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Tag: jetties

  • NIMASA to monitor jetties, river craft operators in Yenagoa

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, said on Wednesday that the agency would apply enforcement and monitor the activities of jetties and river craft operators in Yenagoa.

    Peterside spoke during a facility tour of the Yenagoa office by the management of the agency.

    He commended the staff of Yenagoa for being efficient and articulate in spite of little operational tools available for them to carry out their duties.

    Peterside appreciated the staff for engaging in a lot of monitoring activities that were able to discover almost 28 jetties operating in the waters.

    “In the next few weeks, after meeting with other managements, we are going to come out with the guidelines for registration of small river craft.

    “We have observed that they used these small river craft for criminal activities.

    “Therefore, we want to register them in line with our mandate to monitor what they do and ensure we keep an eye on their activities.

    “All unregulated maritime activities in our various jetties are seriously affecting our environment.

    “The environment is exposed to serious pollution and environmental danger because of unregulated activities of some of the oil jetties, terminals and offshore operational areas, ‘’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Peterside as saying.

    He said both NIMASA and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) were collaborating to find solutions to the persistent water hyacinth on Yenagoa waters.

    The NIMASA boss said the agency was looking at the possibility of recruiting Search and Rescue merchants who would be placed at specific jetties.

    He said that the people would not only engage in Search and Rescue, they would monitor small river craft operators to ensure safety of passengers.

    Peterside said that an enlightenment programme would be a continuous thing to emphasise the importance of lifejackets during operation.

    He said that the management was aware of the state of the staff building in Yenagoa, adding that the management would meet in Lagos and make urgent decision for a better office.

    Peterside said the purpose of the management’s visit to Yenagoa was to examine the activities of the staff, shape their operations and devolve more powers.

    He said that the management had engaged in restructuring and repositioning of the agency in all Zonal areas to become the centre of operations of the agency.

    The Head of NIMASA operations in Yenagoa, Mr Denies Monye, said there was the need for the management to provide light patrol vessels for effective monitoring operations in the waters.

    Monye urged the management to assist the people of Yenagoa in clearing some areas where water hyacinth had taken over to create room for fish farming.

    He said the NIMASA office in Yenagoa was operating with 19 staff, adding that the staff worked very hard in assisting the agency to achieve its mandate.

    Monye requested for more working tools to enable the staff discharge their duties more effectively.

  • Adegboruwa writes Ambode over officials’ ‘invasion’ of jetties

    Adegboruwa writes Ambode over officials’ ‘invasion’ of jetties

    Activist-lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has petitioned Governor Akinwunmi Ambode over an alleged invasion and forceful takeover of Tarzan Jetties by state officials.

    The lawyer said his client, Gani Tarzan Marine Enterprises Nigeria Limited, owned by Ganiyu Shekoni Balogun, has been operating water transport in  Lagos for decades.

    He said the company had negotiated with and secured permits, approvals and licences from both the state and Federal Government to use certain locations in Lekki, Badore, Ikoyi, Ijede, Oworonshoki, Ebute-Iga, Elegbata and Victoria Island as jetties for water transport and boat yard.

    Adegboruwa said his client paid the necessary fees to the Lagos State Ferry Services Corporation as well as N5million for licence as ferry operator, which was issued by the Lagos State Waterways Authority.

    The lawyer said officials of the Lagos State Waterfront Ministry and the Lagos State Waterways Authority, with armed policemen, swooped upon Tarzan’s Ikoyi jetty on June 17 without prior notice.

    “All efforts made by our client to verify the cause of the sudden invasion were rebuffed, as the invaders claimed that they were acting on the orders of His Excellency, the Governor. They took photographs, made video recordings and left.

    “Not long thereafter, they came back to the Ikoyi jetty around 4pm to post a sticker, which demanded that structures and boats on the land be removed within 24 hours!

    “Our client had earlier on June 10, 2016, filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos, against Lagos State to restrain the government and its agencies from forceful eviction.

    “Around 8am on June 18, 2016, Lagos State government officials stormed our client’s jetty at Ikoyi, with armed policemen, with bulldozers, with cranes, low bed carriers, trucks, lifters, etc, and commenced demolition of vital structures in the jetty. They lifted about 15 boats parked within the premises, some of which were wilfully damaged,” Adegboruwa said.

    He said his client has also filed a fresh suit against forceful eviction, adding that the appropriate thing to do is to await the determination of the appeal and fresh suit, and not for state officials to take the laws into their own hands by embarking upon illegal demolition of structures in Tarzan’s jetty.

    “The attempts to arm twist our client into surrendering its jetty to LASG, without following the due process and while a case filed in court is still pending, should not be encouraged by Your Excellency, who has so far been associated with a firm commitment to the rule of law.

    “It was this rule of law that Your Excellency leveraged upon to consolidate the governorship position, when the Supreme Court upheld your election. We urge Your Excellency to resist the temptation to turn against the Courts and give room for lawlessness through self help.”

    Adegboruwa said the issue of control and management of inland waterways should be harmonised between Federal Government and Lagos.

    “It is, thus, unfair for the Lagos State Government to deny our client the use and occupation of his jetties only because he chose to pay the requisite fees to the Federal Government as it had also paid to the Lagos State. Citizens should not be hemmed in between administrative feuds of government agencies.

    “It is not the making of our client that there seem to be some contention between Lagos State and the Federal Government on the management and control of inland waterways. Until that is resolved, our client should be protected and accorded its rights and privileges, based on the existing agreement between the parties,” the lawyer wrote.

     

     

  • Adegboruwa writes Ambode over officials’ ‘invasion’ of jetties

    Adegboruwa writes Ambode over officials’ ‘invasion’ of jetties

    Activist-lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has petitioned Governor Akinwunmi Ambode over an alleged invasion and forceful takeover of Tarzan Jetties by state officials.

    The lawyer said his client, Gani Tarzan Marine Enterprises Nigeria Limited, owned by Ganiyu Shekoni Balogun, has been operating water transport in  Lagos for decades.

    He said the company had negotiated with and secured permits, approvals and licences from both the state and Federal Government to use certain locations in Lekki, Badore, Ikoyi, Ijede, Oworonshoki, Ebute-Iga, Elegbata and Victoria Island as jetties for water transport and boat yard.

    Adegboruwa said his client paid the necessary fees to the Lagos State Ferry Services Corporation as well as N5million for licence as ferry operator, which was issued by the Lagos State Waterways Authority.

    The lawyer said officials of the Lagos State Waterfront Ministry and the Lagos State Waterways Authority, with armed policemen, swooped upon Tarzan’s Ikoyi jetty on June 17 without prior notice.

    “All efforts made by our client to verify the cause of the sudden invasion were rebuffed, as the invaders claimed that they were acting on the orders of His Excellency, the Governor. They took photographs, made video recordings and left.

    “Not long thereafter, they came back to the Ikoyi jetty around 4pm to post a sticker, which demanded that structures and boats on the land be removed within 24 hours!

    “Our client had earlier on June 10, 2016, filed Suit No./FHC/L/CS/788, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, against Lagos State to restrain the government and its agencies from forceful eviction.

    “Around 8am on June 18, 2016, Lagos State government officials stormed our client’s jetty at Ikoyi, with armed policemen, with bulldozers, with cranes, low bed carriers, trucks, lifters, etc, and commenced demolition of vital structures in the jetty. They lifted about 15 boats parked within the premises, some of which were wilfully damaged,” Adegboruwa said.

    He said his client has also filed a fresh suit against forceful eviction, adding that the appropriate thing to do is to await the determination of the appeal and fresh suit, and not for state officials to take the laws into their own hands by embarking upon illegal demolition of structures in Tarzan’s jetty.

    “The attempts to arm twist our client into surrendering its jetty to LASG, without following the due process and while a case filed in court is still pending, should not be encouraged by Your Excellency, who has so far been associated with a firm commitment to the rule of law.

    “It was this rule of law that Your Excellency leveraged upon to consolidate the governorship position, when the Supreme Court upheld your election. We urge Your Excellency to resist the temptation to turn against the Courts and give room for lawlessness through self-help.”

    Adegboruwa said the issue of control and management of inland waterways should be harmonised between Federal Government and Lagos.

    “It is, thus, unfair for the Lagos State Government to deny our client the use and occupation of his jetties only because he chose to pay the requisite fees to the Federal Government as it had also paid to the Lagos State. Citizens should not be hemmed in between administrative feuds of government agencies.

    “It is not the making of our client that there seem to be some contention between Lagos State and the Federal Government on the management and control of inland waterways. Until that is resolved, our client should be protected and accorded its rights and privileges, based on the existing agreement between the parties,” the lawyer wrote.

  • Why jetties got quit order

    Why jetties got quit order

    The row over the relocation of private jetties continued at the weekend, with Federal Government sources saying the decision was taken for security reasons.

    Other reasons are technical and legal matters that may affect the usage of privately-owned jetties in the country, it was learnt.

    The Nation reported exclusively that President Goodluck Jonathan directed that a $500m oil and gas project be relocated from LADOL Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Lagos to Agga in Baylsa State – a decision which a court has reversed – temporarily.

    Sources close to the Ministry of Trade said the directives given to owners of private jetties to relocate the reception of ocean going vessels to properly approved and established ports was not political.

    The sources said prior to the last week order on relocation of private jetties, the Presidency, Ministry of Transport, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Customs Service(NCS) had given similar directives.

    The sources said that the directives were meant to guard against security breach and loss of revenue to the agencies concerned.

    They said 15 publications and letters had been issued since 2012 by the government, in order to ban private jetties operating in the country, adding that none of the affected companies has responded to them.

    They said the allegation,by Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) that the directives would create a monopoly was wrong.

    The sources said that LADOL requested for permission to build Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, stressing that the government later found out that the firm does not have the wherewithal to execute the project.

    “Documents made available to the government showed that the width and draft of the Lagos channel cannot accommodate the facility because of limited room for safe manoeuvring and that the average depth and channels are 9.5 meters and 210 meters, while the turning basin radius is less than 600 meters. Based on global practices, the minimum radius for turning basin for FPSO is 600 meters,” the sources added.

    According to them, the high traffic of vessels could lead to blockade of the channels for weeks or months, there by causing accidents for bigger vessels like FPSO.

    On safety, the government said other users of channel would Bevin jeopardy, if it has not ordered the relocation of private jetties to authorised ports.

    It said LADOL is yet to come out with modus operandi on how to comply with the directives on the relocation of private jetties from unapproved areas to legally certified ports, despite attempts by the Federal Ministry of Transport to make the firm reason with the government on the issue.

    It said the government ordered the relocation of $500milion FPSO project from LADOL Free Trade Zone via two letters communicated to the firm, after involving in several negotiations on the issue with the firm.

    The sources said the claims by LADOL that they were under pressure by the President Goodluck Jonathan to relocate to Bayelsa State was sheer blackmail.

  • ‘Install CCTV in garages, jetties’

    To strengthen security in all motor parks, garages and jetties and prevent attacks on innocent travellers, during and beyond the “Ember” months, stakeholders in the transportation sector have recommended the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) and other security gadgets by all states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for sustained and effective security surveillance.

    They said such devices, strategically installed in all motor parks, garages and jetties, would help stem the activities of terrorists who in recent times have targeted such public places, leaving on their trail wanton destruction of lives and properties.

    It called for the full implementation of the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTES) which was developed by the office of the National Security Adviser to reduce violent attacks, insecurity and unsafe transportation nationwide.

    In a communiqué issued at the end of the week-long 14th edition of the National Council on Transport (NCT), which held at the Nike Lake Resort, in Enugu State, they urged all levels of government to continue to fund and subsidise mass transit operations, and to develop an end- of-life vehicles management policy in their respective states.

    The Council which is the highest advisory body on transportation tasked the federal and state governments to ensure that all vehicles, including fleet vehicles owned by corporate organisations and used for commercial purposes are registered and a regular enumeration of such vehicles are carried out periodically to ensure safety and security of commuters.

    They approved a stakeholders committee headed by the Federal Ministry of Transport, with membership drawn from the states and the FCT, Federal Road Safety Corps and other agencies to standardise among others: the classification of drivers’ licence; regulation of driving school and the structuring of pre-licence theory and practical tests for learner.

    Others are the issuance of permits to driving schools, structuring of drivers’ training and the pre-licence tests of riders of motorcycles and tricycles as it obtains for motor drivers.

    They urged states to equip their Vehicle Inspection Offices (VIO) for effective and efficient performance.

    The council urged the Federal Government to collaborate with the states to ensure the dredging of the inland waterways in all states to accelerate and sustain the development of waterways as an efficient mode of transportation. They urged the states, FCT to provide enabling environment for the rapid and sustained development of inland water transportation in the country.

    This, they said, remained the sure way to integrate water transportation with other modes of transportation in order to enhance seamless movement of persons and goods.

    Financial institutions are encouraged to provide grants and loans to service providers in the water transport sub-sector for the development, modernisation and expansion of their fleet and other facilities in order to promote water transportation and reduce pressure on the nation’s roads.

    It urged all states to strictly enforce all existing laws on pollution to abate pollution of the waterways, even as it called on all relevant authorities to regularly remove ship wrecks and derelicts on the waterways.

    They urged the Federal Ministry of Transport to direct the Nigeria Maritime Administration and safety Agency (NIMASA), which is the authorised receiver of all wrecks on the nation’s waters to establish facilities for the breaking, recycling and processing of wrecks for wealth creation and employment generation.

    The council strongly advised the Federal Government to liaise and collaborate with states for the purpose of developing projects and programmes located in states and aimed at improving mass transportation.

    The council called on the Ondo State Government to collaborate with the Federal Government on the take-off of the Alape River Port in Ilaje Local Government to promote transportation and employment generation in the state.

    The council urged the establishment of a public transport system that underscores safety, security and efficient services.

  • Fed Govt to concession jetties

    To ensure their optimal performance, the Federal Government plans to concession all its jetties to private operators next year.

    The Lagos Area Manager, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr Muhammed Sambo, told reporters that the government took the decision to boost waterways transportation and generate more revenue.

    He spoke at a sensitisation programme to attract investors into waterways transportation.

    Sambo said: “If you have more efficient facilities, it is expected that you will generate more money apart from providing comfort for users and that is the essence of the concessioning.”

    He said NIWA did not have any company in mind to take up the business, adding that the plan is to provide a level playing field for participants, especially those in the water transport business.

    The lingering face off between NIWA and the Lagos State government, he said, would not affect the jetties’ concessioning, adding that the facilities belong to the government.

    He said: “NIWA wants to provide  efficient and first class facilities that are owned by the Federal Government, therefore, I don’t see any friction that can stop it,” he stressed.

    He criticised the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LAWSA), describing it as a creation of the Lagos State House of Assembly, which purported to repeal the NIWA Act, in order for it to be in existence.

    “The question is, can a state House of Assembly repeal a federal legislation? Thus to that extent, we do not have any relationship with LASWA.

    “We are in a federation and where a law of any federal constituent is in conflict with a federal law, the state laws remain null and void.”

    Despite the face-off with the state over some facilities in the metropolis, the concession holds next year.

    He said there must be a common goal for the Federal and state governments to develop an effective water transport system.

    Lagos, he said, should obtain permit from NIWA to set up a jetty on its own Lagoon.

    “While we concede the right of the governor to express his opinion as it relates to Inland Waterways in Lagos, we wish to draw the attention of His Excellency to the fact that where he is dissatisfied with the valid Federal law establishing the national Inland Waterways Authority, especially as it concerns the authority’s function and regulatory control over rivers, creeks, lagoon and lakes, other bodies of internal waters of Nigeria, the only alternative is the court of law and not otherwise,” he said: A few weeks ago, Governor Babatunde Fashola said Lagos did not need to obtain permit from the Federal Government to operate a jetty.

    He said his administration had the right to build the Lekki bridge without recourse to the government since “we are run a federal system of government.”