Business
Maritime Stakeholders Want Dev Of Eastern Ports
The Strategy Group of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS) and other maritime stakeholders have called for more infrastructural facilities in the Eastern ports to attract good patronage.
They made the call in a communique made available on Friday in Lagos by the President, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Mr Andy Isichei, after a one-day Strategy Group meeting organised by the chamber.
According to the communique, the Eastern ports are currently experiencing sub-optimal utilisation and there is need to address this issue in the light of the current government’s policy drive on diversification of the Nigerian economy.
“The challenges of the Eastern ports reflect on the challenges of the Nigerian maritime sector as a whole.
“Addressing the issue requires an integrated, holistic and an all-inclusive approach in addressing the Nigerian maritime sector.
“One of the first issues experienced by the Eastern ports is security. Security in this instance needs to be addressed from four levels namely; social, economic, environmental and physical security challenges.
“The other issue with the Eastern ports is the interference of the communities with activities on the government right of way.
“The lack of a comprehensive shipping policy derivable from an equally comprehensive transport policy for Nigeria has made it difficult for adequate planning, implementation and addressing ports infrastructure, multimodal activities around the ports among others,’’ the communique said.
The communique noted that “there is the need for a comprehensive shipping policy for Nigeria’’.
The communique pointed out that that security needed a holistic, integrated and multi-level approach.
“The acceleration of the development of deep seaports and its attendant infrastructure facilities will significantly increase the economic benefits of the Nigerian maritime sector.
“The ports should be automated to reduce the issues of corruption and gridlocks at major Nigerian ports. This is in addition to managing containerised transportation that has become the order of the day in maritime cargo logistics and transportation.
“The development of the Eastern ports will require increasing the awareness of the existence of these ports. Awareness needs to be active and not a passive approach.
“Such active awareness include educating the communities on international shipping best practices.
“Educating the shipping communities to enable them have a better understanding of the mutual reciprocal benefits to the communities and shipping companies.
“Reducing tariffs across board for maritime business activities and particularly in the Eastern ports, will significantly increase the traffic to those ports,’’ the communique stated.
The communique, however, noted that the increased usage of the ports, particularly the Eastern ports, would transform significantly to increase in the economies of scale as well as boost the local economy around the port areas.
“In addressing the security issues around the Eastern ports, there is need for economic integration through poverty alleviation initiatives as well as training and development of human capital.
“This is to reduce the community interference on the government right of way and outside the ports.
“Diversification of the economy, particularly with respect to the maritime sector will greatly boost the Nigerian economy and will address government’s policy on Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria,” it noted.
For officers and men of the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the battle is not over until smuggling is over.
In the wake of Wednesday May, 8, 2024, the ever vigilant officers, acting on a tip-off, intercepted 177 sacks and 61 kegs of 25 litres containing petroleum products, valued at about N8.750,000million.
The items were intercepted along Isalu Creek, Badagry Waterway en-route Benin Republic.
While briefing newsmen, the Command’s Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye, said: “This seizure is most economically significant to the Command at this period of scarcity of Petroleum Products, especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in our cities, and shows the anticipatory posture in our response to economic saboteurs.
“At about 2:330hrs on Wednesday 8th May 2024, while on joint patrol by teams in the Command, credible intelligence was received of the movement of 2 boats laden with what was suspected to be petroleum products concealed in sacks. Upon receipt of the information, the team moved into Isalu creeks, Badagry waterway.
“On sighting the approach of the Officers, the smugglers took to their heels through the shore of the Creek. The loaded boats were then towed to the station at Badagry where preliminary examination was conducted and transferred to Western Marine Command Headquarters, Ibafon, Apapa, Lagos.
“Careful examination at the Command Headquarters revealed that the arrest was found to contain One Hundred and Seventy Seven (177) Sacks and Sixty One (61) Kegs of 25 Litres Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) containing Twelve Thousand Five Hundred (12,500) Liters with a total Duty Paid Value standing at Eight Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N8,750,000) only”.
Bamisaiye noted that the action of the smugglers is a contravention of Section 245 & 254 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 which the service, through Western Marine Command, is responsible for enforcing.
“The Command, under the leadership of Compt. PK Bamisaiye, is poised more than ever to rid the waterways of all acts of smuggling and economy sabotage for the benefit of the growth of economy of Nigeria”, he said
Bamisaiye said so far, no suspect was arrested in the Command’s anti-smuggling operations.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Petroleum products being sought by motorists have disappeared from virtually all filling stations within Lagos and its environs, but are now booming in business in retail outlets.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that while the product could not be got at some of the petrol service stations, activities are in top gear in the local retail outlets where the price has gone beyond the reach of users.
It was also gathered that in some filling stations supplied with the products, preference are often given to retail outlet operators by petrol attendants against the consuming public.
A source, directly involved in the business, said some petrol dealers are cashing on the irregular supply to divert the products to retail outlets where they could easily make their gains.
It was also gathered that some sales representatives in the service of major oil marketing firms indulged in the diversion exercise because of their personal interest.
At the retail outlets a liter goes for N950,00 against the normal N760,to N800 at some stations.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) has confirmed the appointment of five Deputy Comptroller-Generals (DCGs) and eight Assistant Comptrollers-General (ACGs) of Customs during its 59th regular meeting.
The meeting, chaired by the Honorable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, was held at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja last Tuesday.
National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, gave details of the confirmed appointments as: O.O. Peters (DCG /Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (rtd); B.M. Jibo (DCG Enforcement Inspection & Investigation); and B.U. Nwanfor (DCG Excise, Free Trade Zone & Industrial Incentives).
Others are: S.A. Bomia (DCG, Commander Training and Doctrine Command); and C.K. Niagwan (DCG, Tariff & Trade).
The Assistant Comptrollers General (ACGs) are: B. Imam (ACG Board); A.A.S. Oloyede (ACG, Trade & Tariff); S.K. Dangaldima (ACG/Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘B’); A. Abdul Azeez (ACG/Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘D’); S.A. Yusuf (ACG, Human Resource Development); N.P. Umoh (ACG, Training and Doctrine Command); C.O. Obih (ACG/Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘C’); and S. Chiroma (ACG, Strategic Research and Policy).
The new appointments, according to the statement, were made to fill the vacancies created by some senior officers who recently retired from the Service, noting that the principles of federal character, seniority and merit guided the appointments approved by the board.
“These appointments are a testament to the officers’ exemplary services and dedication to the Nigeria Customs Service. The NCSB remains committed to providing strategic leadership to ensure effective and efficient service delivery for optimum performance”, he said.
While thanking the retired members of the management for their meritorious services, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, congratulated the newly confirmed officers and charged them to redouble their efforts to ensure the service attains greater heights in its mandates of revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, and trade facilitation amongst others.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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