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Tag: Nigerian Ports Authority

  • 32 ships with food items, petroleum products to arrive Lagos ports

    32 ships with food items, petroleum products to arrive Lagos ports

    Thirty-two ships laden with food items,petroleum products and other goods are expected to arrive at Apapa Port and Tin Can Island Port in Lagos from March 5 to March 24.
    The Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA ) stated this in its “Shipping Position’’ publication, a copy of which was made available to the newsmen in Lagos on Monday.
    It said that 12 ships out of the expected number had petrol consignment.

    READ ALSO: Farmers, others kick over N116b palm oil import

    According to it, the remaining 20 vessels contain bulk wheat, salt, bulk fertilizer, bulk sugar, diesel, crude palm olein, bulk gypsum and containers laden with goods.
    The publication indicated that eight ships carrying bulk fertilizer and petrol had already arrived at the ports and were waiting to berth.

    NAN

  • NPA begins exportation through Ikorodu terminal

    NPA begins exportation through Ikorodu terminal

    The Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA ) has commenced the exportation of agricultural products through the  Ikorodu Lighter Terminal as part of measures to decongest the Lagos sea ports and boost the economy.
    The movement of export cargoes from Ikorudu terminal to Apapa sea ports, NPA said, would enable Nigerians to maximize the facilities at the moribund terminal.

    Speaking during the official flag off of using barges to veery over 31 containers laden with agricultural produce from Ikorodu to Apapa port yesterday, NPA’s Managing Director Ms Hadiza Bala Usman said her agency has the mandate to ensure effective utilisation of the Ikorodu terminal for export.

    Read Also: OGFZA,NPA partner on free zone operation 

    President Muhammadu Buhari administration, she said, is committed to encourage export promotion through the terminal while NPA would ensure adherence to occupational, health and safety as  panacea to efficient port services in line with international best practices.

    She urged Nigerians to come forward and avail themselves of the emerging opportunities in the agricultural export market to boost for foreign exchange earnings and to strategically position the country on the global business community

    Exporters at the forum said they were happy that a major infrastructure at the Ikorodu which has been idle for decades came alive again with productive economic initiative of the current managing director of NPA.

    One of the exporters, Mr Ken Adeyanju said, the  rejection of Nigerian commodity and produce at the international market would soon be a thing of the past with the current efforts of the Federal Government through the NPA.

  • 33 ships laden with petroleum products, food items to arrive Lagos ports

    33 ships laden with petroleum products, food items to arrive Lagos ports

    Thirty three ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports in Lagos from January 29 to February 19.

    The Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA ) stated this in its publication, `Shipping Position’, a copy of which was made available in Lagos on Monday.

    Read also: 42 ships laden with petroleum products, food items to arrive Lagos ports

    It explained that seven of the expected 33 ships would sail in with petrol.

    NPA said that 26 other ships contain buck wheat, frozen fish, soya beans, rig, bulk fertiliser, bulk sugar, empty containers, diesel and containers laden with goods.

    The document indicated that six ships had arrived the ports waiting to berth with bulk fertiliser, containers, lubrication oil and petrol.

    NAN

  • Yam export: Committee plans export of 480 tonnes monthly

    Yam export: Committee plans export of 480 tonnes monthly

     The Technical Committee on Nigeria Yam Export Programme says it is targeting the export of about 480 tonnes of yams, equivalent to 20 containers, every month in 2018.

    Prof. Simon Irtwange, the Chairman of the committee, said in Abuja on Monday that the target would be achieved if all the challenges, which yam exporters experienced in 2017, were surmounted.

    Irtwange said the U.S. had made a request for the supply of five containers monthly, which amounted to 120 tonnes of yams.

    “If everything works out well, the U.S. authorities say they will need about five containers every month and one container contains 24 tonnes of yams.

    “We are trying to aggregate the demand from other countries; so by the time we put everything together, we should be thinking of exporting about 20 containers of yams on a monthly basis.

    “When you multiply 20 by 24, the total is 480 tonnes of yams.

    “We have a work plan and we have a lot of activities that we have already pencilled down.

    “We are working with relevant government agencies to provide the necessary support for the programme,’’ he said.

    Irtwange said the Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA ) had made available the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal to facilitate the packaging and movement of yams meant for export.

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    He said the committee was also working with the NPA to get people who would invest in constructing yam pack houses at the terminal.

    “The NPA has already given us the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal, where we can bring our yams and do all the packaging before moving them down to the ports.

    “That way, we will avoid the gridlock in Apapa because now, we are using batches to move the yams from Ikorodu to Apapa,’’ he added.

    On the challenges which yam exporters encountered in 2017, Irtwange said the committee had forwarded a report to the Federal Government on possible ways of tackling the perceptible hitches.

    “On the issue of transportation, we need cold trucks; we also need yam conditioning centres.

    “Presently, there is only one conditioning centre owned by the Nigeria Export Promotion Council in Zaki-Ibiam, Benue State, but that is not enough, we need more.

    “On the issues of packaging and production of cartons for the yams, we are also hoping to have local investors.

    “Right now, there are only two companies that can do this for us — an Indian company in Ibadan and a Chinese company in Lagos — and the problem is that in most cases, they don’t take orders for little quantities of cartons for production.

    “A container will take about 1,200 cartons and when you go to the companies for the production of 1,200 cartons, they will say it is too small.

    “We are also thinking that if there are people that can produce the cartons in small quantities, things will be okay. We want to get those who can produce small quantities of cartons for sale to yam exporters,’’ he added.

    NAN

  • 42 ships laden with petroleum products, food items to arrive Lagos ports

    42 ships laden with petroleum products, food items to arrive Lagos ports

    Forty two ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports in Lagos from January 5 to Jan. 30.

    The Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA ) stated this in its publication, `Shipping Position’, a copy of which was made available to NAN in Lagos on Friday.

    NPA said that the ships contained buck wheat, frozen fish, bulk gas, bulk fertiliser, aviation fuel, bulk sugar, diesel, petrol and containers laden with goods.

    The document indicated that six ships had arrived the ports, waiting to berth with bulk  fertiliser, containers, aviation fuel and petrol.

  • FG slashes import, export documentation requirements

    FG slashes import, export documentation requirements

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun says the Federal Government has reduced documentation requirements for import and export, to facilitate trade.

    Adeosun made this known on Thursday in Lagos at a Sensitisation Workshop with the theme: “Understanding Nigeria’s Revised Import and Export Guidelines, Procedures and Documentation Requirements for Ease of Doing Business’’.

    According to the minister, the measures include the reduction of documentation requirements from 10 to seven, for exports and from 14 to eight, for imports.

    Adeosun, who was represented by the Director, Home Finance, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Olubunmi Siyanbola, said that additional responsibilities had been given to the Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the shipping lines/other carriers.

    Reports say that government’s attention is principally focused on measures to ensure reduction in time spent on processing of export and also to ensure 24-hour clearance of cargo imported into the country.

    The minister announced that the NCS shall coordinate the mandatory joint examination and Sign-Off Form, within the official working hours, including Saturdays.

    “NCS shall make available the shipping manifests to other examination agencies as soon as they are received, to enable enough time for Risk Assessment.

    “Nigeria Integrated Customs Information Systems (NICIS) should be strengthened to accommodate more agencies.

    “Shipping lines shall transmit to the NCS and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the cargo manifest, before leaving the last Ports of Call to Nigeria.

    “Shipping lines shall ensure that Nigeria-bound containerised cargo are palletised,’’ Adeosun said.

    The minister said that a new section had been introduced, which stated that the NPA shall receive cargo manifests from shipping lines before the ship leaves the last Port of Call and circulate to other regulatory agencies for Risk Assessment and Profiling.

    Adeosun said that NPA shall be responsible for traffic management of vessels and shall ensure pilotage of vessels.
    The minister commended the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari toward ensuring the Ease of Doing business, which had started yielding dividends in some areas.

    According to her, in the recent World Bank report, Nigeria had moved up 24 points from 169th position on the 2017 ranking and also 170th position on the 2016 ranking to 145th position in the World Bank’s 2018 report.

    “That is, Nigeria is now in 145th position out of 190 countries in the Ease of Doing Business Index for 2018,’’ she said.
    Adeosun said that government was working relentlessly to quickly put in order the scanning system, so as to eliminate manual examination of goods and other associated delays.

    She said that the Export and Import Guidelines would be fully implemented with effect from January 1, 2018.

    “The Guidelines may not be perfect to address all concerns but government will monitor its implementation closely, to address emerging and unforeseen situations,’’ the minister said.

    In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Dr Mamoud Isa-Dutse, urged business entities involved in both import and export trading to abide by the provisions of the guidelines.

    The permanent secretary was represented by the Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr Salisu Nainna.

    “Let our efforts in striving to create a lucrative business environment in Nigeria be mutually-reinforcing, to enable us as a country make significant progress.

    “We are duty-bound to foster formal trade not only to block loopholes for leakages of government revenue but also to promote the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, so as to enhance the competitiveness of the economy for our business to continue to prosper.

    “The present government is taking steps toward ensuring 24-hour clearance of cargo using cutting-edge technology.

    “In this direction, efforts are ongoing to revive and upgrade the scanning system as a short-term measure, pending the acquisition of modern High Definition Scanners,’’ Isa-Dutse said.

    He said that the Ease of Doing Business had improved Nigeria’s performance in terms of trading across borders, with the introduction of Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

    The permanent secretary said that the guidelines had taken into account the directives of the Vice President and there was that inherent potency to facilitate trade without compromising the interest of the national economy.

    Isa-Dutse said that the objective of the workshop could be achieved if stakeholders were properly informed about procedures, rules and regulations, as well as modalities for their implementation and enforcement.

    Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industry, Trade & Investment, urged the private sector to cooperate with the Federal Government in the reform initiatives.

    “We ask that stakeholders should refrain from circumventing policies, as we strive to implement initiatives and reforms needed to scale up the efficiency and transparency of the public sector, ’’ Oduwole said.

    “We invite you all to give us your candid feedback on how our reforms are working in practice, as we collectively strive to make Nigeria an easier place in which to do business,’’ she said.

    Oduwole was represented by Mr Jude Oboh, Reform Leader at the Enabling Business Environment secretariat.

    Mr Tony Ayalogu, a Deputy Controller of Customs, stressed the importance of palletisation of cargo, saying that it protected goods from any form of damage.

    Ayalogu said that a standard palletised cargo could carry a maximum cargo of 100 kg.

    He urged Nigerians to ensure compliance with policy on palletisation of containerised cargo coming into the country, to make the Customs work seamlessly and to reduce the time of doing business.

    NAN

  • NPA chief sensitizes girls on maritime careers

    NPA chief sensitizes girls on maritime careers

    The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, on Tuesday advised school girls in Lagos State to explore careers in the maritime sector.

    Speaking at the flag-off of the nationwide Girls Go-to-Sea Campaign, Bala-Usman, told the pupils not to be perturbed by peer pressure and allow themselves to derail in their educational pursuits.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, organized by Platform Reporters Communications, was attended by many women in the maritime sector.

    The NPA chief executive advised the girls to look beyond cultural inhibitions and make good grades in their certificate examinations.

    “With good grades in your exams you will get placement in higher institutions and take up maritime-related courses, which will guarantee you promising career in the maritime industry.

    “The industry seems to be men-dominated at the moment but that does not foreclose you as a girl from making it to the apex of your career in the sector.’’

    According to her there are no known career designated for men while precluding women.

    She noted that in every career, there were challenges facing people in that profession, adding that it only demanded doggedness for anyone to succeed.

    “Therefore, I charge you all to be resolute in your career pursuits and sustain the tempo which many of us here have created for women in the industry as our successors in years to come,’’ she said.

    Speaking at the event, the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Dr Dakuku Peterside, said that females in the industry were enjoying the respect of operators in the industry.

    Peterside, who was represented at the event by an Assistant Director in the agency Mrs Mary Madu-Hamman, told the girls that there were numerous jobs for them in the sector.

    Peterside, who listed subjects that could propel one into maritime careers, also reeled out universities offering maritime courses in Nigeria, including the Nigerian Maritime Academy, Oron.

    “Get yourselves prepared early enough and get advice of career councilors from women practitioners in maritime and earn good living devoid of being dependent,’’ Peterside said.

    The girls, who were treated to a brain-teaser competition, were given exercise books by the organisers embodied with career tit-bits in the industry.

    Memunat Abdullahi of Akande Danhusi Memorial School, Ikoyi came first in the competition.

    Lunga Jennifer of Wahab Folawiwo Junior High School also in Ikoyi came second while Chinonso Ohale from Ilado Community Junior High School came third.

     

  • Ship discharges 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.

    NPA explained that the ships were discharging buck wheat, petrol, general cargo, containers, salt, gypsum, bulk fertiliser, diesel, bulk sugar and bulk corn.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 29 other ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive in Lagos ports between May 12 and June 3.

    NPA said that the expected ships would bring base oil, general cargoes, bulk fertiliser, bulk corn, buck wheat, containers, empty container, bulk gypsum, bulk sugar, empty container and petrol.

    NAN reports that 26 ships were expected on May 8; 30 ships on May 9; 31ships on May 10 and 30 ships expected on May 11.

    The document noted that 11 ships had arrived at the ports, waiting to berth with bulk fertiliser, Buck wheat, ethanol and petrol.

  • Nigerian pilots to take charge of new NPA tugboats

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says Nigerian pilots are undergoing a three-month training to fully handle the four newly-acquired tug boats.

    NPA Managing Director, Ms Hadiza Usman disclosed this on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    The NPA inaugurated four 60-tonne buller-pull tugboats with state-of-the-art equipment and fully computerised engines.

    “Currently, we have management service using Landform. Landform is training Nigerian pilots.

    “I think within the period of three months, they will be able to handover to Nigerian captains, who are already on board, now familiarising themselves with the technology.

    “The Nigerian captains are well trained; what they are trying to achieve now is to understand how these automated top-of-the-range tugboats operate, “.

    Usman said that the tugboats would boost marine operation and service delivery in the Lagos Pilotage District as well as improve revenue for the authority.

    She added that the boats would also assist vessels to berth appropriately, enhance navigation and improve management of the channels.

    “The tugboats will provide the authority an avenue where we can tuck in very huge vessels and a lot of our operators have been concerned about the towage services we are providing.

    “With this new entry, in addition to our fleet, we are going to be more efficient in delivering towage services in our pilotage districts.

    “Now, we have nine tugboats. We are going to look at the requirements across the respective zones and then deploy them accordingly.

    “These four tugboats are the top-of-the-range tugboats globally. They are international best tugboats that are available in the market and we have brought them to the Nigerian market.

    “And we believe that they will enhance our maritime operations both in the Eastern and Western zones of the maritime operations,’’ she said.

    NAN reports that NPA acquired four tugboats at the cost of over 30 million US dollars (N9.16 billion) to improve port efficiency.

    The tugboats are MT DAURA, MT UROMI, MT UBIMA and MT MAJIYA

  • 30 ships laden with petroleum products, food items to arrive Lagos

    Thirty ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos from May 9 to May 29.

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) stated this in its publication – ‘Shipping Position’, – a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

    NPA said that the number of ships increased from 26 to 30, which were expected to berth on Monday and contained bulk wheat, base oil, bulk sugar and bulk fertilizer.

    Other items expected to arrive on the ships were empty container, bulk salt, frozen fish and bulk gypsum.

    According to the document, nine ships had arrived at the ports waiting to berth and discharge their cargo of bulk fertiliser, aviation fuel and petrol.

    NAN reports that 15 other ships are at the ports discharging empty containers, bulk wheat, frozen fish, general cargo, bulk palmolein, diesel, bulk gas, bulk fertiliser, containers and petrol.