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Shareholders, Dealers Differ On Certificates Verification Fees

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13 years ago

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Shareholders and dealers, have disagreed on the increasing
cost of verifying share certificates for the ongoing de-materialisation.

The disagreement among the capital market operators in Lagos
followed a circular by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) stipulating
that the exercise was free.

Investigations showed that contrary to the SEC’s directives,
most stock broking firms still charge shareholders between N500 and N1,000 as
fees, depending on the location of the registrars.

SEC on March 13 issued the circular making January1, 2013,
the deadline for the de-materialisation of all share certificates.

According to the circular, all share certificates
de-materialised on or before January1, 2013, will be free while those that come
after attract an unspecified penalty.

It also said that the allotment of shares of public
offerings would be electronically transferred directly to the shareholders’
accounts in the Central Security Clearing System (CSCS).

Mr Sunny Nwosu, the National Coordinator, Independent
Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), said that shareholders were being
short changed by the dealers, in spite of their losses.

Nwosu described the charges for verification as part of the
market’s flaws affecting investor confidence.

The ISAN boss urged SEC to ensure that it implemented the
extant rules guiding the operations of the market.

He also charged SEC to emphasise inclusive capital market
regulation by partnering stockbrokers and shareholders on the development and
growth of the capital market.

Mr Boniface Okezie, the President of the Progressive
Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), described the inability of the
commission to protect the interest of local investors

as unfortunate.

Okezie said it was illogical that shareholders’ burden
increased daily through multiple taxes, in spite of the commissions earned by
the SEC, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and dealers from their portfolio
investments.

Dr David Ogogo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute
of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR), Lagos, urged stakeholders who owned
capital to convene a meeting to address the current challenges facing the
market.

Ogogo suggested that the cost of verification should be
treated in isolation but in the context of service delivery in a depressed
capital market.

Mr Emeka Madubuike, the President of the Lagos-based
Association of Stock broking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), said that the charges
were decided by the various firms.

Madubuike, who claimed the dealers were ignorant of the SEC
circular or notice on share certificate verification, noted that the commission
had failed to implement or enforce the order.

He said that the verification fee was for incidentals, such as
transportation and activities that would enable dealers’ personnel to follow up
on the investors’ instructions.

“The issue of brokers’ charges will be looked into and dealt
with so that it doesn’t act as an impediment to the de-materialisation policy,”
Madubuike said.

According to Alhaji Rasheed Yussuf, the immediate past
President of ASHON, the verification fees “are just transport expenses for the
prosecution of investors’ orders.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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1 week ago

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June 27, 2025

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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1 week ago

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June 27, 2025

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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1 week ago

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June 27, 2025

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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