The Nation Newspaper

Category: Maritime

  • Stop abusing ECOWAS protocol, agents told

    Importers and clearing agents at the land borders have been urged to stop abusing the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) to boost revenue and facilitate trade.

    Speaking with The Nation at Seme border, World Cargo Investment, Managing Director,Adesope Aderoju said ETLS was introduced by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to facilitate the integration of trade and commerce among member- states.

    Aderoju said the scheme was set up to eliminate barriers and promote free trade.

    ETLS, he said, allowed goods manufactured in member-states to move freely without payment of import/export duties within the region.

    “The scheme has been subjected to unbridled abuse, especially by some unscrupulous importers and Asian businessmen. These unscrupulous people bring in goods from China and other Asian countries, ship them into the sub-region and land such goods in ports of neighbouring countries such as Benin Republic, Ivory Coast, Ghana and even lately Liberia. They subsequently change the labels on these goods and smuggle them through the land borders into the country.”

    A source said the implications of this act are grave.Apart from the loss of huge government revenue, goods that find their way into the market in this manner gain unfair competitive price advantage over locally made products.

    Apart from the abuse of the ETLS, which is mostly perpetrated through the land borders, many importers also disregard the country’s import policy. They bring in various goods, including those banned by the government through seaports.

  • 95 held as Customs makes N2.5b

    The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos has made N2.5 billion from its anti-smuggling activities and arrested 95 suspected smugglers.

    The amount was generated between January and last month.

    The command, findings revealed, intercepted contraband with a duty paid value (DPV) of N1,295,600,724.95.

    The unit also recovered  N1,286,730,671.90 from duty payments and demand notices on general goods from importers.

    The 95 suspects were arrested over the importation of foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, smuggled vehicles, Indian hemp, arms, fake pharmaceutical/medicaments and general merchandise.

    The Area Controller, Mr  Mohammed Uba Garba said the fear was achieved with the support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd).

    He praised the commitment and diligence of his officers and men because of their professionalism and advised them to be diligent in performing their statutory responsibilities; most especially in anti-smuggling operations by making sure all revenue linkages are blocked.

    “Smuggling is a global phenomenon,which cannot be curbed entirely but can be brought to its barest minimum. This feat was not unconnected with the courtesy calls I paid to some key stakeholders most especially sister security agencies within our areas of jurisdiction comprising the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Lagos; Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Cantonment Ikeja; Commander, 35 Artillery, Nigerian Army, Alamala Baracks Abeokuta, Ogun State; Commissioners of Police in Ogun and Lagos states where I sought for their continuous support and cooperation towards winning the war against smuggling, ” he said.

    Comptroller Uba called on all the media and the general public to continue to support the service in the advocacy campaign against the evil of smuggling to the nation’s economy and provide necessary intelligence that could assist the NCS in its operations.

  • Agents kick as council gets fee collection right

    Agents kick as council gets fee collection right

    The Federal Government has resolved the dispute over the collection of Practitioners Operating Fees (POF) in favour of the Council for the Registration of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

    It has directed the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) to pay the fees to CRFFN.

    But ANLCA has vowed not to comply with the directive, claiming that payment of the fees to CRFFN would amount to additional cost with negative multiplier effect on the economy.

    In a July 5 letter signed by S.U Galandachi, Director of Maritime Services at the Ministryof Transport, the government fixed August 1 for the take-off of the new payment regime.

    The fees will be paid at seaports, airports and land border.

    The letter directed that “election into the governing board of CRFFN be conducted in September 2017, with the financial cost of conducting the election to be defrayed from the collection POF by CRFFN.”

    A copy of the time-table for the election was also attached by the ministry.

    Kicking against the directive, ANLCA President Prince Olayiwola Shittu said licensed customs agents pay the following fees:

    • Annual Licence Renewal N215,000;
    • Annual Nigeria Ports Authority Licence Renewal – N6,000;
    • Annual Customs Command Operating Fees – N15,000/Customs Command;
    • Bank charges for Customs Bond – N52,500; and
    • CRFFN Annual Payment – N70,000/Staff Member.

    According to Shittu, daily payment of POF would be burdensome on a Customs agency/company which, when transferred to importers/exporters, would affect the economy.

    “We want to state categorically that nowhere is such payment as Practitioner’s Operating Fees being collected from a Customs Agency/Broker. We stand to be corrected. Nigeria being a growing economy should not be saddled with the practitioner’s operating Fee, which is the design of some few individuals to distort the national economy for their selfish interests,” Shittu said.

    He called for election into CRFFN as governing board to enable at determine the fate of the fees and resolve other issues.

    He said despite the absence of a governing board, CRFFN has been receiving allocations, through the ministry.

    Shittu appealed to the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi to, suspend the fee collection to avoid problem.

    Beside, the matter ANLCA’s National Publicity Secretary Dr. Kayode Farinto, said was before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    ANCLA, he said, was challenging the Ministry’s initial directive on the payment of the fee, urging Amaechi to wait for the judgement before introducing a new fee.

    Joined in the suit are the CRFFN and Inspector-General of Police (IGP). Under the new fee regime, importers will pay N1.50 per kilo of every air cargo, N1,000 per 20-foot container, N2,000 per each 40-foot container, N500 per car or Jeep imported into the country and N1,000 per every truck or 20-foot equivalent.

    Others include N2,000 per truck or 40-foot equivalent, N3.50 per every ton of cargo imported into the country and N1 per ton of every dry bulk cargo handled in any of the seaports.

    The approved registration fees for freight forwarders, including Nigerians and non-Nigerians, range from N7,500 to N50,000 yearly depending on the category of membership; and yearly subscription fees ranging from N10,000 to N60,000 for the various levels of the membership of the council.

  • ENL promotes Onagoruwa, Oyewusi

    To enhance its operation, ENL Consortium Ltd, which runs Terminals C and D of the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) in Apapa, has named two women to top positions.

    Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa becomes the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Infrastructure and Business Development, and Dr Kemi Jorge-Oyewusi, Administrative Coordinator, Oyo State/South West States Projects.

    Their appointments took effect from July 4.

    The Chairman, Prince Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, the Executive Vice Chairman & CEO Ports of  the Consortium, Princess Vicky Haastrup and the board expressed confidence in the women, saying they would   propel the company  into its next phase of strategic growth.

    The appointments, the board said, were in line with the firm’s determination to make a difference in the corporate world.

    The determination, they said,  won ENL recognition locally and internationally.

    ENL Port & Terminal was declared winner in the Category of Port & Container Development – Africa at the 2015 edition of the Seatrade Maritime Awards held in Madinat, Dubai.

    ENL Consortium is in a Public-Private-Partnership of Build-Operate and Transfer with Oyo State Government on the N70 billion Ibadan Circular Road project.

    It was founded in Nigeria in 2002 primarily to bring together expertise in utility management.

    ENL Consortium is an indigenous company and specialist in infrastructural development, covering housing, road/bridge construction, power projects, port operations, solid minerals and hospitality.

    It operates the biggest single sea port in West Africa. It is also the developer of the Paradise Hills Estate in Apo, Abuja, in partnership with the Federal Housing Authority.

    The company is partnering the Oyo State Government under a Public -Private-Build-Operate and Transfer arrangement to construct and operate the  East-End Wing of the Ibadan Circular Road project.

  • NSC demands truck transit parks

    Nigerian Shippers’Council (NSC) Executive Secretary Mr. Hassan Bello has called for the establishment of truck transit parks (TTPs) nationwide to boost cargo delivery from ports to their destinations.

    This, he said, would lead to job creation and development of the economy.

    Bello described road haulage as an important aspect of cargo delivery system, arguing that without it, the economy will suffer.

    Speaking with The Nation shortly after the National Summit on TTPs in Abuja, Bello hailed some governors and other stakeholders for their support to the sector. He said the ongoing TTP projects  would boost development, create employment and boost revenue.

    He  said he was happy with the  governors’ or their representatives’ participation at the event.“It showed that they have strong support for the projects,” he said.

    Bello, a lawyer, explained that the NSC was involved in TTPs  promotion because of the importance it attached to the development of the economy.

    He called for standardisation in the TTPs’operation, adding that there must be strong coordination of the movement of trucks from the port of departure to destinations.

    He also said there had to be tracking of the movement of trucks from the seaport to final location.

    He explained that what the council needed was a seamless transport system that would boost the economy.

    Bello said there should be a platform to know where a truck is at a particular time.

    The NSC chief said this should be taken into consideration in the construction of TTPs, so that trucks do not go far before parking.

    He however said a policy must be put in place to check proliferation of TTPs, adding that this would address poor standards.

    He said a strong enforcement  was needed to avoid trucks being  parked outside approved TTPs.

    Bello called on the private sector to provide an instrument for the enforcement of the TTP’s objectives, adding that towing vans to remove broken down trucks from the highways.

    He praised financial institutions and the Federal Road Safety Service (FRSC), for strong participation in the summit, noting that the road safety agency has played a big role in providing sanity on the roads.

  • Towards better funding for seafarers

    Towards better funding for seafarers

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, told stakeholders in Onne, Rivers State, the importance of services rendered by seafarers to the international seaborne trade, the world market and the economy. He also assured them of decent wages. Maritime Correspondent OLUWAKEMI DAUDA was there.

    Seafaring is the development of proficiency in various areas of shipboard operation which include diverse aspects of watch-keeping, navigation, marine engineering, meteorology, maritime law, report writing, ship-handling, rope/cable handling, and cargo management among others.

    This underscores seafarers’ importance in an effective maritime sector and the nation’s economy.

    As the country is in dire need of these professionals to grow her maritime sector, the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)  Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has promised that the government would provide the enabling environment  for Nigerian seafarers to operate like their counterparts in other parts of the world.

    Addressing over 1,000 stakeholders at the annual Seafarers’ Day celebration, organised by NIMASA at the  conference hall of INTELS, Onne Port Complex in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Peterside emphasised  seafarers’ importance to the economy and promised to address the challenges confronting them to attract young school leavers to embrace the career.

     

    Decent wage, improved working and living conditions

    Peterside said the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC), which comprises tripartite stakeholders, has reconvened to fashion out a decent wage regime and improved working and living condition for seafarers in line with what is obtainable internationally.

    “It is, therefore, expected that once the collective bargaining agreement is signed, ship-owners will commence its full implemen-tation,” he stated.

    He assured them that their welfare was critical to the growth of the sector, and that NIMASA would do all within its powers to implement International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Labour Organisation conventions on the welfare of seafarers.

    Peterside also urged shipowners to give preference to Nigerian seafarers, especially in the Cabotage trade as against the practice of engaging foreigners.

    “As Nigerians and maritime operators, we should be proud of our seafarers and also encourage them to develop their careers/compe-tences like their foreign counterparts”, he said.

     

    Human capacity development

    Peterside, who was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State in 2015, noted that if the country is to benefit from opportunities presented by the worldwide shortage of seafarers, then the first thing is to develop and build capacities of its maritime training institutions in line with global standards.

    The Federal Government, he said, had approved that academic activities should begin at the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, in Delta State, this October.

    He also noted that the establishment of the varsity by the Federal Government and other institutes for maritime studies in six universities across Nigeria were efforts by his agency towards building the requisite capacity for the industry.

    “Cabotage Act is undergoing review and it is the Agency’s position that the review will take care of all the grey areas in the application, processing and granting of waiver to the extent that  it should be seen to give some level of advantage to Nigerian seafarers, especially in the areas of employment and specialised training.”

    He said that NIMASA will continue to give priority to capacity building initiatives in order to actualise  its vision of making the agency a world class organisation in line with global best practices. This, according to him, has also led the agency to develop a multi-strategy approach to encouraging young school leavers to take a career in seafaring through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP).

     

    What NIMASA has done so far?

    Under the NSDP programme, NIMASA has trained 2,259 young Nigerians in various fields of maritime studies in reputable Maritime institutions in the United Kingdom, Egypt, Romania, India and the Philippines.

    Also, 943 cadets of the NSDP will soon be placed onboard ocean going vessels for their mandatory sea time, as facilitated by NIMASA with foreign institutions.

    In March this year, the agency also facilitated the training of 428 Seafarers on mandatory courses and other specific areas of specialisation for career progression. These include STCW, Oil Tanker familiarisation (OTF), Efficient Deck Hand (EDH), ISPS awareness training and specialised training on Dynamic Positioning (DP).

     

    Training of Cadets

    For Nigeria to bridge the long manpower gap occasioned by dearth of manpower to man Nigerian owned vessels including foreign oceangoing vessels, shipping companies operating in the country need to invest in the training of cadets.

    Stakeholders say the best seafarers in the world are those who go through a cadetship scheme. This is owing to the fact that the familiarity that comes with such training enables them to perform well in their responsibilities.

    Alarmingly, the percentage of employable seafarers in Nigeria is very low basically because cadets have difficulties getting sea time opportunities, which denies them from sitting for the Certificate of Competency (CoC) that will make them internationally acceptable.

    The deteriorating conditions of seafarers, indigenous ship owners say, is due to lack of adequate training, which could only be addressed by encouraging Nigerian ship owners to grow their fleet.

    Confirming this, the President of Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Greg Ogbeifun, said this can be achieved if government helps in harnessing the existing fleet of all shipping firms, and  create a data base of vessels.

    Ogbeifun, who noted that government needs to establish a national fleet and provide support funds for the indigenous players to acquire more vessels, also said that the private sector should be encouraged to develop marine training facilities like those prevalent in the Philippines and India,  the leading providers of marine officers in the world.

    The challenges facing seafarers were brought to the front burner by the Guest Speaker, Capt Fola Ojutalayo and other stakeholders at the forum. Some of them said the Federal Government,  through relevant agencies, needed to address the challanges

     

    Immigration Services

    The Nigerian Immigration Services, Ojutalayo said, has extended an exercise of stamping Nigerian seafarers in and out of Nigerian vessels operating within the Nigerian territorial waters and failure to do this has regularly resulted into the seizure of the crew’s Seaman Book, contract papers and international passports.

    Large amount of money, he alleged, are usually involved in getting these documents released at all times. “Now, the question is, do they usually stamp the international passports of Nigerian pilots/co-pilots or crew working onboard Nigerian registered Aircraft plying our domestic airspace,” he asked.

     

    Customs Service

    Nigerian seafarers are constantly taxed when buying common food items from the Nigerian market for their various vessels flying Nigerian flag within the nation’s territorial waters. Customs permit is usually demanded from the Nigerian crew. Failure to meet the demand or settle each Customs patrol on the water usually leads to outright seizure of the food.

     

    Marine Police

    They also demand settlement from the Nigerian seafarers on food items and provisions bought for the ships’ domestic consumption. Anytime they refuse to settle the police lead to traumatic delay and harassment.

     

    Nigerian Navy

    There is need for the Chief of Naval Staff to stop recurrent harassment of genuine Nigerian seafarers in uniform because the uniform looks alike with that of the Navy.

     

    Port Health

    The Nigerian Port Health Service officials also demand for free pratique and vaccination cards from the Nigerian seafarers working in the country. It was alleged that they collect ‘presents’ from their fellow countrymen.

     

    NIMASA/NPA

    There is overlapping functions on MARPOL. NIMASA, it was learnt, issues garbage record, while the pollution controls inspectors that come onboard is from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). The seafarers always settle themselves out of the quagmire. This is a poor garbage collection/reception from the Nigerian ships with long stay at anchorage.

     

    NDLEA

    The seafarers alleged that some officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency always set booby traps for them to enhance “the parting of heavy settlement.”

     

    Work against the pirates

    Piracy off the coast of Nigeria portends grave danger to the economic, security, and sociopolitical development of the country. It also threatens both international and regional trade as well as the stability of the West African sub-region. Despite federal govern-ment’s attempts to curb piracy caused by poverty, unemploy-ment, including corrupt and weak maritime regulatory and security institutions, attacks by pirates has continued to occur off the country’s coast.

    Consequent upon the adverse effects of attacks by pirates on their day to day activities, seafarers can facilitate the suppression of piracy off the Nigerian coast. Seafarers are necessary partners to curb piracy off the coast of Nigeria through enforcing maritime security conventions and other related instruments as well as testifying against pirates during trials. There is no doubt that acts  of piracy adversely affect crew members’ life, health, family, job, and finance thereby providing an overwhelming motivation for seafarers to play a role in suppressing piracy off the Nigerian coast.

  • Towards better funding for seafarers

    Towards better funding for seafarers

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA),  Dr. Dakuku Peterside, last week, told stakeholders  in Onne, Rivers State, the importance of services rendered by seafarers to the international seaborne trade, the world market and the economy. He also assured them of decent wages. Maritime Correspondent OLUWAKEMI DAUDA was there.

    Seafaring is the development of proficiency in various areas of shipboard operation which include diverse aspects of watch-keeping, navigation, marine engineering, meteorology, maritime law, report writing, ship-handling, rope/cable handling, and cargo management among others.

    This underscores seafarers’ importance in an effective maritime sector and the nation’s economy.

    As the country is in dire need of these professionals to grow her maritime sector, the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)  Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has promised that the government would provide the enabling environment  for Nigerian seafarers to operate like their counterparts in other parts of the world.

    Addressing over 1,000 stakeholders at the annual Seafarers’ Day celebration, organised by NIMASA at the  conference hall of INTELS, Onne Port Complex in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Peterside emphasised  seafarers’ importance to the economy and promised to address the challenges confronting them to attract young school leavers to embrace the career.

     

    Decent wage, improved working and living conditions

    Peterside said the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC), which comprises tripartite stakeholders, has reconvened to fashion out a decent wage regime and improved working and living condition for seafarers in line with what is obtainable internationally.

    “It is, therefore, expected that once the collective bargaining agreement is signed, ship-owners will commence its full implemen-tation,” he stated.

    He assured them that their welfare was critical to the growth of the sector, and that NIMASA would do all within its powers to implement International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Labour Organisation conventions on the welfare of seafarers.

    Peterside also urged shipowners to give preference to Nigerian seafarers, especially in the Cabotage trade as against the practice of engaging foreigners.

    “As Nigerians and maritime operators, we should be proud of our seafarers and also encourage them to develop their careers/compe-tences like their foreign counterparts”, he said.

     

    Human capacity development

    Peterside, who was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State in 2015, noted that if the country is to benefit from opportunities presented by the worldwide shortage of seafarers, then the first thing is to develop and build capacities of its maritime training institutions in line with global standards.

    The Federal Government, he said, had approved that academic activities should begin at the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, in Delta State, this October.

    He also noted that the establishment of the varsity by the Federal Government and other institutes for maritime studies in six universities across Nigeria were efforts by his agency towards building the requisite capacity for the industry.

    “Cabotage Act is undergoing review and it is the Agency’s position that the review will take care of all the grey areas in the application, processing and granting of waiver to the extent that  it should be seen to give some level of advantage to Nigerian seafarers, especially in the areas of employment and specialised training.”

    He said that NIMASA will continue to give priority to capacity building initiatives in order to actualise  its vision of making the agency a world class organisation in line with global best practices. This, according to him, has also led the agency to develop a multi-strategy approach to encouraging young school leavers to take a career in seafaring through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP).

     

    What NIMASA has done so far?

    Under the NSDP programme, NIMASA has trained 2,259 young Nigerians in various fields of maritime studies in reputable Maritime institutions in the United Kingdom, Egypt, Romania, India and the Philippines.

    Also, 943 cadets of the NSDP will soon be placed onboard ocean going vessels for their mandatory sea time, as facilitated by NIMASA with foreign institutions.

    In March this year, the agency also facilitated the training of 428 Seafarers on mandatory courses and other specific areas of specialisation for career progression. These include STCW, Oil Tanker familiarisation (OTF), Efficient Deck Hand (EDH), ISPS awareness training and specialised training on Dynamic Positioning (DP).

     

    Training of Cadets

    For Nigeria to bridge the long manpower gap occasioned by dearth of manpower to man Nigerian owned vessels including foreign oceangoing vessels, shipping companies operating in the country need to invest in the training of cadets.

    Stakeholders say the best seafarers in the world are those who go through a cadetship scheme. This is owing to the fact that the familiarity that comes with such training enables them to perform well in their responsibilities.

    Alarmingly, the percentage of employable seafarers in Nigeria is very low basically because cadets have difficulties getting sea time opportunities, which denies them from sitting for the Certificate of Competency (CoC) that will make them internationally acceptable.

    The deteriorating conditions of seafarers, indigenous ship owners say, is due to lack of adequate training, which could only be addressed by encouraging Nigerian ship owners to grow their fleet.

    Confirming this, the President of Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Greg Ogbeifun, said this can be achieved if government helps in harnessing the existing fleet of all shipping firms, and  create a data base of vessels.

    Ogbeifun, who noted that government needs to establish a national fleet and provide support funds for the indigenous players to acquire more vessels, also said that the private sector should be encouraged to develop marine training facilities like those prevalent in the Philippines and India,  the leading providers of marine officers in the world.

    The challenges facing seafarers were brought to the front burner by the Guest Speaker, Capt Fola Ojutalayo and other stakeholders at the forum. Some of them said the Federal Government,  through relevant agencies, needed to address the challanges

     

    Immigration Services

    The Nigerian Immigration Services, Ojutalayo said, has extended an exercise of stamping Nigerian seafarers in and out of Nigerian vessels operating within the Nigerian territorial waters and failure to do this has regularly resulted into the seizure of the crew’s Seaman Book, contract papers and international passports.

    Large amount of money, he alleged, are usually involved in getting these documents released at all times. “Now, the question is, do they usually stamp the international passports of Nigerian pilots/co-pilots or crew working onboard Nigerian registered Aircraft plying our domestic airspace,” he asked.

     

    Customs Service

    Nigerian seafarers are constantly taxed when buying common food items from the Nigerian market for their various vessels flying Nigerian flag within the nation’s territorial waters. Customs permit is usually demanded from the Nigerian crew. Failure to meet the demand or settle each Customs patrol on the water usually leads to outright seizure of the food.

     

    Marine Police

    They also demand settlement from the Nigerian seafarers on food items and provisions bought for the ships’ domestic consumption. Anytime they refuse to settle the police lead to traumatic delay and harassment.

     

    Nigerian Navy

    There is need for the Chief of Naval Staff to stop recurrent harassment of genuine Nigerian seafarers in uniform because the uniform looks alike with that of the Navy.

     

    Port Health

    The Nigerian Port Health Service officials also demand for free pratique and vaccination cards from the Nigerian seafarers working in the country. It was alleged that they collect ‘presents’ from their fellow countrymen.

     

    NIMASA/NPA

    There is overlapping functions on MARPOL. NIMASA, it was learnt, issues garbage record, while the pollution controls inspectors that come onboard is from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). The seafarers always settle themselves out of the quagmire. This is a poor garbage collection/reception from the Nigerian ships with long stay at anchorage.

     

    NDLEA

    The seafarers alleged that some officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency always set booby traps for them to enhance “the parting of heavy settlement.”

     

    Work against the pirates

    Piracy off the coast of Nigeria portends grave danger to the economic, security, and sociopolitical development of the country. It also threatens both international and regional trade as well as the stability of the West African sub-region. Despite federal govern-ment’s attempts to curb piracy caused by poverty, unemploy-ment, including corrupt and weak maritime regulatory and security institutions, attacks by pirates has continued to occur off the country’s coast.

    Consequent upon the adverse effects of attacks by pirates on their day to day activities, seafarers can facilitate the suppression of piracy off the Nigerian coast. Seafarers are necessary partners to curb piracy off the coast of Nigeria through enforcing maritime security conventions and other related instruments as well as testifying against pirates during trials. There is no doubt that acts  of piracy adversely affect crew members’ life, health, family, job, and finance thereby providing an overwhelming motivation for seafarers to play a role in suppressing piracy off the Nigerian coast.

  • Customs to auction seized goods July 1

    Customs to auction seized goods July 1

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will sell seized goods from Saturday when its auction online portal is opened.

    Its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Joseph Attah, said the goods would be sold to the highest bidders.

    Attah, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, also said the NCS has  embarked on campaigns on the trade facilitation programme and related issues to key into the Ease of Doing Business.

    NCS’s PR Unit has unveiled posters and flyers, urging importers and agents to make genuine declarations of their goods to boost quick cargo clearance from the seaports, airports and border stations.

    Given the approval by its  Controller-General, Col. Hameed Alli (rtd) for the Customs to start e-auction of seized and prohibited goods, the Service has released a video sensitising the public on the plan.

    Besides pasting posters at strategic points in its commands, the Service urged the business community, particularly importers, to avoid prohibited items’ import. It also urged clearing agents on the need to tell importers to pay appropriate Customs  duty.

    He said the Service was keen on improving transparency with stakeholders.

    Attah added that if there was improved compliance among importers and clearing agents, cargo clearance would be faster.

    ‘’Our campaigns are targeted at a broad audience base because the more we dominate the various conventional and new media outlets with the true information for public consumption, the more difficult it becomes for unsuspecting members of the public to be misled or scammed.

    “We had come out with a video that was shown on major television stations) on our weekly Customs Duty Programme.

    “This is one sure way of fighting ignorance, which we all know is not an excuse for anyone caught on the wrong side of the law.

    “My Controller-General is committed to transparency and lawful ways of transacting government business and utmost integrity in relationship with our fellow government agencies and  private sector stakeholders,” Attah said.

  • NIMASA trains staff to reduce corruption, boost revenue

    NIMASA trains staff to reduce corruption, boost revenue

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Dr Dakuku Peterside, has harped on the importance of corporate governance in public service to boost transparency and generate more revenue for the Federal Government.

    This was highlighted during  a  three-day corporate governance workshop,organised by NIMASA in Lagos.

    About 30 senior top managers of NIMASA, attended the training.

    Most of those who attended were levels 13 and 14 officers.

    The programme was anchored by the EU Consulting Group, a learning & management consultancy.

    One of the NIMASA staff who attended the programme Mr Dio Henry said that the agency’s staff were trained on the following: Importance of corporate governance in public service, Communication strategies for effective collaboration, Managing personalities, Perceptions and interpersonal relations, Corporate governance best practices, Surviving the politics of office and performance, Leadership and corporate governance, Conflict management and negotiation skills, Fundamentals of corporate social responsibility and leadership excellence in managing stress.

    “Our director-general mandated all of us to attend the programme  to reduce waste in the agency. The training is recommended to other organisations because it is beneficial to NIMASA, the stakeholders in the maritime industry as well as the economy as a whole.

    “During the workshop, we also looked at some of the benefits of corporate governance in relation to both the public and the private organisations.

    “If a public or private organisation is practising corporate governance the way we have been taught at the workshop, people not linked to our agency or to the firm will also be able to assess its modes of operations. This is so because the most fundamental principle of corporate governance is transparency and the principles of disclosure. Every step taken by management of NIMASA, having control over the agency, is in the best interests of the stakeholders and the country. This has a positive impact on the economy and reflects upon the stakeholders valuation of the agency.

    “Public or Private organisations that follow a set of best practices tutored us at the workshop will become highly transparent in its operation. The training will surely helps us to attain the trust of those in authority and the stakeholders and eases the task of having their support when needed. As NIMASA becomes easy to assess and evaluate due to its high level of transparency, many investors and financial institutions will like to invest heavily in the nation’s maritime industry as we continue to follow  the core principles of corporate governance received at the programme.

    “Good practices of corporate governance help NIMASA to become more efficient in its operations.  Employees that are trained to follow ethical business practices will avoid excess wastage of our limited resources and utilise all resources optimally.

    “Private or public organisations like NIMASA can reduce the amount of risks in its operation as well as any attempts of corruption and mismanagement by following the practices of good governance. Due to the amount of transparency necessary in firms that follow the principles of good governance, many individuals intending to misuse their position and power will be unable to do so. This will reduce the overall incidences of negative acts in our agency  and help us achieve success and a positive image in the  sector and the country as a whole,” Henry said.

    Chief Executive Officer of the Consulting Group, Mr Olayinka Aluko, said corporate governance is being practised by public/private organisations across the globe due to its benefits to the society.

    “The practice of good corporate governance will allow NIMASA to gain the trust of the investors, the customers and other maritime administrations across the globe. This will have a positive impact on the agency’s reputation and it will be recognised as a fair and transparent government institution. This image will help the agency  prosper in the long run and achieve its goals more quickly.”

    Under corporate governance,  he said, a government institution like NIMASA tends to act in the best interest of the Federal Government and the stakeholders in the maritime industry. This will ensure greater success as the goal of its managers will now be aligned with the set objectives and goals of the  agency. The result of this will be greater revenue generation and faster growth which will benefit the country,  the stakeholders and Nigerians in particular.

    The workshop, Aluko said, was designed to examine current best-practice in all aspects of corporate governance in public service, from the new role of board committees and directors ‘responsibilities and powers, to the  best implementation of governance in their day-to-day activities.

    The participants, it was learnt, were urged to analyse and evaluate key elements of modern governance using interactive techniques, organisation-based assignments and case studies practiced in the world. These geared the participants to creatively generate ideas to stimulate improvement of economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace and examined means of developing staff members of NIMASA into high-performing teams.

  • NPA committed to ports’ efficiency, says MD

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is committed to promoting efficiency to ensure keen competition with neighbouring ports, its Managing Director, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, has said.

    Speaking with The Nation, Ms Usman said automation of the services at the ports was necessary to drive the change needed to reform the sector to attract more cargoes.

    She said automation would enhance efficiency, decrease waste, adding that openness would interrogate the system and process of cargo clearance.

    Ms Usman said people would be attracted to ports with increased volumes of cargo, which would then enhance revenue generation.

    According to her, there will be more employment and the ports will become the preferred destination for importers.

    “Some of the delays affecting our ports have been eliminated by NPA and we are also collaborating with other agencies  like Customs to introduce other electronic system of doing things,” she said.

    The NPA chief urged other government agencies to take a deliberate action to address many challenges confronting the port system through consistent and predictable policies.

    She said investors needed certainty and ease of doing business in Nigeria, which could be brought about by quick  intervention, especially in the gridlock at Apapa.

    According to her, no matter how efficient a terminal is, if you don’t have the road to evacuate cargoes, how can you do it.

    ‘’So, there must be some level of intervention, which the government is doing on Apapa/Ijora Expressway,’’ she said.