cost and simplified procedures and processes for the clearing of goods at the Nigerian ports.

    “We have been advocating for the automation of the port operational processes and procedures in line with best practices.

    “We remain neutral, unbiased, providing a level playing field for all. We are indeed a referee and umpire and will ensure that decision of vital issues in this port sector is arrived at through consensus, opinions of stakeholders.

    “We are talking about reduction of cargo dwell time at Nigerian Ports, Nigerian Shippers Council is also a member of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Committee on Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme, CISS, and our pre-occupation is the procurement of scanners at various Customs formations across fozr quick examination of cargoes.

    “Shippers’ Council has keyed in this project to ensure that export trade documentations are streamlined and reduced to the barest minimum.’’

    Shippers Council, stakeholders said, has put measures in place to reduce the cost of transportation.

    Steps taken by the NSC last year, importers, clearing agents and terminal operators said, were in tandem with international best practices.

    Stakeholders urged the NSC to resolve the legal issue between it, and the terminal operators to boost government revenue and make the port attractive for business in the new year.

     

    NIWA

    The appointment of Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora as NIWA  Managing Director was seen as a good step by the government.

    Stakeholders urged the Senator to live up to their expectations by repositioning the agency and ending the rift between NIWA and the Lagos State Government.

     

     

     

     

  • ‘Police, FRSC, others abet rice smuggling’

    The Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), has been urged to lead senior members of the Service, a detachment of senior police officers and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from Abuja to visit Seme and Idi-Iroko borders. Such a visit, it is believed, will enable him see how security officials aid and abet smuggling.

    The unpatriotic officers, it was gathered, are assisting smugglers in frustrating and killing the Federal Government’s policy on local rice production by allowing purposely built vehicles to ply the roads unchallenged.

    When The Nation visited  Seme and Idi-Iroko borders between Thursday and Saturday, last week, there were over 20 checkpoints between Agbara and Seme border and 16 checkpoints between the old Toll Gate at Sango and Idi-Iroko border.

    In spite of the checkpoints, it was gathered that the rate at which rice   and other prohibited items, such as frozen poultry products, used tyres, textile materials, used clothings, vegetables oil and others are being smuggled, is alarming.

    It was also gathered that the illegal activity keep flourishing with the connivance of some unscrupulous officers in Customs, Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other security agents who work at the border areas.

    The smugglers use specilised and purpose-built vehicles to carry out their nefarious activities in the wee hours of the morning, in the evening and sometimes in broad daylight ferrying rice, vegetable oil and frozen poultry products into the country.

    Over 300 of such vehicles used by smugglers were seen at various spots at Mile 2, Alaba-Rago Market, Okokomaiko, Ijanikin, Agbara, Oko-Afo, Araromi Ale, Mowo, Aradagun, Ibereko, Ajara, Badagry and Seme border, when The Nation visited the area at the weekend.

    The story of the converted vehicles was the same at Alakuko, old Toll Gate, Joke-Ayo, Ojoore, Iju, Atan, Lusada, Ketu, Adie-Owe, Apena, Alapoti, Ado and up to Idi-Iroko border when The Nation visited the area last Friday.

    The specially-built vehicles also littered mechanic workshops and other areas on major roads within the border towns.  Their drivers operate with impunity even with the presence of security men, who mounted illegal chek points along the areas.

    Some motorists and residents of the border areas, stakeholders in the maritime industry and rice farmers in Badagry area of Lagos said Col. Ali needed to visit the areas to end the criminalities going on there.

    The visit, a rice farmer, Mr Sunday Gabriel, said would enable the government to assess the poor and questionable attitude of most security agents posted to man border communities and to assist the Customs in checkmating illegal entry of such goods.

    Motorists, specifically accused the Police and the FRSC officials of not doing their job diligently, despite their heavy presence on the two major roads leading to the borders.

    The high cost of rice in the country, a resident of Ajara, Mr Gboyega Emmanuel, said may have added more impetus to the smuggling of the staple food as most of the vehicles used neither have number plates, particulars nor head lamps.

    More than 25 of such vehicles, loaded with smuggled bags of rice, frozen poultry products and vegetable oil were seen discharging their goods at Lusada Market in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State last Friday.

    Traders, motorists, community leaders and other Nigerians, who spoke with The Nation, expressed worries over the trend and the sophistication of the smugglers, adding that smuggling has assumed a frightening dimension as the Yuletide approaches. They urged Col Ali to visit the areas because most of the security agents look the other way while smugglers have a field day.

    It was gathered that in Benin Republic, a bag of rice sells for less than N8,000,  but sells for between N15,500 and N16,500, depending on the quality and size of the the grain, when it gets to the country.

    “There is an urgent need for the Comptroller-General of Customs to visit the border towns of Seme and Idi-Iroko and see the high rate at which smuggled rice and other contrabands are entering the country with the connivance of some police officers, customs and FRSC officials.

    “One wonders what the police and the FRSC officials are doing on the roads if purposely built vehicles that have no number plates, no particulars, no windscreens and no head lamps are plying our roads unchallenged.

    “But the same unpatriotic police officers and FRSC officials that are aiding  and abetting smuggling have the effrontery to stop and delay other commuters and motorists going for their legitimate businesses on the road.

    “The attitude of most our security operatives along the roads leading to the land borders poses danger to lives and has negative effects on international trade and commerce,” Emmanuel said.

    Other stakeholders and motorists spoke  in similar vein,  complaining about the police and FRSC officials’attitude on the roads.

    A clearing agent operating at  Seme border, Festus Solomon, and other operators, wondered why it was difficult for security agents, mostly the police and the FRSC officials to impound all the purposely built vehicles the smugglers are using to sabotage the country’s economy.

  • Maritime workers seek rail transport removal from Exclusive List

    The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has urged the Federal Government to remove rail transportation from the Exclusive Legislative List and add to the Concurrent List to attract private investments to the sector. This, they said, will enhance efficiency at the seaports.

    Speaking with The Nation, the union’s Assistant Secretary-General, Comrade Abudu Eroje, said the country was facing gridlock in Apapa because the ports were not connected to functional rail lines.

    According to him, aside the Lagos Ports Complex, Apapa, which has a rail system that is not working, none of the seaports in the country are connected to a rail system. This, he lamented, has made movement of cargoes in and out of the seaports a Herculean task, since it must be by road, with the attendant gridlock and additional cost.

    He said the gridlock being experienced in Apapa and environs will be a child’s play compared to what would be experienced in Badagry and Lekki when the two mega deep seaports become operational if they are not connected by rail

    “Nobody can talk of an efficient seaport operation without an efficient rail system to move goods in and out of the ports. Even if you repair all the roads in Apapa, there will still be gridlock because it will keep increasing until you connect the seaports to the rail systems so that cargoes will go out and come in any time of the day because the seaports operate 24 hours.

    “The best the Federal Government can do now is to remove the rail system from the exclusive legislative list and place same on the concurrent list so that state governments, even private investors, some of who are developing mega deep seaports, can invest in the rail sector, without which the nation’s seaports may never be efficient,” he said.

    On problems associated with the management of empty containers, he urged the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to convert the Lily Pond Container Terminal, Ijora, which he said, has the capacity to take over 12,000 containers to empty container depot to avoid containers littering everywhere on Lagos roads and streets.

    He argued that the transfer of some consignments to eastern ports, especially the Port Harcourt Port, as being canvassed by some people, might not address the challenge, saying that it will cost the importer over N2million to return one empty container to Lagos.

  • NPA gets new PRO

    Mr Adams Jatto is the new General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communication of the Nigerian Ports Authority.

    The new spokesman holds a Master of Project Management (MPM) degree, PostGraduate Diploma in Shipping Management and Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) certificates.

    Jatto belongs to many professional bodies, among them are the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE); the Institute of Shipping Technology (FIST) and the Institute of Credit Administration (FICA). He is also a Certified Public-Private Partnership specialist.

    The new image maker before his redeployment had served as the General Manager with the Land & Asset Administration as well as the Engineering Maintenance Department.

    He attended International and local training programmes. Some of them include project management course, (Dubai); Port Master Plan (Belgium); capacity building in leadership for development and public good (Kansas State University, United States (US); IP3 Washington DC Labour Relations and Collective Bargaining, Lagos; Corporate Image and Personality Development, Lagos and Managing and Leading Strategic Change, among several others.

    At a time, Jatto was Assistant General Manager, Procurement and Managing Director, Seaview Properties Limited, a subsidiary of NPA.

    The new image-maker has urged members of staff to support him in his quest to boost the image of the authority and its personnel.

    “Collaboration must be the watchword as we navigate the very challenging task of ensuring that NPA takes its place of pride among notable institutions across the world,” he said.

    Jatto also urged officers of the unit to continue to promote the image of the authority and brace to the new vista in line with the change mantra of the Federal Government, urging them to key into the agency’s vision.

  • Apapa gridlock worries Senate, stakeholders

    Senators have joined the growing complaint over the Apapa, Lagos gridlock.

    The Senate Committee on Marine Transport, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping and others are worried  over the Apapa gridlock, which has cost huge losses to businesses and brought pains to motorists.

    At a meeting in Lagos, they said bad roads were killing trade. They frowned at the decision of Julius Berger Plc, which is handling the rehabilitation of Apapa roads, to close the Ijora Bridge, a major artery to Apapa Port and Tin Can Island Port, for four months.

    The committee plans to summon the company’s officials to justify the closure, which will worsen the gridlock.

    A member of the committee, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, responding to some complaints,  said it was in contact with the construction giant and monitoring the road rehabilitation contracts in Apapa.

    According to him, the committee will hold a meeting with top management of the company. But with the level of the people’s suffering, the committee is left with no option than to summon the company to explain why the bridge should be shut for such a long time.

    “We are taking so many things away from this engagement today; one of them is the closure of the Ijora Bridge. We are scheduled to meet with the management of Julius Berger sometime in January, but as things stand, we will invite them next week to explain to us the reason for the closure of such an important artery to the seaports. We did not know about it before now”, Ohuabunwa said.

    Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President and pioneer President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping Dr. Olisa Agbakoba decried the situation in Apapa.

    He said it took about five hours to access their offices in Apapa because of the closure of the bridge, despite that the Wharf Road has been completed.

    “We are dying gradually in Apapa and I am telling you the truth. People stay on the gridlock for hours and when you get to your office after several hours, one becomes useless, having spent the better part of the day in the traffic”, he had said.

    Chairman of the committee Senator Ahmed Sani said the gathering was to bring the parliament to the stakeholders, brief them on what had been done and take their input to lay a foundation for maritime development.

    He told the stakeholders that several maritime legislations had been passed with some at various stages of passage. They include the Anti-Terrorism Bill, National Inland Authority Amendment Bill, National Transport Commission NTC Bill, the Nigerian Ports Authority Amendment Bill, he said, adding that law making is a long and painstaking process.

    NIMASA Director-General Dr. Dakuku Peterside said the committee members displayed a high level of patriotism, placing national interest over personal or any other interest.

    Speaking with The Nation on the sideline of the event, Peterside said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was determined to fix ports’ infrastructure to revamp the economy.

    Read also: Post-primaries disaffection in APC not intractable, says Ajimobi

    NIMASA, according to him, is not happy that some measures adopted so far have not yielded the expected result. He promised what he called positive action soon.

    Peterside said the quick rehabilitation of the road from Tin-Can Island Port to Oworonsoki area of Lagos was to salvage the economy.

    He applauded  Dangote Construction Nigeria Limited and Flour Mills Nigeria Limited for reconstructing Wharf Road.

    Peterside appealed to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, to ensure that the Tin Can Island Port Road was completed on time and to hasten the usage of the trailer park opposite the port.

    He urged truck drivers and port users to submit to security checks at the gates into the ports, warning unauthorised truck drivers to stay off the ports and Apapa or face sanctions.

     

  • ‘Maritime can generate N3tr yearly’

    The Federal Government can make over N3trillion yearly from the maritime sector, if it is well structured, a top Federal Ministry of Finance official has said.

    The official, who asked not to be named, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to invest part of the money generated from the  sector because of  dwindling oil revenue. He said 30 per cent of the revenue generated from the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) and the Tin Can Island ports should be ploughed back into developing the seaports to international  standards.

    Speaking with The Nation after the visit of the Senate Committee to the Lagos ports last week, the official said there has been a reduction in the number of vessels calling at Lagos ports, saying the problem has to do with some policies on importation.

    “It would be recalled that in 2006, $1 exchanged for about N130, but today it is about N360 to a dollar, which implies a significant decline of about 70 per cent in the value of the national currency since port concession, and that is why the Minister of Transport needs to reposition the maritime sector,” he said.

    Customs alone, the official said, could generate about half of the money, if loopholes were blocked and if the government stops the abuse of the waiver clause.

    According to the official, the President should review import policies, especially the foreign exchange (forex) restriction on 41 items.

    Investigation by The Nation revealed that activities at the ports were still very low because of the exchange rate policy.

    For instance, findings revealed that activities at the RoRo Terminal at the Tin Can Island port in Lagos were still at their lowest ebb.

    The exchange rate and the auto policy have impacted negatively on importers, freight forwarders and revenue from government agencies.

    The official said in 2012, 11,380 vehicles were imported through the Lagos port, while 251, 375 came in through the Tin Can Island port in the same year.

    “The figure increased to 14, 422 and 280,057 at the Lagos Port Complex and Tin-Can Island ports respectively, in 2013,” he said.

    The figure dropped below 881 and 124,250 at each of the ports last year.

    The official attributed the low vehicles import to the exchange rate and the auto policy.

    “The Federal Government needs to diversify the economy by using the money generated from the ports to develop agriculture and other solid minerals to encourage exports so that the economy does not rely on oil export but diversified into other areas,” he said.

    The government, the official said, should also encourage Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) for new port projects to come up.

    He suggested that the auto policy should be simplified to improve port activities.

    “Otherwise, activities at the Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) renowned for vehicle imports would continue to drop. If this happens, Nigeria will conyinue to be losing about N800 million yearly from this source,” the shipper warned.

     

  • Govt, shipowners to collaborate

    The Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) has pledged to collaborate with the Federal Government to meet the expectations of  stakeholders.

    SOAN Vice President and Chairman, Organising Committee,  End of the Year Annual General Meeting (AGM),  Alfred Okoigun, made  this known in Lagos.

    In an interview, ahead of the  AGM, he said: “We are beginning to get the collaboration of the industry players like the Nigerian Local Content Board, the NAPIMS office and NIMASA, with everyone of them, not just listening but even asking us: what are your challenges and where can we help? This was not a common thing before,” adding that the association,  five years after its founding,was proud of the disposition of certain high-calibre individuals, including the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, the Petroleum Minister of State, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Local Content Board, Simbi Wabote and the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency  (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside.”

    He continued: “This was not how it used to be when we operated as if we were on our own and they were on their own; fighting one another and even as some of the coordinating ministries were also not in harmony.

    “But through the SOAN, we have been able to blend them all of them, because we have emphasised the importance of national interest. Can you imagine that with the quantum of water we are endowed with, we have not harnessed and prospered from it?

    “If you go to Holland, Sweden, Norway or even Dubai without much water, you can see what they are doing with their waters. But here, we are just scratching the surface.

    “So, this year is to really get the government and the key players together, to enable all parties, brainstorm and explore how we need to continue to collaborate and improve together in the overall interest of both the maritime industry and the citizens.

    “We have some relevant stakeholders who should join us; but are still outside. But I am happy that some of them are already appreciative of what SOAN is able to do. We are using the tools of personal engagement, as well as the media to let them know they should no longer stay out.

    Speaking on what to expect at the  AGM at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos,  Okoigun confirmed the attendance of Amaechi; and  Kachukwu as special guests of honours, and some dignitaries, adding that the doyen of the Nigerian maritime industry, High Chief Adebayo Babatunde Sarumi would chair the event.

  • Shippers to Fed Govt: pay attention to port infrastructure

    The Shippers’ Association of Lagos State (SALS) has urged the Federal Government to pay more attention to port infrastructure.

    The government, the group said, should position the ports to meet international best practices.

    Its President, Mr Jonathan Nicol,  gave the charge in a chat with The Nation.

    He called for the resuscitation of the informal sector of cargo management.

    According to him, the informal sector will contribute about 45 per cent of the total cargo throughput (imports and exports).

    He said  there was need to rebuild dead infrastructure at the ports to enable individuals in the sector to assist in nation-building.

    The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Hassan Bello, advised members of the group to export, especially non-oil items.

    Bello said so far, 27 shippers associations have been established across the country. He said these associations are formidable bodies for cargo protection.

    “Shippers should endeavour to channel efforts into export-ation of value-adding non-oil exports to generate revenue.

    “The Council is committed to protecting the cargo interest of Nigeria and also enjoins you to remain compliant with both national and international rules guiding global trade practices.

    “The SALS have been very active. I must commend them for their doggedness and laudable ideas and I hope they continue,” Bello said.

    Also, a maritime lawyer, Mr Doipo Alaka, said there was the need for operators to embrace maritime arbitration to resolve issues which emanated from their business.

    He said arbitrators had been in existence for more than 10 years, adding that the arbitrators had assisted several port operators to solve maritime disputes.

  • Reduce high interest rate, CBN urged

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has been asked to reduce interest rates to enable ship owners upgrade their facilities and compete with foreigners.

    In an interview with The Nation in Lagos, stakeholders urged the government to build a vibrant investment climate for the maritime sector.

    Former Chairman, House Commit-tee on Legislative Compliance, Mr. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, said there should be policies to create linkages between the maritime industry and other sectors, such as banking and manufacturing.

    He suggested measures like dedicated institutional financing mechanism for the shipping and maritime sector, a comprehensive maritime regulatory policy, to clearly delineate the role and responsibilities of the government and private sector in the development of the maritime sector.

    The purchase of modern vessels, Akinderu-Fatai, a shipper,  said, would also provide jobs for millions of Nigerians and the restive youths across the country.

    He said there was need for a sustained partnership between the private and public sectors for effective funding.

    The country, acccording to him, has not enjoyed the commercial benefits of transporting large quantities of cargoes because local ship owners lack the necessary capital.

    He suggested that the Federal Government should integrate maritime education and training into the national university system so that Nigerians who are interested in seafarers’training can get the  education needed to promote the sector.

    While lamenting the lack of foreign exposure for better performance, he said many operators were bugged down with only practical experience, with little or no academic performance.

    “There is need for more government intervention aside from CVFF to actively encourage the banking sector to support local ship owners to acquire modern fleet, which can sail anywhere in the world,” he said.

    Also, the former President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said 60 per cent of the inward and outward bound seaborne trade in the West and Central Africa sub-region passes through the nation’s waterways and called on the CBN Governor and the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, to assist in developing the maritime industry.

    He said the country needs to expand its merchant fleet based on the high volume of bulk liquid, gas and dry cargoes that pass through its waterways.

    “The fleet to carry the enormous quantity of cargo is estimated at 200 size tankers including combo general cargo vessels and liquefied natural gas vessels,” he said.