The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NIMASA

  • Nigeria of nightmares or dreams; Biometrically over-captured; NEITI; NIMASA Life Jackets

    The Al Shabaab outrageous attack on the Westgate Mall, Kenya, claiming as many as 60 lives, is a duplication of what is happening daily in Nigeria with Boko Haram and the cattle/Fulani herders-wilful destruction of lives and properties- terrorism.   In addition in Nigeria, there is political devilry, death and destruction all around deconstructing the country. The fatally flawed 1999 constitution, the disastrous over-centralisation of the Federal Government and the underdevelopment arising from Corruption, Incompetence, Negligence and Selfishness, CINS, have led us to a serious crossroads- de-amalgamation and de-Nigerianisation. At last even David Mark, long-sitting senate president, has mentioned the words ‘National Conference’ without spitting but without the key word ‘Sovereign’. Nigerians need to be treated with more respect than to be thrown a political ‘bone’ when they demand their rights. The current political restlessness is consequent to an outrageously flamboyant anti-people lifestyle of politicians and top civil servants. It has unpredictable consequences. Over 40 years of political leadership failure created a desperate generation of callous cheats, killers and politicians with mostly dangerous democratic credentials- ‘Winning by buying power’.

    We suffer in ‘The Nigeria of Our Nightmares’ with governments robbing the citizens officially. Though many Nigerians of my generation have worked lifelong to help create the ‘Nigeria of Our Dreams’, it escapes us. We are urged to pay more taxes for less service. While Italian engineers are righting wronged giant Costa Concordia ships, Nigerians have deadly bumpy rides on potholed roads neglected by Nigeria’s political class.

    Nigerians are slapped and punched repeatedly by the many hands and fists of government. Nigerians have been slapped stupid by poor power supply, roads and services and greedy governance. Are we now to register and tax generators, boreholes, wells and overhead tanks – by which Nigerians ‘manage’ and survive the massive corruption and incompetence of government? This is a TAX ON SURVIVAL, A TAX ON EXISTENCE!

    Nigerians are denied simple fingerprint investigation for want of a computerised Nigerian fingerprint bank. Yet Nigerians have been ‘biometric over-captured’. We have computerised biometric data banks from ID cards x 3, INEC Voter’s Cards X 2, passport registration, phone SIM card registration X each number, bank registration, PIN number, TIN number, FRSC Driver’s Licence X2, FRSC Vehicle Plate Number 2 and the New Police Vehicle Registration?

    We are over-registered. The cost to government and citizens’ time and money, totals many billions. Billions will roll into the FRSC and Police but who will account for this money extorted ‘legally illegally’. If this is not 419, what is?  Who will unite all biometric data banks?

    Does some Nigerian actually say at a government meeting ‘Let us screw Nigerians with yet another scam? Any suggestions? The same again? Wow, how brilliant. And remember we must not share our registration data bank with any other organisations. Swear!’

    Not surprisingly, the NGO Good Governance Initiative Nigerians, GGI, confirms that Nigerians are forced to spend N2,700,000,000,000 /annum on fuelling generators. Which oil marketer will want PHCN to improve? Only a true nationalist presidential leadership will overcome corporate oil power to give us electric power, especially solar power. Rome’s Emperor Tiberius the Tyrant was followed by the even worse Emperor Caligula the Cruel. What hope for Nigeria where the leadership is self-serving? The crassness of corruption knows no bounds in Nigeria.

    But there is hope. Nigerians should send letters of encouragement to the iconic ‘People’s Lawyers’ including Femi Falana for, among other things, fighting for the rights of children to decent education and Akure-based lawyer, Morakinyo Ogele who is suing FRSC over the new number plate. They are fighting for us at their own expense.  Do something yourself like fundraising for legal battles.

    There is more hope. Under a ‘Safety at Sea Programme’, NIMASA’s distribution of life jackets Nembe Bonny Waterfront is a wonderful demonstration of ‘normal’. 25,000 still needed. The life jacket is to water what the Insecticide Treated Net, ITN, is to malaria.

    There is even more hope. A Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI’s retrospective audit has recovered $2billion. The fear of NEITI is the beginning of wisdom. Beyond recovery, NEITI has forced industry players to play it straighter in 2013. The deterrent effect of an independent NEITI, EFCC or ICPC Desk in all top organisation will prevent much corporate and MDA corruption. Yes, it may also promote EFCC and ICPC corruption but we hope not. We need to institute awards like GCON for NEITI- type organisations.

    Stowaway boy, Daniel Oikhena was heading for America. Unlike Zik of Africa, whose ‘humble beginnings’ led him to stow away on a ship, Daniel chose a ‘ landing gear seat’ and is due for psychiatric tests. Does anyone offer psychiatric tests to those poor youth escaping Nigeria crossing the murderous Sahara and the deadly Mediterranean to camps like Lampedusa, Italy? Does anyone offer psychiatric tests to National Assembly, NASS members voting  ‘Life Salaries’ for NASS principle officers, tax exemptions, or voting themselves the highest Salaries and Perks- SAP- and corruption-ridden constitutional projects? With many unemployed psychologists we should demand psychological and psychiatric tests on government ‘uniforms’ who to go berserk daily draining Nigeria’s morale and young life-blood. How many must die to make a nation? How many farmers have been killed by Fulani in Plateau and Iseyin? And we still eat cow meat! Are we a spineless people? Ask the dead ‘Was Nigeria worth dying for?’ Politicians should stop boasting about nothing; look around the world and deliver Nigeria into the 21st Century, mentally, morally and materially!

     

  • NIMASA decries ‘indiscriminate’ ship recycling, scrapping

    NIMASA decries ‘indiscriminate’ ship recycling, scrapping

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has decried the indiscriminate and unauthorised recycling and scrapping of ships within the seashores, especially in Lagos.

    Safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships, otherwise known as the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) 2009, is aimed at ensuring that ships, when being recycled after the end of their operational lives, do not pose any risk to human health.

    It is important to obtain approval from the industry regulator before ships are recycled and scrapped because they contain environmentally hazardous substances, such as asbestos, heavy metals, hydro-carbons and ozone depleting substances, among others. It also addresses the working and environmental conditions at many of the world’s ship recycling yards.

    Ship recycling and scrapping are done on most beaches in the country, especially Lagos, without authorisation. Though Nigeria is yet to domesticate the HKC, it can implement and enforce the HKC as a proactive measure to check ship recycling in line with the powers conferred on NIMASA under the provisions of Part X of NIMASA Act 2007 and Section 382 (1 and 2) of Merchant Shipping Act 2007.

    Before the domesticates HKC, country, a stop-gap measure in regulating the activities of ship recycling and scrapping has been developed by the NIMASA Marine Environment Management Department.

    Under it, ship recycling facilities (SRFs) and ship owners are to seek permit from the agency before embarking on any form of breakage.

    Ships, investigations show, are being scrapped at various locations within the Lagos shores. The Nation gathered that NIMASA decided to take proactive measures to stop the scrapping by inviting the companies involved to a meeting. It was also learnt that after the meeting, companies were issued with environmental requirements to fulfil before the issuance of scrapping permit to enable them continue with their activities.

    This has resulted in the regulation and monitoring of ship scrapping activities by NIMASA. The agency has pegged N200,000 as the fee for processing the permit and N200,000 as approval of ship scrapping plan.

    Some of the requirements for obtaining ship scrapping permit include an application letter for scrapping permit from a vessel owner, ship recycling plan, approval to operate a ship scrapping yard, evidence of clearance from Regulator of Shipping (RoS) where applicable (deletion certificate), and letter of indemnity from company with seal.

    Others include compulsory insurance to cover entire operation, fire-fighting equipment, gas-free for hot work certificate, first aid apparatus, sludge and bilge water receptacles, and personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hand gloves, nose protectors, safety glasses, safety boots, among others.

     

  • Presidential Committee yet to hand over to NIMASA

    Presidential Committee yet to hand over to NIMASA

    The Presidential Committee on Maritime and Safety (PICOMS), which was dissolved by President Goodluck Jonathan last year, is yet to hand over its assets to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA) as the newly appointed Designated Authority (DA) for International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) code implementation, The Nation has learnt.

    Some of the facilities, sources said, included high power raiders, CCTV cameras and other powerful security equipment which the committee used in monitoring movement of ships and illegal activities on the nation’s territorial waters.

    The source said NIMASA needs the equipment to ensure efficient and effective security at the nation’s seaports and water ways, and for the country to meet the ISPS Code implementation requirement issued to it by the United States.

    The ISPS Code was adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in July 2004 to vessels above 500 gross tonnage that engage in international voyage as well as the Port Facilities (PF s) that service them.

  • Firm denies N486m monthly income from NIMASA

    Firm denies N486m monthly income from NIMASA

    The Global West Vessel Specialist Limited (GWVSL) has dismissed claims by some operators that it earns N486 million monthly from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for providing platforms to combat crime on the waterways.

    Speaking with The Nation in Lagos, its Managing Director, Winfred Itima, said what the company is paid by NIMASA depends on the revenue the agency collects monthly based on its intelligence reports, monitoring activities and the provision of platforms.

    He said there was no specific monthly remuneration due to his company because the contract stipulates that the company would only be paid if NIMASA surpasses the revenue benchmark it is expected to generate.

    At the end of every month, he said, NIMASA totals the revenue collected and gives his company 50 per cent of whatever amount that is over and above the benchmark. No official of the company, he said, could claim to know how much is due the company in a month because that depends on whatever NIMASA makes above its benchmark from which it determines how much should be paid Global West.

    He said there were months the company did not get anything from NIMASA because it could not surpass the benchmark, adding that in such situations, it went to the bank for loan to run its operations.

    Itima said Global West had met its part of the contract by providing the platforms needed for patrol, monitoring and other operations through bank facilities which run into several millions of dollars.

    Itima said although it was still servicing such facilities, it is also expecting three more platforms to enable it to cover the Port Harcourt area in the next three months. It is expected to get to Warri area in the next eight months.

    On where to access funds to finance acquisition of the new platforms, he said the cash would be facilitated through more bank loans, adding that the banks are willing to give the firm the loan because it has not defaulted in the payment of past loans.

     

  • Firm denies N486m monthly income from NIMASA

    The Global West Vessel Specialist Limited (GWVSL) has dismissed claims by some operators that it earns N486 million monthly from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for providing platforms to combat crime on the waterways.

    Speaking with The Nation in Lagos, its Managing Director, Winfred Itima, said what the company is paid by NIMASA depends on the revenue the agency collects monthly based on its intelligence reports, monitoring activities and the provision of platforms.

    He said there was no specific monthly remuneration due to his company because the contract stipulates that the company would only be paid if NIMASA surpasses the revenue benchmark it is expected to generate.

    At the end of every month, he said, NIMASA totals the revenue collected and gives his company 50 per cent of whatever amount that is over and above the benchmark. No official of the company, he said, could claim to know how much is due the company in a month because that depends on whatever NIMASA makes above its benchmark from which it determines how much should be paid Global West.

    He said there were months the company did not get anything from NIMASA because it could not surpass the benchmark, adding that in such situations, it went to the bank for loan to run its operations.

    Itima said Global West had met its part of the contract by providing the platforms needed for patrol, monitoring and other operations through bank facilities which run into several millions of dollars.

    Itima said although it was still servicing such facilities, it is also expecting three more platforms to enable it to cover the Port Harcourt area in the next three months. It is expected to get to Warri area in the next eight months.

    On where to access funds to finance acquisition of the new platforms, he said the cash would be facilitated through more bank loans, adding that the banks are willing to give the firm the loan because it has not defaulted in the payment of past loans.

  • Labour Minister stops maritime workers’ strike

    The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, has averted crisis at the port by stopping the maritime workers’planned strike.

    He met with the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to avert the strike.

    The union was planning to shut down the seaports.

    The workers under the dockworkers branch are protesting alleged 13 months unpaid salaries of tally clerks on board security men.

    Sources at the meeting said the NPA requested for time to study the cost implication of the workers’ demand.

    Speaking with The Nation, the President of MWUN, Comrade Tony Nted Emmanuel, said if not for the minister’s intervention, the union had concluded plans to shut operations in all ports.

    He said NPA has agreed to pay the aggrieved workers.

    He said the cargo surveyors, which NPA brought allegedly in to supplant members of the union, are unacceptable and represents an attempt to deceitfully take over the job of the dockworkers.

    “Right from the time of Joint Dock Labour Industrial Council and the Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council, the status and responsibilities of dockworkers have always been spelt out,” he said.

    Emmanuel vowed that the MWUN would not relent until the tally clerks and the-on-board security  are paid their salary arrears, which according to him, would be 13 months at the end of the month.

    “On-board security men are involved in watching over cargo to avoid theft and over boarding and to prevent unauthorised shore leave through the gangway by crew members. Their function also helps to prevent attack of vessels in the ports by terrorist and pirates in line with requirement of the ISPS code on port and ship security and safety and that is the reason their salary arrears must be paid,” he said.

  • How to avoid another NLNG/NIMASA feud, by activist

    NIGERIANS have been advised to learn how to use dialogue, the judiciary and public-private initiative to resolve their disputes to avoid the re-currence of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Liquified and Natural gas (NLNG) clash.

    An energy lawyer/activist, Mr Gbite Adeniji, said the crisis would not have persisted had the two parties sought legal interpretations of the problems from the beginning.

    ‘He said: “Though the parties have gone to court on two occasions, they did not explore the option of the judicial system when the problem started. In the beginning, the crisis was reduced to blame shifting. From all indications, the feud between the two agencies has taught Nigerians one big lesson – the judiciary has the power to resolve thorny issues. Ultimately, the judicial system has provided clarity to the situation as evident by the court judgment, “ he said.

    Adeniji urged Nigerians to approach issues that are capable of creating problems to the economy from legal perspective, adding that this is the only way to save the country from future crisis.

    He said: “Now that the court has stepped in, we all see how the crisis was resolved between the two parties. If not that the court waded into the crisis, the problem would persist.”

    Also, the President, Petroleum and Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr Emeka Ene, said an integrated approach would have helped the country to prevent crisis.

    He said groups such as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN), Petroleum and energy associations, government’s bodies among others must be invited to proffer solutions whenever problems transpires.

    “What happened between the two organisations is a lesson for Nigeria. There was no all-inclusive approach to solving the problem between them in the beginning. If such things had existed, the issue would not been prolonged. The reason is because professional groups or associations are made up of technocrats who can come together to engage in cross fertilisation of ideas to put volatile issue under control,” he said.

    Ene said everybody on both sides of the fence wants to move the country forward, stressing that inability to reach a compromise affected the relationship between the two institutions.

    He advised stakeholders to try and reach a compromise on or before they get out of hands, adding that ability to shift ground would help organisations either private or public to forestall crisis in the future.

  • NIMASA: Cabotage’ll create jobs

    NIMASA: Cabotage’ll create jobs

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, has said the agency was committed to providing employment for Nigerians through the Cabotage Law.

    Speaking with The Nation, the NIMASA boss said the agency’s investment in seafarers’training and facilitation of the establishment of institutes of maritime studies in four universities were indications of its commitment to building capacity for the industry.

    Akpobolokemi appealed to stakeholders to encourage youths to seek careers at sea.

    He said: “The overwhelming interest showed by youths in seafaring calls for support from stakeholders in the maritime sector to assist in capacity development, especially in onboard training.

    “We, at NIMASA, have been placing cadets’ onboard Cabotage vessels as part of mandatory requirements for obtaining their Competency Certificates.”

    He described the submission of Nigeria’s instrument of ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as an indication to his agency’s commitment to the welfare of seafarers.

     

  • Kerosene price may go up over cooking gas scarcity

    The scarcity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) (cooking gas), a fallout of the disagreement between Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Liquified and Natural Gas (NLNG) may push up the price of kerosine.

    The President, Nigerian LPGas Association (NLPGA), Dayo Adeshina, said the face-off between the two government agencies was grounding activities, especially in the LPG sub-sector.

    He said if the scarcity continued it may result in the price of kerosene going up to N250 per litre. The demand for kerosene, he said, increased because of the scarcity of LPG.

    “We may not appreciate the enormity of the situation we have on our hands now, until we get to a time the problem gets out of hand. The truth is that by the time LPG depots are dried up, consumers of cooking gas will have no other option than to depend on kerosene for their cooking. So, as the demand for the product increases, the price of the product will go up, too, according to the law of demand.

    “So, with the product being sold currently at N130, consumers may yet pay as much as N250 or more for a litre as the current scarcity of cooking bites harder.”

    He said the three LPG terminals in Lagos, including PPMC, Navgas and NIPCo, had dried up as the vessel, Gaz Providence, which was to supply them the product, has been detained and prevented from berthing.

    Adeshina said the development was not healthy for the industry and the economy as the crisis, if not addressed, may worsen the scarcity even after the vessel is released and allowed to discharge its content.

    “Just as we seek the immediate release of Gaz Providence, we will also like to implore the government to intervene so that the two warring parties can sheathe their sword in the interest of the country. This is because the vessel being detained is a 9,000 tonnes capacity one, despite the monthly consumption being over 12,000 tonnes.

    “So, what this means is that even if the vessel is released today, it would only be able to meet consumption for no more than one month. By this it means that if the standoff between NIMASA and NLNG is not resolved before then, we may be going from a bad-to- worse situation.

    Adeshina said the call for the release of the vessel was not borne out of sentiments but sound reasoning as the owners of the vessel had paid necessary fees.

    “This is not about taking sides between the two parties, but about following sound logic.We believe nothing stops NIMASA from releasing the vessel even while it pursues its case with NLNG.This is because the owners of the vessel have paid all statutory fees and so should be allow to discharge the contents of the vessel for onward supply to terminals and depots,” he said.

  • Court adopts NIMASA, NLNG settlement terms

    Court adopts NIMASA, NLNG settlement terms

    A Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday entered a consent order in the dispute between the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigeria LNG Limited.

    Justice Mohammed Idris gave the verdict after parties informed him they had reached an amicable settlement in the meantime.

    NLNG’s counsel, Olawale Akoni (SAN), withdrew the contempt proceedings against the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN).

    The court subsequently struck out the contempt charge, and dismissed those of the other defendants, including the contempt charge against NIMASA, for being defective.

    The letters, which formed the basis of the judgment, were dated July 5 and July 12, 2013.

    NLNG and NIMASA agreed the agency will immediately revoke the detention order of NLNG vessels and release them.

    The revocation will be subject to NLNG making the payments to NIMASA.

    NLNG was owing NIMASA a total USD158million. The firm has paid $20million out of the total sum.

    The July 12 letter said: “Subject to NLNG continuing to make payment for all applicable NIMASA levies (three per cent NIMASA levies and Sea Protection levy), NIMASA undertakes not to detain NLNG-owned or chartered vessels.

    “NLNG undertakes to pay outstanding levies attributable to the FOB and Cabotage vessels if they fail to make payment within three months of the date of this letter.

    “Going forward, NIMASA is at liberty to collect these levies directly from the FOB and Cabotage vessels without further recourse to NLNG.”

    The letter, signed by NLNG Managing Director, Babs Omotowa, said the firm’s payments will continue to be made without prejudice to the legal rights of all parties to seek appropriate judicial interpretation and resolution up to any level allowed under the constution.

    He added that NLNG has already made payment of $20million to NIMASA for the three per cent NIMASA levy.

    “This sum will be deducted from the amount stated as due in your (NIMASA) letter.

    “As agreed between NIMASA and NLNG, an oral application shall be made to the court today (yesterday) by our lawyers which shall not be opposed by NIMASA lawyers and other lawyers in the ongoing suit to allow for the above payments to be made,” Omotowa wrote.

    After the case was called, NIMASA’s lawyer, Mike Igbokwe (SAN), informed the court about the agreement and asked that the letters be adopted by the court as consent order.

    He said: “My Lord, there have been some positive developments in respect of this suit and the applicants which had let to exchange of correspondence and telephone discussions between the plaintiff (NLNG), the first defendant (Attorney-General) and NIMASA and which were conveyed to the second defendant (Global West) counsel.

    “The discussions involved counsel for all parties. I have before me a letter dated 12th July 2013, written to NIMASA by the plaintiff containing the agreement that had been reached between the plaintiff and NIMASA which the Attorney-General and Global West had already been informed about.

    “We have agreed that the contents of this letter which NIMASA and the plaintiff intend to start implementing today should form the basis of a consent order to be made by the Honourable Court.”

    Akoni confirmed the agreement and did not raise any objections.

    “On the basis of the letter, we urge the court to make a consent order. On behalf of the plaintiff, I confirm that the parties have had discussions and there have been exchange of correspondence,” he said.

    Attorney-General’s counsel, Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), and Global West’s lawyer, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), both confirmed the agreement reached in the letter and did not raise any objections.

    Ruling, Justice Idris said: “The letters dated July 5, 2013 and July 12, 2013 are hereby made the consent order of this court.”

    He adjourned till September 19 for mention.