As part of measures to facilitate trade as well as find a permanent solution to the issue of congestion in Nigerian ports, the presidential committee on port reforms has directed that henceforth all documentations and payments on cargoes destined for Nigeria must be completed before the arrival of the vessel at the ports.
This decision was the outcome of a meeting which the committee held in Lagos yesterday with leaders of all the freight forwarding associations as well as other port stakeholders.
A source at the meeting told Shipping Position Daily that the committee has agreed with stakeholders that even before the vessel departs from the country of origin, the clearing agent or the consignee must ensure that all necessary payments and evidence of payment must have been carried out, ıncludıng proper documentation, which includes; Form M and the Risk Assessment Report (RAR).
For reasons attributed to the need to forestall occurrences such as vehicle vandalısatıon and pilfering which has become rampant at its terminal, the management of the leading vehicle ımportıng terminal; Five Star Logistics at the Tın Can Island Port, has said that clearing agents as well as other ındıvıduals who do not have anything to do ınsıde the port will no longer be allowed to enter into its terminal, especially the popular Car Park ‘C’ within the terminal.
According to a statement released by the terminal operator and which was sighted by Shipping Position Daily in Lagos yesterday, it declared that the new decision takes effect from the 27th of February, adding that from that date, nobody will be allowed ınsıde the terminal apart from its staff, security men and government agencies.
About two months after the infamous Bonga Oil Spill, the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) may have concluded plans to take legal action against Anglo-Dutch oil giant; Shell Petroleum Development Company over environmental damage by the Bonga spill that has affected over 70 communities in the Niger Delta area.
Confirming this last weekend in Warri, Delta state, NIMASA’s Director General, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi said that the agency has assembled a team of environmentalists and maritime lawyers led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr. Olisa Agbakoba in its battle to ensure that Shell pays compensation to the affected communities.
Fishermen and farmers in Kpata, Adankolo and other communities along the bank of River Niger in Lokoja are now having a raw deal with some giant hippopotami that have constituted a menace to fishing and farming in the area.
NAN reports that, the hippopotami, which are said to be black and brown in colour have been destroying rice farms along the riverbank and also hampering water navigation.
Alhaji Abdulahi Gimba, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Fishermen and Seafood Dealers in Kogi State confirmed that the animals suddenly appeared in the Onumaye-Kpata-Adankolo section of the river in December last year.
Even as the Nigerian maritime sector, especially the shipping community awaits the passage of the Port and Harbour Bill, there are strong indications that the bill may undergo another round of review that will eventually lead to the exorcise of the Independent Port Regulatory Commission from the bill.
Sources at the National Assembly confirmed to our correspondent last week that the Port and Harbour Bill which has been in the works since 2008 is to be reworked holistically to reflect certain realities, which the ‘old’ bill did not take into consideration.
Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi has said that the agency will continue to train dockworkers operating in the nation’s ports to their productivity to improve the volume of cargo coming into the country.
Giving the assurance in Lagos at a training programme Monday, the NIMASA boss said that it is in line with the regulation of International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Labour Standards (ILS).
Leading indigenous shipping company; Genesis Worldwide Shipping has dissociated itself from the ownership of MT Ben K that was recently arrested under controversial circumstances in far –away Namibia by that country’s maritime authorities.
The ship was arrested along with her crew on the waters of Namibia for allegedly not being in Class and having non-functional AIS on board.
The high profile arrest was reported exclusively by Shipping Position Daily last Monday and since then; Genesis Worldwide Shipping has provided evidence that it actually sold the ship since July 2011 to Messrs Lavorni Shipping Limited Corp of Panama City, Panama.
There was palpable fear last week in Eleme, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State following alleged clash between petroleum tanker driver and community, over parking space.
An unconfirmed source hinted that Eleme youths were angry over parking space by tanker drivers which sparked-off conflict resulting to a petrol tanker being set ablaze.
Another source also hinted our correspondent that a member of the tanker drivers union was allegedly arrested by members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, over illegal possession of petroleum product without relevant authorization papers. The source said that it led to the arrest, and subsequent detention of a tanker driver.
In spite of all the problems associated with the recent announcement of subsidy removal, it is certain that full deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil and gas is imperative, and if well implemented it will attract foreign direct investments which will significantly boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other sectors of the economy, including the maritime sector.
This was the submission of stakeholders who were present at the breakfast meeting that was organised last week in Lagos by the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS). The meeting was titled: ‘Impact of Shipping to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP); Post fuel subsidy removal’
The meeting had in attendant, the Senior Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on maritime affairs, Mr. Leke Oyewole as well as the Group Managing Director of Skye Bank, Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi Etti who was represented by the General Manager, Head, Corporate banking, Mr. Segun Opeke.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of the NCS, Mrs. Ify Anazonwu Akerele described the mayhem caused by the announcement of subsidy removal as a positive leap so that Nigeria can be able to reorganize itself.
Mrs Akerele explained this as one of the reasons for establishing the chamber saying that, “we look at it like a positive leap so that we can reorganize ourselves, this has always been the aim of the chamber of shipping, we want to achieve expertise, we don’t just want this get-rich-quick syndrome where nobody wants to work for it”.
She reiterated the stand of the chamber as creating a level playing field and a bridge for all operators in the maritime and oil and gas industry.
“I want you to understand that our role at the chamber of shipping is a bridge, we give out information and learning, The chamber of shipping is here to open doors for everybody within the content of the law” she stressed.
Akerele surmised that deregulation of the dowbstream oil sector will further open the market to investors and that consumers will become the beneficiaries, while at the same time, smuggling of oil will become unattractive and piracy will also reduce significantly.
She also stated that it will reduce corruption in the oil sector and increase private sector participation and by extension impact directly on business activities in the maritime sector.
In a paper presentation, the Skye Bank GM, Head Corporate banking, Mr. Segun Opeke agreed that the maritime sector has in no doubt impacted on the growth and development witnessed in the country in the recent years.
He said that full deregulation will shift concentration from oil trade from the usual importation to the development of Nigeria’s refineries to function at full capacity.
There are reports that Rivers State- owned fishing trawlers stationed at the Borokiri fishing terminal in Port Harcourt, and may have alleged been abandoned and wrecked by the core investor and operator; Vijons Investment Limited.
Already, the Special Adviser to the Governor of River state on Aquaculture and Deep Sea Fishing, Hon Briggs Kurotamunoye has faulted Vijons Company for poor performance.
Shipping Position Daily correspondent in Port Harcourt gathered that Hon Briggs who was re - appointed by Governor Rotimi Ameachi to the same office, was part of the government officials that supervised the enlistment of Vijons Investment Limited during his earlier engagement .
Nearly two-thirds of visits to European Union ports by sanctioned ships linked to the Iranian state shipping line, Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), have taken place in Malta, an investigation carried out by the Reuters news agency has revealed.
There is, however, nothing illegal about that because, thanks to a special clause that had been negotiated by Malta during EU internal negotiations, contracts between the sanctioned Iranian state shipping line and the Malta Freeport will remain valid until November 2013, although Malta is reportedly prepared to review that on condition that other countries follow suit.
Nearly two-thirds of visits to European Union ports by sanctioned ships linked to the Iranian state shipping line, Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), have taken place in Malta, an investigation carried out by the Reuters news agency has revealed.
There is, however, nothing illegal about that because, thanks to a special clause that had been negotiated by Malta during EU internal negotiations, contracts between the sanctioned Iranian state shipping line and the Malta Freeport will remain valid until November 2013, although Malta is reportedly prepared to review that on condition that other countries follow suit.
Apparently worried about the challenge of meeting its 2012 (unprecedented) revenue target of N1Trillion, the management of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday met with the leadership of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).
Although, details of the meeting which lasted for the greater part of the day were sketchy as at press time, the Customs Comptroller General, Alhaji Diko Abdulahi Inde led the Customs team, while the ANLCA team was led by the national president, Prince Olayiwola Shittu.
Operators of ferry services in Lagos are currently groaning under the menace of water hyacinth which has consistently been hampering their boats movement. They are lamenting that their customers are already finding alternative means of transportation to and from some parts of Lagos.
The operators are consequently counting the loss which they suffer daily as the water hyacinth has stopped the boats’ operations for almost three weeks.
But, to ameliorate the plight, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) through its contractor have mobilized men and materials to the affected areas in Lagos and commenced the clearance of the weeds from the waterways.
Operators in the maritime industry have alarmed that the Nigeria risk being sanctioned by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), should it continue with its plans to concession of the nation's maritime domain.
The operators who made their position known at a recent one day programme that was put together by the Maritime Reporters' Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Lagos, noted that there is no where in the world where the security of any nation's maritime domain is handled by a private firm as it is being proposed by the Nigerian government represented by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
In order to complement the 24-hour operations of the Nigeria Custom Service, a directive which was issued recently by the Minister of Finance, Dr . Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, there are indications that the Ports and Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML) command of the Nigeria Custom Service may be eyeing the creation of a micro finance bank which will be available for weekend cash operations within the command.
Speaking in a chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos yesterday, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Barrister Chinedu Ogbonna suggested that the command, can in partnership with one of the banks consider the creation of a branch within the command to be available for cash operations on weekends. This according to him will further set out the command as the leading vehicle terminal in the country.
• NIMASA, Nigerian Navy Unaware of Attack
• Corpses of Slain Officers Taken To Mortuary
“This is a disgrace, do we really have Navy of NIMASA in this country, you won’t believe that it is the French Navy that came to the rescue of the remaining crew”.
That was how a source at Unicent Shipping; the shipping agents to the two ships that were attacked on Sunday and Monday reacted when our correspondent finally reached the distraught company yesterday.
Our findings are that the two ships are Chinese, were laden with rice, their identities are: Asian Prosperity and Four Sew SW.
Months after the popular NASCO building in Apapa Lagos was razed down by fire, thereby ruining properties worth millions of naira, occupants of the building who are mostly freight forwarders have cried out on the challenges of continuing their business in the port without their required documents, even as they have alleged extortion from the Nigerian police officers who are beginning to take advantage of the situation.
According to some of them who spoke with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos yesterday, it is difficult to carry out business transactions without the police report to prove that all their vital documents where lost to the fire incidents, but to get the police report “the police are requesting for N20, 000 before they can issue you police report” one of them told our correspondent.
Following the moves made by the Standards Organization of Nigeria [SON] and the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control [NAFDAC] in order to find their way back into the port, a freight forwarding group; the Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers and Exporters Coalition, has condemned the National Association Government Approved Freight Forwarders [NAGAFF] even as it criticized its founder for canvassing for the return of the agencies.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Monday, National Coordinator of the group, Chief Osita Chukwu Patrick alleged that the founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam had gone on national television and speaking in favor of the sacked agencies to be returned to the port, this according to Osita, negates the interest of all freight forwarders and that the statements can only create confusion.
An operation to disrupt the trafficking of drugs from South America to Europe via Africa has resulted in the seizure of more than 500 kilogrammes of drugs and the recovery of cash totalling two and half million euros in 25 airports across Western and Central Africa and Brazil.
Operation Cocair 3, led by the World Customs Organization (WCO) supported by INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), also resulted in nearly 50 arrests in addition to the recovery of guns, counterfeit products including medicines and goods prohibited from export such as ivory and cultural artworks.
Cocaine, heroin, cannabis, ecstasy, methamphetamine and amphetamines were among the drugs discovered in suitcases and a variety of hiding places including tins of tuna and in one instance, beneath a woman’s wig.
• Anxiety Over Fate Of 16 Crew Members
• Ship Allegedly Out Of Class
• No AIS Facilities
Nigeria’s maritime image again took a bashing last week in far-away Namibia where a ship belonging to one of Nigerian leading indigenous shipping companies, Genesis Worldwide Shipping MT Ben K was arrested by Namibian maritime authourities for multiple identities, being out of class and for non-possession of statutory communication signals.
The ill-fated ship is one of the fleet of Genesis Worldwide Shipping; owned by former minister of interior and frontline master mariner, Capt Emmanuel Ihenacho. Capt Ihenacho is also the chief executive officer of Integrated Oil and Gas. In fact, the ship; Ben K is regularly involved in shipment of petroleum products to Integrated Oil and Gas tank farm in Apapa.
The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Engr. Omar Suleiman has assured that the Management of the Authority shall partner with the Nigerian Institute of Management for the development and training of the Managerial skills of its personnel.
To this end, he pledged that the Authority would this year increase its patronage of the executive cadre and other categories of training programmes of the institute for the personnel of the Authority.
Engr. Suleiman was speaking in Lagos on Tuesday (07:02:2012) when he received a delegation of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) chartered led by its President and Chairman of Council, Chief (Dr.) Michael Olawale-Cole, who paid him a courtesy call.
Traders involved in the sale of imported fish in different parts of Port Harcourt have raised alarm over arbitrary increase in the price of fish by importers.
Shipping Position Daily checks in Port Harcourt revealed that market women who used the business to support their families are also crying out, begging the fish importers to reduce the prices.
It was gathered that the prices of fish have gone up by as high as 200 per cent as fishes sold between N50 to N100 at the open market, now sells for as high as between N250 to N400. While others previously sold for N400 now goes for between N600 to N700
For example at Azuabie Trans Amadi in Port Harcourt, (an imported fish smoking Zone at Port Harcourt City), Mrs. Evelyn Ikubienembo, who has been involved in fish business for 30 years said “This Imported fish is so expensive, please tell the white people catching the fish to reduce their prices. Tell the importers too”, Mrs. Ikubienembo stated.
APMT Rotterdam is suffering strike action over a stalemate with unions on compensation for the future higher state retirement age, Port Strategy has learnt.
According to APM Terminals, industrial action started on Monday with a six hour stoppage of operations and continued yesterday with 10 minutes stoppages by workers every hour. Yesterday afternoon there has been another 1.5 hour strike.
Tuesday night, one of the terminal’s biggest customers Maersk Line announced that it is temporarily diverting operations through Antwerp for the rest of this week and probably for next week too.
Cors Radings, spokesman at APMT Rotterdam, told PS: “This is of great concern to us. The action has not only cost us delays in handling containers this week, but it is now affecting our reputation and reliability as a terminal.”
The Federal Government is to invest N4.46 billion on the development of the transportation sector between 2011 and 2015.
This was contained in the Federal Government's Transformation Agenda Report on Key Policies, Programmes and Projects, issued by the National Planning Commission last week in Abuja.
"The estimated total investment for the transport sector during the period is approximately N4.46 billion. The investment will cover roads, railways, inland waterways, ports and airports development."
The report said the main policy thrust during the plan period was to evolve "a multimodal, integrated and sustainable transport system with greater emphasis on rail and inland waterways transportation".
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