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Maritime

ISAN Tasks FG On Cabotage

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The Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), has
asked the Federal Government to put in place incentives to enable indigenous
operators perform better in domestic shipping, otherwise known as cabotage.

General Secretary of ISAN, Capt. Olaniyi Labinjo, made the
plea during an interview with our correspondent on Monday in Lagos.

“There are no established rewarding incentives as well as
patronage policies and guidelines for Nigerian operators engaged in domestic
shipping.

“This is unlike what obtains in other maritime jurisdictions
such as the UK, US, Canada, India, Indonesia and Malaysia, where their
governments have robust promotional and support initiatives,” he said.

Labinjo recalled that the association had submitted a
memorandum to the National Assembly in this regard during the Presidential
Maritime Retreat held in Abuja in July.

The ISAN scribe said that there was need to develop several
incentives, including cargo support, tax relief, duty waivers for ships and
spares.

He also urged government to provide financial incentives and
reduce port and harbour dues for cabotage vessels.

Labinjo expressed concern on the absence of a conducive
environment for the indigenous shipping fleet, adding that government should
encourage local ship owners who, according to him, have invested so much in the
business.

He also suggested exemptions from customs duty, company tax,
exemption of seafarers from tax, as some forms of relief which could be granted
the ship owners.

“The Cabotage Act at present provides that Nigerians must
carry 50 per cent of Nigerian-generated cargo, but since inception in 2004, not
one tonne has been carried by a Nigerian and there is need for this to be
corrected.

“Government fails to realise that by buying one ship and
giving incentives, so many people would be employed.

“ For example, the maritime newspaper publishers, insurance
companies, legal professionals and all other persons providing ancillary
services will be employed, ” he said.

Labinjo added that part of the recommendations of ISAN is a
call for the establishment of a board that would be responsible for licensing
of cabotage vessels and granting waivers to applicants, after giving indigenous
ship owners the first option of refusal.

He suggested that the composition of the board should
include a representative of ISAN, with the board being responsible to the
Minister of Transport.

“This is in line with practices in other jurisdictions,
namely USA, UK, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Canada.

“Therefore, Sections 10 to 22 of the Cabotage Act should be
amended.” he added.

The ISAN scribe also urged that government should review the
penalties for contravening the Cabotage Act, saying that compared with other
jurisdictions, the penalties were light.

“We propose a very stiff penalty under Part VII, Sections
35-41 to include, but not limited to forfeiture of the offending vessel, a fine
of a minimum of N200 million and imprisonment for a minimum term of five years,
to deter would-be offenders.

He said that another area the association suggested for
review in the Act was the requirement for vessels to be built in Nigeria.

Labinjo, however, noted that this might be difficult as the
country lacked regular power supply and the raw material, steel

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Maritime

Lagos Ready For International Boat Race–LASWA

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The Lagos State Government says it is fully prepared to host the forthcoming international boat race, assuring participants and residents of adequate safety on waterways.
The General Manager, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Emmanuel Oluwadamilola, while speaking to Newsmen, at the Weekend, said the state had over the years invested heavily in safety infrastructure to secure its waterways.
Oluwadamilola explained that Lagos had consistently enhanced facilities, making it the safest state for water transportation in Nigeria, with all necessary safety infrastructure in place.
He said patrol boats had been deployed, while collaboration with the Marine Police and the Nigerian Navy would ensure effective surveillance across the waterways.
He added that Lagos now operated a control room using advanced technology to monitor waterways, describing it as the best time to host such an event.
According to him, the government had also undertaken shoreline cleaning, provided security boats, and designated docking zones for vessels participating in the competition.
“We are delighted this race can now happen in Lagos, proving the state’s readiness and capacity to successfully host such an international event,” he said
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Maritime

NCS Sensitises Stakeholders On Automated Overtime Cargo Clearance System

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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has sensitised stakeholders in Zones B and D ob the newly introduced Automated Overtime Cargo Clearance and Disposal System.
The sensitisation, held at the Customs Training College, Goron Dutse, Kano, at the Weekend, was themed ‘Driving Transparency, Efficiency and Accountability in Cargo Clearance’.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the initiative was designed to deliver an efficient, transparent, and technology-driven process for managing overtime cargo clearance and disposal.
Represented by the Controller in charge of Post Clearance Audit Zone B, Mrs Deborah Adeyemi, Adeniyi said the system would address congestion, paperwork, bottlenecks, abandoned cargo and delays in clearance processes that had slowed economic activity.
“This initiative marks a turning point in our operations.
“With the Automated Overtime Cargo Clearance and Disposal System, we are demonstrating that Customs can be both a facilitator of trade and a guarantor of integrity,” the CGC said.
Adeniyi explained that the platform would enable the stakeholders, including consignees, customs brokers, terminal operators, and customs officers, to apply, track and receive approvals online without physical contact.
He said the system was backed by the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which provides the legal framework for electronic processes, overtime cargo timelines and disposal consignments after 120 days, with provisions for condemnation, auction or other disposal methods.
The Custom’s boss listed the benefits to include transparency through time-stamped actions, accountability through strict timelines, efficiency in terminal operations and data integrity with all documents integrated on Customs servers.
He urged stakeholders across the commands in Kano/Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger and Kogi to familiarise themselves with the process, train their teams and constructively engage with Customs officers for effective implementation.
“The Nigeria Customs Service is not merely automating a process, we are transforming a culture.
“Delay, opacity and congestion are being replaced with efficiency, transparency and accountability,” the CGC said.
In his remarks, the Customs Area Controller, Kano/Jigawa Command, Mr Dalhatu Abubakar, assured the stakeholders that the command was committed to eliminating overtime cargo.
“As terminal operators, with proper sensitisation and capacity building, we have no reason to admit cargo as overtime in Kano.
“I urge you to take this opportunity seriously to achieve that,” he said.
Also speaking, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Headquarters, A. A Abdulkadir, explained that the system was not new but a digital transformation of the manual overtime cargo clearance process, which comes with added simplicity and efficiency.
The Chairman, Clearing Agents Association, Kano, Alhaji Hafiz Rilwan, on behalf of the stakeholders, commended the CGC for the initiative and pledged to support its implementation through wider sensitisation.
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Maritime

Minister Tasks Academy On Thorough-Bred Professionals

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Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has charged the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) to remain committed towards producing thorough-bred professionals for the maritime industry.
Oyetola gave the charge at the 2025 third quarter Citizens’ and Stakeholders’ Engagement of the Institution, in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, with the theme ‘Implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy for Onboard Training of Nigerian Merchants Navy Cadets and the Critical Needs of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria’.
Represented by the Deputy Director, Research, Planning and Statistics, MAN, Joshua Ayebameru, the minister urged the authorities of the institution not to compromise standards.
Oyetola said “Over the years, the academy has trained qualified personnel for the maritime industry. The academy remains a cornerstone institution in the maritime sector.
“Through its programmes, training, and commitment to excellence, the academy continues to produce the manpower required to keep the sector vibrant and competitive”.
Oyetola further stated that the engagement was to enable stakeholders brainstorm on how to advance Nigeria’s marine and blue economy through collaborations, training and innovation.
He insisted that seafarers, cadets, and other maritime professionals from the institution must be well-equipped to compete globally and to drive the growth and sustenance of the sector.
The minister called for stakeholders collaboration towards developing the maritime sector, saying, “the future of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy depends on all of us”
In his remarks, the Chairman of MAN’s Governing Council, Kehinde Akinola, said that the council had developed a comprehensive five-year strategic development plan for the academy.
Akinola said that the plan, when approved, would accelerate institutional reforms, enhance training standards, deepen industry linkages, and reposition the academy for greater efficiency.
He said that the governing council was partnering shipowners and operators to secure practical training for the cadets.
“It is an obligation because we must prepare our cadets to meet international standards,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Kevin Okonna, the Acting Rector of the academy, Dr Kevin Okonna, noted that the academy, within the past 10 months, had been repositioned to enhance teaching and learning.
Okonna said that the institution had been collaborating with maritime professional associations and the academy’s alumni to facilitate the employment of more maritime professionals.
“We have employed about seven marine professional lecturers to enhance cadets teaching and learning.
“We have also obtained the commitment of shipowners and their associations to provide onboard training opportunities for our cadets,” he said.
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