Maritime
Maritime Stakeholder Hails Court Ruling On NSC
A Port Harcourt based
stakeholder in the Maritime Industry, Nze Bob Onyeama Theodore has described the recent Federal High Court ruling on the eligibility of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) to operate as the economic regulator of port activities in the country as a landmark judgment and best thing that had happened to the industry.
In an exclusive interview with our correspondent in his office in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Theodore said the council which had been operating since 1978 had been labeled a toothless bull-dog because there was no legal backing to effectively carry out its recent assignment by the Federal Government.
The maritime guru noted that with the court ruling, NSC is expected to carry out its duties legitimately to protect the interest of all stakeholders in the Port industry.
According to him, the council with the powers vested on it, could now regulate the commercial activities of all operators in the port, stressing that their activities will also include check and balance to the terminal operators, shipping companies, importers, exporters, clearing agents, freight forwarders and other service providers as well as the port concessionaires.
He expressed optimism that with the judgment, NSC will have powers over the activities of the shipping lines commended the Federal Government for their foresight.
Theodore, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Goldlink Maritime Services Ltd further said most illegal payments, fees and activities would stop forthwith, as the whole system would adopt international best practices.
“It is a great relief to the shippers, the importers and exporters as there will be no more shipping agency charges within the Nigerian maritime sector,” he opined, pointing out that all those cargoes that were diverted to other neighbouring West African countries due to these illegal charges would gradually find their ways to the Nigeria seaports, and it is going to boost the economy of the country.
It would be recalled that a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos recently upheld the status of the NSC as the the economic regulator of the nation’s seaports.
The presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba also ordered that terminal operators like the Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) and Association of Shipping Line Agencies (ASLA) to revert to the various 2009 charges as directed by the NSC.
They were also directed to refund excessive revenue made from 2009 to date to the Cargo Defence Fund (CDF) as well as account for all monies collected by these shipping companies from 2009 to date as one charge or the other.
The stakeholder however advised the Nigeria Shippers Council not to over step their boundaries or go beyond their limit but ensure that they carry out their roles according to specifications and guidelines, praying God to give them the wisdom, courage and protection to stand the storm.
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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