MARITIME THIS WEEK: A Recap of News and Events

Abiodun OBA |

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2019

On Monday September 2, the Navy assured EFCC of its support in fighting Illegal oil dealings and other forms of maritime-related offences.

The Nigerian Navy has promised to support the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in tackling the menace of illegal oil dealings

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji, gave the assurance in Lagos during a visit by the zonal head of the Lagos office of EFCC, Mohammed Rabo, to the headquarters of the Command in Apapa,

Rabo acknowledged the existing cooperation and working relationship between the EFCC and the Navy, adding and said that the existing working relationship should be deepened.

Rabo gave an update on the progress of the cases handed over to the EFCC by the Navy and the progress recorded so far.

The FOC expressed satisfaction on the progress the Commission had made on the arrests and prosecution of maritime-related offenders.

Daji agreed to look into the challenges that might be hindering speedy prosecution of cases.

Also on Monday, the FG pledged improved security at the nation airports

Aviation Minister, Sen Hadi Sirika

The Aviation Minister, Sen Hadi Sirika, said the Federal Government would continue to improve on safety and security at the nation’s airports through training and capacity development of staff.

A statement by Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), on Monday in Lagos, quoted Sirika as making the promise at the graduation ceremony of 727 Aviation Security and Fire Service officers in Kaduna.

The minister said that the security boost, training, and capacity development across the airports were in line with the provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

He urged the graduands to put service before everything else, stressing that the ability to set priorities would determine the quality of their stewardship.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

Tokyo Typhoon: 7,000 passengers stranded at airport

!7,000 Passengers stranded at Tokyo’s Airport

On Tuesday, there was the frightening report that no fewer than 17,000 passengers were stranded overnight at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, after a direct hit from a powerful typhoon that caused transport chaos throughout the capital.

The typhoon caused more than 100 flights to be scrapped and road and rail links to the airport were also badly affected, leaving many with no transport options to the city – 70 kilometres (45 miles) to the west.

Airport spokesman Kei Miyahara told AFP that a total of 16,900 were stuck at the airport at midnight.

However, respite came when passengers began to go home or to their final destinations as buses and trains have resumed operations,” Miyahara said early Tuesday.

Narita Airport, located in Chiba to the east of Tokyo, was right in the line of fire of Typhoon Faxai, which brought winds of up to 207 kilometres (129 miles) per hour.

Suburban trains throughout the huge Tokyo metropolitan area were not reopened until 8 am on Monday as officials checked for debris and damage. This sparked pandemonium during the notoriously busy morning commute.

The chaos came as Japan is preparing to host the Rugby World Cup later this month and with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics just around the corner.

The airport operators it is believed would review their experiences and draw lessons later, Miyahara said.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

On Wednesday, Customs commissioned two -sea going vessels to curtail smuggling on waters

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (CGC), Col. Hameed Alli (rtd) has read riot acts to the officers and men of the Marine commands of the Service over management of the newly commissioned vessels.

The service commissioned two ocean going vessels; Group of Nine and Customs Pride acquired by the Service to fight smuggling on water.

The vessels which have been acquired for the past four years have been in the custody of the Nigerian Navy at the Naval Dockyard where gunnery and other necessary fire power equipment were mounted.

But speaking during the commissioning, the CG called on the officers and men of the Service to manage the vessels properly saying that if anything happened to the vessels, the officers would be held accountable.

According to Ali, so much money was invested into the procurement of the vessels as well as training of officers to man the vessels.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 12

On Thursday, there was the report that Customs ‘FOU’ returned to Tin Can Port, Intercepted already cleared containers and vehicles alike.

Fresh indications have emerged that the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service has started interception of containers and vehicles already cleared by the Tin Can Port Customs Command and the PTML Commands.

Licensed Customs Agents who confirmed this to our correspondent in Lagos alleged that the FOU officials usually storm the port area daily, and mostly at weekends to patrol the port, alleging that the unit sometimes stations in front of Hanover Bonded Terminal, PTML Terminal, Tin Can Port Gate and NPA National Building at Second Gate.

Former Public Relations Officer of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Tin Can Chapter, Mr Emmanuel Onyeme spoke with our correspondent and alleged that “We see FOU coming to the front of port gate, they come here regularly to patrol, before now they told us that FOU is only going to be at 40 meters away from the port, but right now they have started patrolling the port.

“They stay in front of National, Hanover, PTML and they also stay on the Liverpool Bridge”

“Already, if you go to the Area B, we have three sections of Customs, we have the FOU, strike force and surveillance, when you get to Mile 2, they are also there and we also have Standards Organisation of Nigeria along with them, they said they are patrolling team.

“They usually come in everyday, but mostly they come around on Saturdays, the last time they came to National, there was a fracas between them and the area boys.

“Whenever they come to the port, they stop containers, when they get to where cars are being offloaded, they would stop the offloading.

“They seize vehicles in front of the Customs long room, at the port gate, they will tell you that they are checking documents, sometimes they threaten to take you to their office, that is if you don’t parley with them and give them money”, he alleged.

Efforts to get the spokesman of FOU Zone A, Mr Jerry Attah to respond to the development proved abortive. When message was sent to him, he promised to revert back but he never did.

‘Will revert back later please, we are in a function” he said.

Also on Thursday, the Executive Secretary and CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council Barrister Hassan Bello promised 35 percent reduction in shipping costs and accused NPA of adding to cost of transactions at ports through its charges.

The Executive Secretary announced a respite for importers and other stakeholders doing business in the port that there would be a 35 percent reduction in shipping costs in October.

He said this at the third maritime stakeholders’ interactive forum held in Lagos.

Bello said this while informing the minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi that the operating environment is harsh for private sector operators.

He added that the high cost of doing business in Nigeria has made importers to relocate their cargoes to neighbouring countries.

He therefore called on the federal government to create an enabling environment for private sector operators as well as reduce cost so that Nigeria can have a comparative advantage.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13

Fire erupts aboard tanker at Norway’s Sture Terminal

A Liberian-flagged tanker caught fire while moored at the Sture terminal in Norway on September 13.

According to Norwegian oil major Equinor, the fire broke out in the engine room of the 2005-built tanker Dubai Harmony.

The ship’s captain has reported that all the 23 people aboard the ship have been accounted for.

Equinor further said that there were 102 people at the Sture terminal at the time of the incident. Everyone not involved in the response to the fire has been evacuated from the terminal as a precautionary measure, it was added.

The company did not provide additional information on possible causes of the fire.