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Tag: Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)

  • Waste major cause of pollution in Lagos Lagoon – NPA

    Waste major cause of pollution in Lagos Lagoon – NPA

    The Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA ) on Friday identified municipal waste as major materials causing pollution in Lagos Lagoon.

    Mr Yunusa Ibrahim, the Principal Manager, Environment Department of NPA said this in Lagos during an interview.

    According to him, most municipal waste that ends up in the Lagoon gathers around the harbour areas in the morning and disappears to the other sides in the evening.

    ‘‘The environment department of NPA always creates awareness in the communities around the water areas on proper waste disposal and how poor waste management comes back to affect them negatively.

    ‘‘It is difficult to control the waste habits of the communities and also check the flow of municipal waste from channels into the Lagoon.

    ‘‘The department carries out daily surveillance of the channels emptying water into the Lagoon and also clean- up the waste as it affects ships badly.

    ‘‘Waste causes serious problems when it enters moving vessels,’’ he said.

    Read also: Ondo Govt. tasks NPA on modern facilities

    Ibrahim said that waste from vessels that berthed at the harbour was not disposed into the lagoon as there were companies outsourced to do it in line with international law.

    Ibrahim said that the NPA’s environment department had equipment to clean up oil spills in the ocean and the Lagoon.

    He said that the department drilled its pollution response squad monthly to effectively carry out clean-up of water areas any where pollution occurred within the nation’s territorial waters.

    NAN

  • Four ships arrive Lagos ports with petrol

    Four ships arrive Lagos ports with petrol

    No fewer than four ships laden with various products, including petrol, are at the Lagos ports waiting to berth, the Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA ) said on Thursday.

    The NPA disclosed in its daily “Shipping Position” made available  in Lagos, that four vessels were waiting to berth with petrol.

    It added that 33 other ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods were expected at Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports between Nov. 23 and Dec. 23.

    “The expected ships are carrying buck wheat, containers, general cargoes, empty container, diesel and aviation fuel,’’ it said.

    NAN

    Read Also: Navy uncovers hotel where fuel is siphoned in Lagos

  • NPA gets Senate’s ultimatum on missing vessels

    NPA gets Senate’s ultimatum on missing vessels

    The Senate on Thursday, gave the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Usman, four days to explain the whereabouts of over 282 vessels allegedly missing from the sea ports.

    Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Chairman, Senate’s Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, gave the ultimatum in Abuja, at an investigative hearing on N30 trillion lost through leakages in Customs and other agencies.

    Uzodinma, who expressed displeasure with the managing director for not honouring the committee’s two previous invitations, said the information on the vessels was imperative and must be available within four days.

    He threatened that the senate may be compelled to pursue a financial crime case against Usman should he fail to heed the committee’s directive.

    “We are looking for these vessels. We have the date of arrival, the ports of discharge and manifest.

    “Everything is with us but in information available to us, no money was collected by Customs, the NPA or any other person.

    “So you have four days to do your written explanation otherwise, we will consider it a financial crime,’’ he said.

    According to Uzodinma, there are also recent missing vessels that we have discovered.

    “I mean recent ones that happened under the new management.

    “The NPA is the custodian of the vessels; it received the cargoes and the terminal is theirs.

    “We want to know under whose authority the cargoes were released, “he said.

    The lawmaker said that the committee had also uncovered the activities of a port cabal that had defrauded the nation to the tune of over N30 trillion.

    “It is common knowledge that infractions abound in daily transactions at the nation’s ports, commercial banks, shipping companies, terminal owners and operators.

    “They connive at ease with officials to defraud the nation of trillions of Naira.

    “Preliminary evidence before us suggests that this is the case in all sea ports,’’ he said.

    He expressed concern that the leakages and infractions were costing the country huge revenue losses, while also constituting security threat.

    The lawmaker, however, expressed optimism that the Senate was determined to tackle the assault on the economy.

    He said that in doing so, the committee would be minded by the reality that those who wanted to bleed the nation to death without remorse must be dealt with without reprieve.

    “Consequently, all those indicted in this crime will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “The nature and methodologies of these infractions include abuse of Form M and violation of foreign exchange manual issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), incorrect classification, under-valuation and incorrect declaration.

    “Others are incorrect origin, error in calculation, temporary importation, exemptions and waivers, foreign exchange manipulations, unit cost analysis on excise, smuggling and illegal removal of cargo from terminals and lack of exit certificate by vessels.

    “We shall zero our search light into these areas of infraction and we are certain that our suspicions shall be confirmed.

    “Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Shippers Council(NSC), shipping companies , operators of bonded terminals and importers and exporters have questions to answer,’’ he said.
    Uzodinma emphasised that the joint committee would carry out its assignment without fear or favour.

    In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, decried the indicting reports about the ports.

    Saraki said that it was disturbing to hear that trillions of Naira in revenue was lost annually within the import and export value chain as a result of financial leakages caused through various malpractice and infractions within the system.

    He said that the Senate would use its oversight functions to expose corruption and ensure that all loopholes and leakages in the revenue system were blocked.

    “We are determined to reverse these financial leakages to enable us to get the much-needed resources to fund our children’s education, healthcare and fix the potholes on our roads.

    “I urge you not leave any stone unturned to ensure that we incrementally eliminate waste and corruption in the management of our resources,’’ he said.

    The president of the senate expressed confidence in the joint committee to carry out a thorough job that would help to sanitise the system.

  • Eight ships arrive Lagos ports with petrol, other commodities

    Eight ships arrive Lagos ports with petrol, other commodities

    Eight ships laden with various products, including petrol, are at the Lagos ports waiting to berth, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said on Tuesday.

    The NPA disclosed in its daily “Shipping Position” made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that four of the vessels had petrol consignment.

    It said that four other ships would berth with bulk corn, wheat, container and bulk fertiliser.

    It added that 35 other ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods were expected at Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports between Tuesday and June 19.

    “The expected ships are carrying bulk wheat, containers, bulk sugar, general cargoes, bulk salt, bulk gas, base oil, bulk corn, bulk fertiliser, diplomatic call and petrol,’’ it said.

    It also said that 14 other ships were currently at the ports discharging general cargoes, bulk wheat, base oil, steel products, crude palmlein, bulk gas, petrol, container and bulk corn.

  • Ships and Ports Maritime Football Cup: Navy sets up final clash with Customs

    Ships and Ports Maritime Football Cup: Navy sets up final clash with Customs

    The Nigerian Navy football team has set up a final encounter with the Nigeria Customs Service of Lagos in the ongoing Ships and Ports Maritime Football Cup competition in Lagos.

    The Navy sailed to the final after a 2-1 defeat of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Wednesday at the Astro Turf pitch of the National stadium in Lagos.

    On the other hand, Customs edged Josephdarm Port Services 2-0 at the NPA sports ground in Surulere, Lagos o also berth at the final.

    The NPA drew first blood through striker, Taiwo Monsoh in the 19th minute and took command of the game and eventually claimed the first half.

    However, a spirited performance by the Navy team saw them draw level through a loan strike by Musa Mohammed in the 50th minute.

    Dick Precious confounded NPA’s woes when in the 75th minute he scored directly through a corner kick which will arguably stand as the goal of the tournament.

    All efforts for the NPA team to get their all important equaliser were unsuccessful as they became too immature to convert their numerous chances.

    The tournament which began on May 15 had six companies from the maritime industry competing for honours in the annual event which began in 2009.

    Haji Babangida, Captain of the Navy team, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that their hard-fought victory against the NPA was their ultimate target as they hoped to win the championship’s trophy.

    “We are in this championship to win, we will do our best against Customs and hopefully win the trophy which is our utmost desire,’’ Babangida said.

    The Navy was the champions of the maiden edition in 2009 and has yet to repeat such feat.

    Coach Monsuru Adebayo of Customs team in his account said that the competition had brought the best out of his team and nothing would stop them from winning the cup.

    The Customs teams who also are the defending champions of the competition are all times highest winners of the exclusive competition with four championship trophies in its eight years.

    NAN reports that the third place match and the final match come up at the Astro Tuff Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere on May 26.

  • Boko Haram: NPA donates relief materials to victims in Yobe

    Boko Haram: NPA donates relief materials to victims in Yobe

    As part of her social responsibility to the society, The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has presented food and non-food relief materials to victims of Boko Haram insurgency in Yobe State.

    The items  donated include;  750 bags of rice, 400 bags of beans, 350 bags of Semovita, 160 bags of corn, 1,400 pieces of wrapper, 5,000 blankets, cooking oil, mats and rechargeable lantern among others to IDPs in Pompomari, Abari, Fuwuri, Ngabaruwa, Gujba, Damaturu, Kukareta, Gulani and Plot 13.

    The Managing Director, NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman while presenting the items to Yobe State Government  at a courtesy call on the deputy Gov. Engr. Abubakar Aliyu who stood in for Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam regretted the cause of the insurgency and called on deliberate measure to be taken to address the errors.

    The MD who was represented by the General Manager, Human Resource, Alhaji Yahaya Gana Bukar said Boko Haram members were not born but created, stressing that, “new efforts must be deliberately and constantly made to ensure that we correct whatever error of the past, and chart a new course for the future of Yobe State and indeed that of the Northeast to come out strong from this catastrophe”.

    Mrs  Bala noted that  the effect of  Boko Haram  insurgency of the economy of the country and the northeast in particular is so intense  that it will take a long time for a complete recovery from the crisis in all facets of human endeavor with the destruction estimated at almost 5.9 billion US dollars.

    She warned, “We must resolved now to never let this nature of crisis befall our people and country again,” she added

    She said the food items donated to the state is only to cushion the food demands of the displaced people.

    Earlier, Deputy Gov. Abubakar D. Aliyu, said the intervention came at the right time when it’s most needed by the affected people.

    He however appeal to  the NPA to take further step by providing  more assistance in the livelihood of the displaced people by  providing  building materials as many of the people have now returned back to their homes.

     

  • 17 ships discharging petroleum products, other commodities in Lagos

    Seventeen ships are discharging petroleum products and other commodities at Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said on Friday.

    The NPA said that the ships were also discharging bulk wheat, empty containers, general cargo, yellow maize, containers, container, soya beans and frozen fish.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 31 other ships, laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive in Lagos ports between May 5 and May 29.

    NPA said that the expected ships would bring base oil, general cargoes, containers, crude palmolein, frozen fish, bulk gypsum, bulk sugar, bulk corn and petrol.

    It said that seven ships, laden with bulk fertiliser, aviation fuel and petrol, were waiting to berth.

  • 36 ships laden with petroleum products, food arrive Lagos ports

    Thirty-six ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive in Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports in Lagos from May 4 to May 29, according to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

    NPA said the ships are bringing into the country items such as buck wheat, bulk gypsum, bilk salt, general cargo, base oil, frozen fish, petrol and bulk corn.

    The ships are also bringing in containers laden with assorted goods.

    According to the NPA, eight ships carrying bulk fertiliser, aviation fuel and petrol had arrived the ports, waiting to berth.

    About 20 other ships are also at the ports discharging empty containers, bulk wheat, frozen fish, bulk diesel, soya beans and aviation fuel.

    Others are bulk corn, yellow maize, bulk gas, bulk fertiliser, bulk sugar, containers and petrol.

     

  • Port efficiency: NPA inaugurates four tugboats worth over N9.16b

    Port efficiency: NPA inaugurates four tugboats worth over N9.16b

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has acquired four tugboats at the cost of over N9.16 billion to improve port efficiency.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tugboats are MT DAURA, MT. UROMI, MT. UBIMA and MT. MAJIYA.

    At the inauguration of the tugboats on Wednesday in Apapa, Lagos, the Managing Director, NPA, Ms Hadiza Usman, said that they were needed to assist vessels to berth appropriately into the channels.

    Usman added that the tugboats would enhance navigation and improve management of the channels.

    “The authority is to fulfill its obligation with Joint Venture Channel Management Companies by carrying out capital amendment dredging of the
    channels.

    “The partnership has improved the dredging of the channels.

    “The Lagos channel is up to 13.5 metres deep while more than 100 critical wrecks have been removed from the channels.

    “Through the joint partnership, about 232.3 metres vessels carry up to 3,500 TEU, and such vessels require approximately 11.5 metres depth,’’ Usman said.

    A member of Senate Committee on Marine Transportation, Sen. Binta Garba, who inaugurated Mt. MAJIYA, said that the inauguration would have a multiplier effect on the nation economy.

    Garba said that the senate would not relent in assisting government agencies to develop infrastructure to enable government to generate more revenue.

    She urged the NPA to intensify efforts in revenue generation.

    Mr Emmanuel Adesoye, the Chairman, Board of Directors of NPA, commended the achievement.

    Adesoye said that the tugboats were of the best brands and would serve as a powerful revenue earner.

    Adesoye said that the four tugboats had increased to nine, the number
    of the tugboats available to improve ship anchorage in various channels.

    In a message, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku
    Peterside, also hailed the NPA for the feat.

    Peterside, who was represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the NIMASA, Alhaji Bashir Jamoh, said that the tugboats would assist in daily operations of the authority and reduce turnaround time of vessels calling at the ports.

    “Before now, attention had always been in the recurrent expenditure in Nigeria, but the current administration shifted to capital expenditure which is the catalyst to economic growth and development.

    “Infrastructure development is crucial to the growth of the maritime sector and by extension the Nigerian economy, particularly now that the Federal Government is diversifying the economy in order to create more jobs and generate more revenue.

    “The efforts of NPA will go a long way in assisting the government to realise its agenda and also help to plug revenue leakages at this time the country is trying to get out of recession.

    “The Dockyard will save Federal Government at least 100 million
    dollars annually which will be direct savings from the dry docking of vessels operating in Nigeria,’’ Peterside said.

    He said that it was Nigeria’s desire to partner with the private sector to
    run the dockyard, adding that NIMASA would continue its collaboration
    with NPA and other sister-agencies in ensuring safe and secure maritime domain.

    Mrs Nike Akande, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce, said that there was the need to provide necessary facilities in the ports.

    Akande expressed satisfaction that the NPA procured the tugboats under the leadership of a woman.

    She said that the inauguration of the tugboats would ease operations in the ports.

    Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command,
    urged the management of NPA to assist the navy to train its officers and men
    on the operations of the tugboats.

    Bobai said that full operations of the tugboat would improve turnaround time in ports.

    He, however, urged that the tugboats be handled properly to avoid accidents.

    The Managing Director, Depase Company, Mr Gadi Ilan, commended the NPA for giving the company the opportunity to train the Nigeria crew on additional operations regarding the tugboats.

    Mrs Lizy Ovbude, Managing Director, Ports and Terminal Operators Nig. Ltd., urged the NPA management to extend the operations of the tugboats to the Eastern Port.

    Ovbude said that terminal operators usually ended up hiring tugboats from private companies to enable them to anchor their vessels safely.

     

  • Seven ships arrive in Lagos ports with petrol, other commodities

    Four ships laden with petrol are waiting to berth in Lagos ports.

    Seventeen other ships are discharging general cargoes, buck wheat, yellow maize, frozen fish, soya beans, diesel, empty containers, base oil and bulk gas.

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) disclosed this in its daily, Shipping Position, issued in Lagos on Wednesday.

    It reported that two other ships would berth with aviation fuel and bulk fertiliser.

    Thirty five ships, laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods, are expected to arrive in Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports in Lagos from May 3 to May 22.

    NPA said that the expected ships were carrying bulk wheat, containers, base oil, bulk corn, bulk sugar, general cargoes, bulk fertiliser, bulk gypsum, frozen fish and petrol.