Maritime

CP Hails Reduction Of Crime At Lagos Port

Published

11 years ago

June 13, 2014

The Commissioner of Po
lice, Ports Operations, Apapa, Lagos, Mr Kayode Aderanti, said there was significant reduction in the activities of criminals called port rats at the various terminals.
Aderanti told our correspondent in Lagos that port police had taken various proactive measures to curb the problem.
“The issue of port rats seems to have gone down drastically. We have been taking lot of proactive steps to nip the problem in the bud.
“If the rats are no longer there definitely the port will be free from all these cankerworms. We believe that they are irritants and we have done things to sanitise the port,’’ he said. The commissioner said that only persons that had genuine business at the port would be allowed in the vicinity.
“You should know that the port is not a ‘Jankara market’, it is meant for people that transact special businesses.
“The fact that you are a clearing agent does not give you the freedom to go in and out of the port.
“If you are a clearing agent you must have genuine business transaction to conduct in the port before you are allowed into the port,’’ Aderanti said. He warned that the period when people just hang around the Customs area under the excuse that they are customs agents or freight forwarders was over.
Aderanti said the command was doing everything possible to ensure that only genuine people transacted business at the port and in a secured environment.
“In the past three or four weeks, I have been able to meet with chief security officers, clearing bodies, labour unions and customs within the ports.
“I have been able to sensitise them on the ways I want to approach these issues in a proactive manner.
“There is need for us to work together to create a multi-efficient programme to tackle insecurity.
“ I want to ensure we tackle the problem of those who cause damage in the port. Soon I will also hold a meeting with terminal operators, managing directors and shipping lines,’’ he said.
Aderanti said the police would act promptly anytime it received report of diversion of cargoes at the port.
No fewer than 700 seafarers were trained Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on the seafarers Training and Certification Workshops (STCW) to enable them update their mandatory certificates, NIMASA Labour Inspectors.
The Director General of NIMASA, Mr Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi dropped this hint during a special session with shipowners, seafarer.
Employers, manning Agents and seafarers on Maritime Labour convention 2006, at Hotel Presidential Port Harcourt last Friday.
Represented by Barr. Callistus Obi, Akpobolokemi said the Agency is very passionate about ensuring that Nigerian seafarers got placement on both Nigeria and foreign flagged vessels.
He disclosed that the Agency under his administration had also committed huge resources towards the training of cadets through various programmes like the Nigeria Seafarers Development Programme.
According to him, the special session was to enable shipowners, employers of seafarers, manning agents and seafarers know their rights and obligations under the Maritime Labour Convention MLC 2006, which had been ratified in Nigeria, and commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his unflinching support towards the training and welfare of seafarers.
In his remarks, the co-ordinator of NIMASA, Eastern Zone, Mr Anthony Ogadi recalled the origin of MLC 2006 which started at the General Conference of the International Labour Organisation, and that Nigeria had shown strong resolve toward actualizing the provisions of the convention.
Ogadi said as the country’s apex regulatory agency, their responsibility has beento ensure that commitment of the Federax Government towards implementing the provisions of the convention is upheld, pointing out that the Agency has put necessary machineries for the domestication of the convention.
He hinted that NIMASA is ready to synergise with relevant stakeholders in ensuring effective implementation of the provisions of the convention, adding, “As we look forward to the entry into force of the convention on 18th June, 2014, it is expected that all stakeholders will all reposition their offices and operational platform to embrace the new system and to comply with the provision of the convention”.
The zonal co-ordinator further noted that, “I have no doubt in my mind that we are better informed on our rights and obligations as shipowners and seafarers respectively”.
The special session had an interactive section where stakeholders asked question boarding on activities within Rivers marine sector

Maritime

NSC Decries Police Interferences With Cargoes At Seaports

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has decried interferences with cargoes by police at the seaports.

NCS said such action has disrupted cargo dwell time, increased demurrage and storage charges payable by consignees.

Executive Secretary, NSC, Dr Pius Akutah, made this known at a one-day training programme for officers of the Maritime Police and other security stakeholders, in Lagos.

The training with the the theme: “Facilitating Port Efficiency: The Strategic Role of the Police,” was organised by the NSC in collaboration with the Maritime Police Command of the Nigeria Police Force.

Represented by the Director, Regulatory Services Department, NSC, Mrs Margaret Ogbonnah, Akutah said that police interference with cargoes had also led to increase in the cost of doing business in Nigerian ports.

He noted that several reports brought to the attention of the NSC by stakeholders pointed to incessant interference in the cargo clearance processes, placement of detention orders on duly cleared cargoes, thereby barring its exit from the port terminals.

Akutah said that port operators, especially personnel of shipping line agencies and terminals, also complained of intimidation by the police officers, who, in turn, claim that they are acting on intelligence reports.

The Secretary explained that the council had on several occasions carried out investigations on the matter to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the claims.

He said that intimidation of ports operators had in most cases been confirmed, adding that these practices were carried out by various police formations without the knowledge of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).

“This development, therefore, led to robust engagement by the council with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to put a stop to these practices and to ensure adherence to process in matters of container detention and other port related issues.

“As a result, the Assistant Inspector General AIG, Maritime Police Command notified key stakeholders vide a letter dated Dec. 11, 2018 about its decision to collectively streamline the plethora of letters being issued by various un-authorised persons on behalf of the Police.

“The IGP also directed all key stakeholders to disregard any correspondence without the signature of the AIG or officers nominated by him.

“Together, we have achieved quite a lot, although we cannot rest on the past achievements because some of these infractions still occur either deliberately or due to ignorance on the part of the officers involved.

” Our main focus has to be firmly on attaining international best practices”.

“In essence the meeting between the NSC and the Inspector General of Police; the issue of capacity building for officers of the maritime police was discussed in order to enlighten and educate them on the nitty-gritty of port operations and the role of the police,” Akutah said.

Also Speaking, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Chinedu Oko, represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police Administration, Ports Authority Police (Western) Command, Olufikayo Fawole, explained that the Maritime Police, was a specialised arm of the Nigeria Police Force.

Fawole said that the maritime police played a critical role in securing maritime assets, mitigating threats, combating cargo-related crimes, preventing pilferage and vandalism, and ensuring the smooth flow of legitimate trade.

“Our mandate is not just to enforce the law but also to protect the economic lifeblood of our nation.

“Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global maritime economy is influenced greatly by the level of safety, predictability, and confidence that stakeholders experience at our ports.

“This is why continuous training is essential. The operational landscape is evolving, new technologies, changing criminal patterns, multimodal logistics, and international compliance requirements all demand that our officers become smarter, more proactive, better informed, and better equipped.

“Through this programme, participants will gain valuable insights into modern port operations, cargo handling procedures, supply-chain vulnerabilities, and best practices for promoting trade facilitation while maintaining robust security,.

The AIG pledged the police’ continuous commitment in ensuring secure port system, adding that the force would contribute more to national prosperity, economic stability, and Nigeria’s overall competitiveness in global trade.

Maritime

NIMASA :FG Appoints Iyelolu As Registrar Of Ships

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, has approved the appointment of Barrister Adenike Adeyele Iyelolu as the Registrar of Ships

for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Her appointment, which is for a four-year tenure, follows the recommendation of the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola.

In line with the NIMASA Act 2007, the Registrar of Ships will report directly to the Director General for the effective administration of the Nigerian Ship Registry.

The Act provides that “the Registrar of Ships shall, with the approval of the Minister, be appointed by the Director General from among the staff of the Agency.”

According to a press statement issued by the Head of Public Relations, NIMASA, Edward Osagie, the new Registrar who is currently a Deputy Director in the employ of NIMASA is an accomplished legal and maritime governance professional with over twenty-five (25) years of post-call experience spanning maritime and legal practice, arbitration, procurement, contract administration, corporate governance, and institutional leadership amongst others.

Barr. Iyelolu’s appointment comes following the retirement of the former Registrar of Ships, Barr. Tajudeen Giwa, after years of commendable service.

Maritime

Cargo Tracking System’ II Save Nigeria N900bn In Revenue Leakages ……SEREC

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) says implementing the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) will save Nigeria an estimated N900 billion annually in revenue leakages.

Head of Research at the Centre, Dr Eugene Nweke, stated this in a document on its policy commentary on

the Urgent Imperative of Implementing the ICTN in Nigeria, and made available to newsmen.

Nweke said that the system, when implemented, could cut cargo clearance time by 25 to 35 per cent and curb trade malpractices by 40 per cent within 18 months, boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness and credibility in the regional maritime economy.

The Director described ICTN as a trade facilitation system aimed at improving transparency, security and efficiency in Nigeria’s ports.

According to him, it enables pre-arrival processing of cargo data for faster clearance, reduces demurrage and documentation time, curbs illicit trade, closes revenue leakages and enhances Nigeria’s competitiveness in global maritime trade.

He disclosed that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, is the lead agency implementing the ICTN.

“The NSC would do it in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)”

He expressed concern that in spite of the Federal Executive Council approval of the implementation of the ICTN in 2023, it was yet to be implemented.

“Without this pre-verification system, Nigeria’s trade regulators would continue to operate in a reactive intelligence model, allowing room for cargo concealment, under-declaration and falsified manifests.

“Experts estimated that the delay in implementation could lead to an estimated annual loss from non standardised cargo declarations and transshipment concealment between N800 billion and N1.2 trillion.

“Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Angola recorded an 18 to 22 per cent rise in customs revenue and a 30 per cent drop in port clearance delays within two years of adopting ICTN.

“The countries also saw a 40 per cent fall in false declarations during the same period.

“The delayed implementation could also affect the smooth implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) projected for the first quarter of 2026 and the modernisation drive of the Nigerian Customs Service,” he explained.

Nweke added that with customs modernisation advancing rapidly and the NSC approaching rollout, Nigeria must not operationalise these systems without ICTN integration or risk reinforcing data fragmentation.

“Government must recognise ICTN not as a competing system, but as a strategic enabler of all other reforms.

“The ICTN should serve as the data feeder layer into the National Single Window, Customs modernisation and port efficiency frameworks,“ he stated.

The Director also noted that although various digital modernisation efforts were underway in the maritime sector, the ICTN remained the key missing link needed to fully integrate trade intelligence across the system.

He emphasised that the continued delay in ICTN deployment poses critical national risks, including revenue leakage, national security exposure, reputational deficit and a fragmented digital ecosystem.

“The absence of verifiable pre-shipment data weakens Nigeria’s ability to detect high-risk or illicit consignments (arms, drugs, waste cargo, etc.) before arrival.

“Nigeria remains among the few major trading nations in West and Central Africa without an operational electronic cargo note system, affecting investor confidence in its maritime sector.

“It has also impacted the country’s compliance ratings under the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) guidelines”, Nweke said.

By: Chinedu Wosu