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Seafarers And Prevention Of Accidents

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Safety at sea, over the years has been one major concern for maritime operators and stakeholders, both locally and internationally, and various efforts have been made by various bodies and groups, including the world’s maritime regulatory body, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on how to curb the problem.

IMO objectives have centred on how to achieve and maintain safety, security and efficient shipping on clear oceans, and in its efforts to address safety problems have for a long time kept on improving ships construction and equipment standard through its continuous amendment of safety of lives at sea (SOLAS) convention.

The continuous rise on-board ships accidents, inspite of the SOLAS amendment calls for comprehensive casualty investigation so as to find out the underlying cause (s) of accidents.

Reports of careful analysis of casualty investigation have revealed that about 80 per cent of accidents were caused by human error, despite the shift of focus from SOLAS Seafarers Training and Competence Work (STCW).

In spite of the wide acceptances of the STCW, the shipping industry, various bodies and governments have expressed growing dissatisfaction as to the effectiveness and implementation of the STCW convention.

However, the question now is: why do human error accident onboard ships still take place ?  Continuous occurrence of such accidents has brought about mixed feelings as to the effectiveness of the 1995 STCW consention, and the role of stakeholders in the implementation of the STCW standards.

As professionals in the maritime sector, seafarers are basically competent by training as carrier men/women in the sea and shipping operations, and whatever incompetence or carefree attitude they display on board vessel might result to accident on board, and hence the need for stakeholders particularly those that will have to do with maritime administration, education, training, international regulatory body, shipping companies and seafarers themselves to rise up to the challenge in enforcing proper STCW convention.

Maritime administration like the NIMASA in Nigeria, are responsible for ensuring compliance with the implementation of the convention and other maritime codes by approving related education and training, ensuring that the duties, task responsibilities of seafarers conform to the certificate issued.

They are equally to ensure that quality standards of seafarers competence are continuously monitored, certified, endorsed, and revalidated. It is also required that they accredit maritime academies and institutions, and also submit progress reports to the world’s maritime governing body, the IMO, with respect to the implementation of the convention in their respective countries.

Invariably, the NIMASA which is the apex maritime regulatory body in Nigeria has shown a level of competence in the regulation and management of the Nigerian territorial water in ensuring safety, and this it does in collaboration with other agencies that have stake in the maritime sector.

That is why the efforts made by NIMASA in the rescue operations of a Sao Tome vessel “MV Alsalam” in 2009 with 160 passengers and 12 crew members on board was very commendable.

NIMASA demonstrated its commitment to ensuring safe navigation on Nigerian territorial waters as it successfully intervened in a rescue mission involving a Sao Tome flagged vessel which was on voyage from Gabon to Cotonou.

The vessel “MV Alsalam”, a small general cargo ship built for coastal trading, developed engine problems of Nigerian waters and drifted into the high sea for nine consecutive days with over 160 passengers on board, before calling for help; as was reported.

Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMCC) at the NIMASA Resource Development Centre in Lagos, shortly after receiving the distress signal, relayed the distress signals to all vessels in the region in order to locate and rescue the stranded vessel, and this paid off when the vessel was located and juided to Calabar break waters towed by another vessel.

NIMASA officials provide first aid services to very weak passengers and food as well as other assistance for the passengers to go back home, while the vessel was detained in Calabar for port state inspection to determine her compliance with the IMO regulation for Deep-Sea Sailing and Trading.

Investigations also revealed that the same MV SALAM was also rescued barely six months before the second incident, off the coast of Lagos waters, and if the regulatory and enforcement agency for that country had done its work from onset, probably such rescue missions would have been averted.

Training institutions play crucial role in developing seafarers’ competence. That is why the scope of training provided must not be limited to the convention, but should take into consideration the national challenges.

Such training institutions will in order to fulfil the need of International Shipping, quality seafarers, develop and train staff in maritime education and training in line with the IMO model courses and the global Maritime standards.

They are to focus on competence-based training systems which will ensure a complete utilisation of necessary educational equipment and updates.

Shipping companies on their part are expected to compensate for laxity in enforcement of convention provision by administration, and implementation of the necessary standard regarding emergencies and report procedures between boardship and the company.

In addition, shipping companies are also expected to assist in the training of staff and sea service and as well monitor the implementation of procedures for changing crews to ensure that sufficient time is allowed for those new to the ship to have adequate opportunity to familarise themselves with the ship, thereby providing the enabling environment for seafarers to perform well.

Seafarers, on their part, are required to acquire and demonstrate competence while on board, keeping pace with progress through upgrading and updating their skills and knowledge in the areas relevant to their duties and responsibities on board.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in order to keep track with implementation of convention and other instruments relevant to shipping safety is also expected to lay emphasis on human element issues with other member states.

IMO is also expected, encourage technical co-operation between her members states and other organisations to give effect to the convention, recognise advice and assistance that may and will be provided by experts in maritime resources and training.

Although there could be challenges in the implementation of expectation of various stakeholders in ensuring the competence and training seafarers, especially the human error, but since the STCW has been globally accepted, its full compliance can guarantee safety on board ship, to some great extent, inspite of the human error.

Corlins Walter

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Eazipay  Offers Zero-Interest Loans To  150,000 SMEs, Employees

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With a mission to ignite growth, encourage business continuity and help businesses and employees thrive, Eazipay is gearing up to propel the dreams of 150,000 SMEs and employees to new heights through her relief fund.
Gone are the days of financial constraints and stifled dreams. With Eazipay’s support, SMEs and employees alike can bid farewell to limitations and embrace a world of endless possibilities.
Whether it’s start up,  business expansion or personal development, Eazipay is here to make dreams come true.
The mind-blowing initiative, which  kicked off this month, would end in December, and will also offer a range of perks and benefits designed to put a smile on the faces of SMEs and employees alike.
From exclusive discounts to various advisory services and beyond, Eazipay is committed to spreading happiness and creating lasting impact in people’s lives and to the growth of businesses.
The technology company which offers products and services that range from payroll management to IT/Device management and assessments, “Eazipay isn’t just providing financial support but also unleashing a wave of growth and prosperity for SMEs and employees across the nation.
“Interested businesses and individuals can take part in this initiative directly from the Eazipay website: www.myeazipay.com”.

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SMEs Critical For Sustainable Dev – Commissioner

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The Commissioner of Finance, Lagos State, Abayomi Oluyomi, has described Small and medium Enterprises (SMEs) as a critical engine for sustainable development in any economy.
He said this recently at the 10th anniversary of the Alert Group Microfinance Bank and the opening of their new head office in Lagos.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, SMEs accounted for about 50 per cent of Nigeria’s gross.
He commended the positive impact of the Alert MFB as it empowers SMEs in the State.
“Alert MFB in the past 10 years has been at the forefront of empowering SMEs in Lagos State, disbursing over N30bn in loans to over 30,000 individuals having small to medium businesses over that period, which is quite remarkable”, he said.
Speaking, the Group Managing Director of Alert Group, Dr Kazeem Olanrewaju, revealed that the financial institution commenced business in 2013 as a microfinance bank.
“We started this journey in 2013 and it has been expanding. Today, they have about 10 branches across Lagos. They have supported well over 30,000 clients and have disbursed over N30bn.
“The company has been profitable since the second year. Looking at the market and the available opportunity, the Alert MFB board decided to come together to establish a Microfinance Institute (MFI), which is the Auto Bucks Lenders”, Dr. Olanrewaju said.
The GMD further stated that the company was focused more on supporting businesses and small and medium enterprises.
“The loan to support business represents over 98 per cent. The consumer loans you will see are the ones given to entrepreneurs. So, the area of focus of Alert MFB and Auto Bucks Lenders is to support businesses across the country.
“With the establishment of Auto Bucks Lenders, we have the opportunity to also do business outside Lagos. So, presently, we have offices in Ogun State and Oyo State. We intend to go to every part of Nigeria to support what we are doing”, he declared.

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Retailers Explain Price Drop In  Cement Cost

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The cement market, in the last couple of weeks, has seen a significant turnaround with prices tumbling from between N10,000 and N15,000 per 50kg bag to between N7,000 and N8,000.
The sudden rise in the prices of cement and other major building materials in February this year upsets  the construction industry, especially in real estate, where many developers were forced to abandon building sites.
A recent market survey conducted by The Tide’s source in different locations across the country confirmed a price drop, ranging between N7,000 and N7,500 per bag, though BUA cement is selling for N7,500 to N7,800 per 50kg bag, depending on location.
Both entrepreneurs and major distributors who were interviewed,  explained that the price drop is due to low demand and government’s intervention.
At the peak of the price hike, the Federal Government called a meeting with major producers where it was agreed that a bag of cement should be between for N7,000 to N8,000, depending on location.
But the producers did not comply with this agreement immediately, followin which “Nigerians stopped demanding for cement; many project sites were abandoned as developers sat back and waited for the prices to come down.
“So, what has happened is an inter-play of demand and supply with price responding, which is Economics at work”, Collins Okpala, a cement dealer, told the source in Abuja.
In the Nyanya area of the Federal Capital Territory, a 50-kg bag of Dangote cement now sells for between N7,000 and N7,500, while BUA cement sells for between N8,500 and N9,500, down from between N11,000 and N12,000 respectively.
In Lagos, the product has seen significant price drop too. In Ojo area of the state, Sebastin Ovie, a dealer, told our reporter that what has happened is a crash from the January price, attributing the crash to low demand and stronger naira.
“The current price of the product is between N7,000 and N7,500 per 50kg bag, depending on the brand. This is a significant drop from the average of N12,000 which most dealers were selling in February and March”, he said.
A dealer in Agege area of the state who identified himself as Taofik Olateju, told the source that sales are picking up due to the drop in price.
He recalled that Nigerians at a point stopped buying due to the high price of the product at N15,000 per bag.
“I am sure most dealers ran at a loss then because we had mainly old stocks which we wanted to offload quickly”, he said, confirming that the product sells for between N7,500 and N8,000, depending on the brand and the demand for the brand.
Continuing, Olateju noted that “because the naira is now doing well against the dollar, it will be unreasonable for manufacturers to continue to sell the product at the old prices. I also believe that the federal government’s intervention and the threat to license more importers may have worked, leading to the reduction in price”.
In Enugu, the source reports that the product sells for between N7,200 and N7,500 depending on the brand and location.
“This is a city where the price of a 50kg bag went for as high as N12,000 and N13,000 in some cases in February and March”, Samuel Chikwendu said.
He added that the prices of other building materials, especially iron rods, have also dropped considerably which is why, he said, activities are picking up again at construction sites.
The story is slightly different in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, where Innocent Okonkwo told the source that low demand was also driving the price drop, adding that a 50kg bag was selling for N9,000 on the average in the state.
Sundry market observers are optimistic of further price reductions, but they remain cautious as manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers continue to play critical roles in setting prices for end-users.
They lamented, however, that despite Nigeria’s status as one of the largest producers of cement in Africa, the price of the product continues to rise, particularly in the face of high inflation impacting the building materials market generally.
Okpala in Abuja highlighted the variations arising from direct sourcing from manufacturers versus procurement through dealers, with traders holding old stocks selling products at prices ranging from N8,500, N8,300 to N8,000 per bag.
Lucy Nwachukwu, another dealer in Abuja, said the significance of  procurement volume in determining cement costs, noting that stability in prices has been observed over the past month, with the product retailing for between N7,000 and N7,800 depending on the brand.
In Port Harcourt also, a customer, Daniel Etteobong Effiong, said the price goes between N7500 to N8500, depending on the brand and the location one is buying from.

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