Maritime
Union Decries Midstream Discharge Of Vessels
The president General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria
(MWUN), COMRADE Anthony Nted Emmanuel has decried the activities of some
multinationals in the industry who discharge their Vessels at midstream instead
of the ports.
Comrade Nted Emmanuel, who disclosed this at a fund raising
ceremony in Lagos recently, said the illegal activities have rendered the
dockworkers jobless and revenue that supposed to come into the Federal
Government coffers.
He said the Union has resolved that if no action is taken
urgently, all seaports in the country would be shut down, and called on the
Nigeria Ports Authority and the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency (NIMASA) to address these illegal activities at the nation’s territorial
waters, or ready to have a face-off with the union.
According to him, there would be no operation at the
nation’s seaports if the two maritime agencies failed to ensure that these
activities are stopped to enable the dockworkers and seafarers perform their
duties in the ports.
The MWUN president General also warned companies and
multi-nationals in the maritime business that such Vessels should henceforth
come into the conventional seaports and discharge their cargoes, adding that
‘Any Vessels that do not come direct to the port is going against the ministry
of Transport regulations of the country, which is breakdown of laws’
Anytime we noticed multinational discharges offshore and
runaway, NPA and NIMASA do not address the issue of the illegalities, we are
going to shutdown the ports” he stressed, and noted that the country could no
longer lose such huge amount that ought to come to the government pause to
sharp practitioners.
Comrade Nted Emmanuel further said that the nation’s
seaports would experience industrial unrest if the Federal Government failed to
live up to its billings
He said, “The illegal activities have deprive dockworkers
from performing their duties and also the Nigeria seafarers are suffering, and
nobody is addressing the situation and as it is, if the Federal Government does
not meet up with their responsibility, we are going to run a zigzag port, which
means we will close down the ports,” adding that “what we are seeing in the
industry is an eyesore especially with the shipping companies on offshore
whereby they offload midstream and run away, this is a big problem that needs
urgent attention by the Government”.
The Union boss noted that maritime workers are lamenting
over unemployment because Vessels are not coming into the ports and further
enjoined the authorities to brace-up or face an unpleasant situation.
Collins Barasimeye
Maritime
Illegal Migration: NIS, NIWA Move To Strengthen Partnership
Following the spate of illegal migration into the country by migrants, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) have concluded plans to strengthen their partnership to curb illegal migration through the Lagos State waterways.
The plan to deepen partnership was discussed when the new Comptroller of Immigration Service in charge of Lagos Seaports and Marine Command, CIS Joseph Dada, visited the NIWA, Lagos Area Manager, Mrs Sarat Braimah in Lagos.
Speaking at the visit, Dada said the service would fare better in achieving its mandate with a strategic partnership with the waterways regulator.
“We have some challenges on the waterways, even though we do patrols. Collaborating with NIWA will guarantee stronger waterway operations.
“We are not saying people shouldn’t migrate or ‘japa’ from Nigeria. Migration is part of life and people have a right to seek greener pastures.
“However, they must do it the right way. They have to get their passports, visas and travel through the appropriate channels”, he said.
Dada lamented that several Nigerian ladies are victims of human trafficking for prostitution usually disguised as job offers for care workers abroad.
Also Speaking, Managing Director, NIWA, Mrs Sarat Braimah, welcomed the idea of strategic collaboration with the NIS, stressing that both agencies are working for the common good of Nigeria and its citizens.
“We expect this collaboration to prohibit illegal migration. Migration is part of life and as you observed earlier, it fosters tourism, culture and development.
“Nonetheless, we will assist the NIS in achieving their objective, which is that people shouldn’t migrate illegally.
“A lot of passengers board ferries from Marina jetty to Badagry and Port Novo. We don’t know their final destination or verify their identity; but we’re open to NIS partnership to carry out migration checks”, she said.
She noted that NIWA could train immigration officials on how to go onboard vessels safely, and also provide boats, lifejackets, among other equipment, when the Immigration make such requests.
Maritime
NPA To Generate N629bn Revenue In 2024 -MD
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says the authority will generate N629.89 billion in 2024.
NPA is also seeking for N200 billion loan from Afrexim Bank for ports development.
Managing Director, NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, stated this while defending the 2024 budget before the House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbours in Abuja.
He said the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) was also listed as one of the financial institutions from which to source the loan.
Koko said the total projected expenditure was N464.32 billion, while the operating expenses were projected at N212.03 billion and the capital expenditure stood at N252.29 billion.
“Part of the main trust of the 2024 budget is the urgent need to rehabilitate, reconstruct and moderate the dilapidated port infrastructure facilities”, he stated.
The Managing Director said defects in the facilities were hampering efficiency and productivity in the ports, saying that the defects include the quay walls and the replacement of old gravity walls.
According to him, another is need for rehabilitation of Escravos breakwaters.
“This is aimed at improving port efficiency and increasing cargo traffic through investment funding from the financiers, UKEF and Afrexim”, he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Nnolin Nnaji, said the agency is very dear to the country, hence the need for the committee to visit some of the facilities outside Lagos.
“We need to see those things you are telling us. The House of Representatives is very serious about budget defence, while they do screening on the other side, budget defence is here”, he said.
He commended the Managing Director for the budget presentation, saying that he believed in the subsequent budget
“We accept this budget, and we will move further with it”, he assured.
The lawmaker also said the drainage channels were full of wreckages and expressed concern over lack of information on wreckage removal.
Nnaji noted that as long as the NPA avoided the wreckage, it will keep occurring because of the abandoned ships facilities.
Maritime
COWA Distributes Food Items To Members In Abuja
In a bid to cushion the hardship and hunger faced by ordinary Nigerians, the Customs Officer’s’ Wives Association (COWA) has distributed food items to its members in Karu Customs Barracks, Abuja.
National President, COWA, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, who flagged off the exercise, said the distribution of the food items was part of COWA’s plans to ease life for its members.
“This is not the first time COWA is conducting this initiative of distributing food items to the members and non-members of the association, and we decided to distribute these items considering the season of Ramadan.
“Everything we are doing now is for you. Please register so we can make provision for all of you. This will help us keep proper data of everyone and we will continue doing this subsequently to alleviate the situation”, Adeniyi said.
She further said food items were also being distributed to COWA members across all Customs formations in the country.
Some of the food items distributed include rice, spaghetti, noodles and cooking oil.
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