Business
You’re Corrupt, Bereaved Families Tell NIMASA
Families of missing sailors
that drowned during an accident involving their tanker; MT Tank and another MT Elixir have accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of bribery for failing to divulge useful information about the escape ship (MT Elixir).
The families are also appealing to the minister of transportation, Mr. Rotimi Ameachi to ask the regulatory agency for allowing the vessel to sail out of the country despite the incident that claimed one life and eight others missing.
Speaking to journalists at the weekend in Lagos, wife to one of the missing crew, Mrs Esther Edoloro lamented that NIMASA is in possession of all necessary information about the ship saying that it will be incompetent on the part of the agency to say it has no document about the ship on Nigerian waters.
“I don’t even know what NIMASA is doing in this matter honestly. To me, they have collected bribe from the other vessel MT Elixir because I don’t see any reason why they will just release the other vessel without even giving us concrete information about the vessel.”
Even my lawyer has been asking them for the information, they refused to give any information about the other company which is not supposed to be. They are supposed to carry us along because this is human life. We are talking about this matter for the past three months,”she added
According to her, the lawyer has been demanding for information about the whisked vessel but NIMASA has refused to release details about the incident and the vessel in particular.
My lawyer has served them (NIMASA) two papers before and the one served them on Monday will be the third one.
“ No response yet despite all the papers he has served them”.
She also expressed confidence in the minister, urging him to look into the matter and quiz NIMASA for hoarding such vital information.
“ What I know is that NIMASA has collected money from the other vessel.”
When my lawyer was talking to the company’s lawyer, even the company’s lawyer wants to sue NIMASA because they are not giving them concrete information, they are not giving them the information they need to go on with the case.”
“ I believe NIMASA has collected money from MT Elixir that is why they kept silent. “
“That is the reason why they are not saying anything; they don’t want to step into the matter.
“I don’t know if there will be a way for me to reach our new transport minister, I will be very happy because I know he will do something about it.”
When asked about her expectation from the transport minister on the case, Mrs Edoloro affirmed that
“I want him to look into this matter, let them bring out the information about the other vessel so that we will know what we are doing.
“ At least with his help, I believe NIMASA will bring out all the information about the other vessel because I believe that whichever vessel that is coming into Nigeria water, NIMASA has their records. “
“They are supposed to give concrete information about other vessels so that we can know what we are doing.
“ I want the minister to prevail on NIMASA to bring out the information we need.”
“ That is, the name of the company that the other vessel is representing with other things. That is what we want them to do for us.”
When contacted on phone, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Hajia Lami Tumaka said that lawyers to all concerned parties are meeting on the way forward. Adding that the lead lawyers of the two ships are talking.
Nkpemenyie McDominic, Lagos
Business
Food Vendors, Others Relocate To New Site At PH Airport
The raging controversy between the Port Harcourt International Airport Management and restaurants/canteen operators and theirallies over relocation has been brought under control, as the operators have commenced relocation to their structures at the new site.
Recall that there had been serious feud over a directive by the Manager of the airport, Mr. Michael Area, for food vendors and their allies to relocate to the new site.
They insisted that the new site was too distant and hence, would negatively affect patronage from customers, with possible loss.
They further also insisted that it wouldcost them much money to put up another structure, given the economic situation in the country, since the airport management did not build any structure for them, apart from providing the empty land they have to also pay for.
The situation had led to flexing of muscles, which made the Airport Manager to order for sealing of all shops, resulting in scarcity of food, as airport users could not find a place to eat, apart from the only Genesis fast food spot available.
As at last Friday, The Tide observed that most of the food vendors had transferred their structures to the new place, and had started doing business there already.
Meanwhile, customers have started settling down at the new location as they were seen patronising shops for foods and drinks, in spite of the distance.
Few of the remaining structures at the old site, The Tide further gathered, will also be removed as quickly as possible, and the owners are making efforts to get funds for the job to be done.
One of them, Mrs Aka Love explained that she was going to relocate to the new place before the end of March.
Currently, business activities at the old site have come to null, as the place which was usually a beehive of food, drinks and relaxation, has completely winded down.
By: Corlins Walter
Business
MOWCA Strengthens Maritime Crime Prevention
Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr. Paul Adalikwu, has stepped up interaction with the United States Government to lift restrictions placed on some member countries allegedly implicated in illicit shipping activities.
Adalikwu, who led a delegation from the MOWCA Secretariat to the US Embassy in Abidjan for a first leg of the strategic consultation aimed at promoting seamless participation of MOWCA countries in international trade within the global maritime space, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to the best ethical and lawful maritime practices.
Addressing the U.S Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, H.E Mrs Jessica Davis Ba, the MOWCA SG stated the organisation’s interest in promoting the International Ship and Port facility Security (ISPS) code which aims at enhancing security of vessels and their ports of call.
He expressed the commitment of MOWCA in promoting environmentally friendly, safe and cost effective shipping without any encumbrance that may limit the economic potential of member countries.
Dr Adalikwu recalled that at the instance of the U.S. Department of State invitation, MOWCA participated in the 2023 Registry Information Sharing Compact (RISC) Conference in Larnaca, Cyprus, on February 28–March 1, 2023, and a virtual meeting held on June 6 2023, with Mrs Jennifer Chalmers, Officer in change of Counterproliferation Initiative.
He recalled The U.S. DOS willingness to support MOWCA’s effort for preventive maritime security through the establishment of the Center for Information and Communication (CINFOCOM) with the aim to ensure a maritime situational awareness domain within MOWCA’s member states’ waters.
He added that MOWCA under his watch is committed to training and retraining of maritime practitioners and experts to enhance the human capital capabilities of member states.
The CINFOCOM will help prevent transnational crimes committed at sea like sanctions evasion by North Korea and other state actors, who exploit poor enforcement due diligence by ship open registries to circumvent United Nations and U.S. trade restrictions.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Business
Nigeria’s Public Debt Hits N97.3trn – DMO
The Debt Management Office (DMO) has hinted that Nigeria’s public debt increased by 10.7 per cent from N87.87 trillion in the third quarter of last year, to N97.34 trillion as at December 31, 2023.
DMO, in an update data released last Friday, said the increase in the debt stock was largely due to new domestic borrowing by the Federal Government to part finance the deficit in the 2024 Appropriation Act and disbursements by multilateral and bilateral lenders.
The office noted that the N97.3 trillion public debt comprises of domestic debt of N59.12 trillion and external debt of N38.22 trillion. The sum of $3.5 billion was used to service external debt during the review period.
“Nigeria’s Public Debt Stock as at December 31, 2023 was N97.34trillion or $108.229 billion. This amount comprises the domestic and external debt stocks of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), the 36 States Governments, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“There was an increase of N9.43 trillion over the comparative figure for September, 2023, which was largely due to new domestic borrowing by the FGN to part finance the deficit in the 2024 Appropriation Act and disbursements by multilateral and bilateral lenders.
“At N59.12 trillion, total domestic debt accounted for 61 percent of the total public debt stock, while external debt at N38.22 trillion accounted for the balance of 39 percent.
“Consistent with the debt management strategy, Nigeria’s external debt stock was skewed in favour of loans from multilateral (49.77 percent) and bilateral lenders (14.02 percent) or total of 63.79 percent which are mostly concessional and semi-concessional.
“Whilst the DMO continues to employ best practice in public debt management, the recent and on-going efforts of the fiscal authorities to shore up revenue will support debt sustainability”, DMO stated.
By: Corlins Walter
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