‘’ As far as security on our waters is concerned, Nigerian government has not there yet.”
Reverend Chiori Cole is not your usual shipping sector stakeholder. He was one of the thousands of freight forwarders who were inducted recently by the Council for the regulation of Freight Forwarders at the Unillag Auditorium. It was there that he struck a relationship with our correspondent, Roland Ekama. A few weeks later, it became obvious that Reverend Chiori has a lot to share with us about the Nigerian maritime industry. Enjoy this brief interview that was conducted by Roland.
Can You Briefly Tell Us About Yourself?
I am Reverend Chiori Cole, I have been in the Ministry of God for a while before registering this business called Oceanglory commodities limited in 2006, I am happily married with seven sons and they are all working with me. My first son is the Managing Director of the company and my second son is the deputy managing director and so on.
How has it been since you took over as The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service
It has not been easy; come to think of it, you as a family man, the question is how do you manage your home? It’s not been easy, but I’ll honestly not write the last paragraph of my autography without thanking the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal republic of Nigeria, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. In fact he regards and relates with me as a bother in all the hiccups; in all the good, the bad and the ugly side or whatever I have experienced, he shared it with me, even sometimes, he voluntarily calls me and says “this is how I want it to be done and honestly it is like the relationship is even more than a brother. I sincerely believe that the much that we have achieved is because he is the kind of person who appreciates good work. I can tell you, he is the only leader who I have come-across that quietly appreciates people instantly.
Just like we wrote on our ‘People and Places to watch in 2012’ in our first edition in 2012, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, the founder of NAGAFF is very unpredictable. He has no permanent friends, he is your friend today and tomorrow, he fires shots at you, depending on what his interests are. Last week, he spoke to some journalists about issues bordering on freight forwarding. We bring you excerpts from the interaction.
On security of the waterways and creation of presidential port monitoring committee
First of all, I want to say that the government has the statutory responsibility as far as security of lives and properties are concerned, and if that be the case, the same government has the prerogative to apply any tactics to perform its statutory functions which are the function of protection of law and order,
Engr Omar Suleiman will be remembered in history as one of the very few ‘home boy’ Chief Executives of Nigerian Ports Authourity. He joined the organisation about 28 years ago and today, he sit atop the grade ‘A’ agency as its managing director. In this brief chat, he talks about his vision for the organisation and other sundry issues.
How far has NPA gone in the push for the establishment of deep sea ports?
For us to remain competitive in the maritime sector in the West and Central Africa, we will need to develop new deep seaports, we started the development when I came in which is about a year ago,
Mr Thomas Sim is Singaporean by birth, can best be described as a teacher in freight forwarding. Apart from being the founder of The Topocean Group” of Companies in Singapore, he is also a foremost member of the global body of freight forwarders; the Federation of International Freight Forwarding Associations (FIATA). He is a world acclaimed master trainer; having trained freight forwarders in almost all parts of the world. He also conducts capacity-building programmes, training development and management consultancy in the areas of freight, multimodal transport, international trade management, supply chain security, logistics & supply chain management, and IMO-IMDG Hazardous/Dangerous Goods Training for numerous international clienteles.
Professor Sylvester Monye is the Special Adviser to the president on Performance monitoring and evaluation. He is currently the chairman of Port Monitoring committee. He spoke in that capacity to the press late last year in Lagos on the committee’s assignment. Roland Ekama was there for Shipping Position Daily. He put this excerpt together after the media chat..
On failure of terminal operators to take back their empty containers promptly
I will say it is a scam, because we have the mandate of the president to clear the roads and the empty containers that is all I can tell you. We recognize the fact that it is a scam; the shipping lines are not allowed to keep the containers out on the roads, they must create a holding bay where these containers will be offloaded and then pick it when they are ready to pick it, but not to leave them on the road because it’s a mess to the road users, in fact it is an embarrassment to anyone who is a Nigerian.
Chief Osita Chukwu’s association; the Save Nigerian Freight Forwarders, Importers and Exporters Coalition is the newest addition to the growing list of associations in the Nigerian maritime industry. Recently, he spoke with our correspondent; Roland Ekama about the port system, his association and related issues.
What is your assessment of the maritime sector for the year 2011?
I can appraise it by saying that this year 2011 has recorded a lot of tremendous moves in the area of curbing corruption and all the banes behind it because if you watch previous years in the maritime industry, we have problems that brought about people that are not what they are supposed to be.
This is the concluding part of the interview which we conducted with the National President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) in Dakar, Senegal recently. In part two, just like he did last week, Prince Olayiwola Shittu talked on his profession, the ports and the new ports monitoring committee of which he is a member.
Are you satisfied that some of the sacked agencies are coming back to the ports?
Why not? It’s the government that made the law that they should leave the port, more of them may come back as far as they are comfortable with their performance. But we know that government can’t realize its target. If the same government now decides again that out of several agencies; some or all should go.
Prince Olayiwola Shittu does not need any introduction to stakeholders; he also does not need any special invitation to appear on this page, having obliged us many times in the past. He spoke to us recently on sundry industry issues. We bring you the first of the two- part interview.
I noticed that in the last couple of weeks, your association has been very busy with registration of members; what is the essence of the biometric ID card?
Because the port is full of impostors that claim to be customs agent, because every day when you see them at the ports’ gates, they say that they are customs agent.
Otunba Kunle Folarin is a delight to speak with any day any time, this is because of his wealth of experience and expertise in the maritime sector, he has been in the sector for the past thirty five years and he is currently the chairman of the National Seafarers Welfare Board as well as the current vice chairman of the Port Consultative Council (PCC) he has also been a consultant to the Federal Government at various levels and participated in the works of several standing committees.
His position as the president of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders and member of the governing council of Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria puts him in a good stead to discuss the on-going face-off with the Council. In this interview with Roland Ekama, Mr Eugene Nweke speaks up on the lingering face-off and the way forward. The interview was conducted before the CRFFN governing council meeting was held last week where the suspended members were given conditional pardon.
Comrade Joseph Oluwole Ojo is the Alimosho unit chairman as well as the Lagos State coordinator of the Surface Tanks Kerosene Dealers Association and Dealers (SUTAKEP). They say SUTAKEP is an association that comprises of kerosene dealers who bring the product closer to the people in order to minimize the queues at filling stations. Recently, the association wrote to the Senate seeking direct allocation and supply of kerosene in the country. Comrade Ojo spoke with Shipping Position Weekly’s Dapo Olawuni on these issues and more.
As the Coordinator of Lagos-based maritime manpower training institution; the Coastal Maritime Academy, Salami Salihu Enesi sure has a lot to grapple with. His training at both Nigeria and the United Kingdom comes handy as he tells Roland Ekama in this impromptu interview at the academy’s Ikoyi, Lagos campus.
What is your Academy doing to ensure that Nigerians are empowered; especially in the area of maritime education?
Coastal Maritime Academy is interested in ensuring that maritime training prospers in Nigeria because we have only Maritime Academy in Nigeria Oron, but there are other academies that are trying to do the same thing.
“There Is Nothing Wrong With The Cabotage Act, Let The Act Go On, Let It Be Implemented” ...Barrister Osuala Nwagbara
Barrister Osuala Emmanuel Nwagbara, a frontline maritime lawyer, is the legal adviser to the Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers and exporters coalition group, he has a vast knowledge of the maritime sector and of shipping activities generally, in this interview with Shipping Position Weekly’s Roland Ekama,
The Registered Freight Forwarders Forum is yet another pressure group in the Nigerian freight forwarding business. Even though nit recognised by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), it is claiming to be representing freight forwarders that had been registered by the Council. Recently, its chairman, Mazi Festus Ukwu (former chieftain of association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents) addressed the press on issues bordering on the activities of CRFFN. Roland Ekama who was there (assisted by Mary Saba), puts this together from the media interaction.
Relatively unknown,until recently, the International Freight Forwarders Association has been causing ripples over certain issues within the freight forwarding fraternity. And recently, its president, Chief David Okutalukwe some maritime journalists on a wide range of industry-related issues. Dapo Olawuni was there, and this is part of what he captured.
What Challenges do freight forwarders face at the ports?
The concession of Nigerian port to private company by federal Government was seen by stakeholders as the most pragmatic decision by federal government towards finding a permanent solution on myriad of problems facing maritime industries particularly as regards clearing of goods.
Sir (Chief) Caleb Okoye belongs to the group of first generation maritime sector stakeholders. After rising to the pinnacle of his career as director of operations in the now-defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL), he has been in private sector since. Presently, he is the national president of the Nigerian Institute of Shipping. In this interview, Chief Okoye told Roland Ekama about his past engagements, his current involvements and sundry industry issues.
Perhaps, the suspension of the trio of the Vice chairman, CRFFN; Dr Sam Onyemelukwe, chief Peter Obih and another member, Mr Teddy Ifezue is the hardest action that the Council has so far taken since its creation about three years ago. Recently, its chairman, Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju spoke to select team of maritime journalists on issues surrounding the suspension. We bring you excerpt from the interaction.
He was appointed about three months ago to replace Mr Nseyen Ebong as the authentic Acting Rector of the Oron, Akwa Ibom state-based Maritime Academy of Nigeria. Mr Joshua Okpo. Okpo, a director in the ministry of transport who is on secondment to the academy recently met with a select group of maritime journalists in Lagos where he spoke of his experience so far and other issues. Dapo Olawuni was there and through him, we serve you the first part of this illuminating interaction.
Since his appointment as the substantive controller in charge of the dreaded Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Nigeria Customs Service, the command has been witnessing unprecedented seizures of both dutiable and prohibited goods; be it from the seaports or at the other legal and illegal entry points. In this interview, Deputy Comptroller, Victor Dimka opens up on the menace of smuggling.
After a visit to the Police headquarters in Abuja alongside four top members of his association, the founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF),Dr Boniface Aniebonam called a ‘world press conference’ where he shed light on the genesis of his associations face-off with the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria [CRFFN]. Roland Ekama was one of the journalists who attended the event. Here is an excerpt of what transpired there.
Things have not been quite easy at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos since the recent raid by a combined team of Customs and the Police. In his capacity as the chapter chairman, ANLCA, Mr Kayode Farinto has been involved in the various moves to ensure that those arrested were released, he is also deeply involved in the evolving moves to see that agents are more protected in the performance of their responsibilities.
The immediate past Rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Mr. Nseyen Ebong probably holds the enviable record of the longest serving boss of the academy, until recently when he retired after serving for about 11 years. In this interview which was culled from the online publication of the Akwa Ibom state government; AKSG Online, he speaks about his challenges and achievements. The interview was published shortly before her exited from the academy.
There is no doubt that the popular Berger Automobiles Market is the frontrunner in the business, giving birth to ‘smaller’ markets in Surulere, Ikeja, Mile 2, Festac and other parts of Lagos. These ‘smaller’ markets have now grown to become a ‘threat’ to their ‘mother’ Berger. Roland Ekama spoke with two of auto dealers who operate outside the popular Berger about their experiences selling vehicles outside of Berger and in Lagos of all places.
Lloyd's Register (LR) gives shipowners and operators a new tool to help assess designs and reduce the risk of fatigue damage in the hull structures of their ice-strengthened vessels. The development of new procedures under the notation, ShipRight FDA ICE, comes as changes in the exploitation of natural resources, the climate, world trade and marine infrastructure are increasing marine activity in cold-climate areas.
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