MARITIME THIS WEEK : Recap of News and Events

MONDAY JANUARY 6, 2020

Abiodun OBA

FG’s Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business at Ports Failed – ANLCA

The National President, Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tony Nwabunike said the Presidential directive on ease of doing business has failed.

In an interview with newsmen in Lagos, the president said because of that, 24 hours cargo clearance has become a mirage in the country.

According to him, despite the FG’s executive order, there is still a proliferation of government agencies at the seaports.

TUESDAY JANUARY 7, 2020

Turkish Airlines accident: AIB commences investigation

The Accident Investigation Bureau has started an investigation into an incident involving an A330-300 aircraft, with registration number TC-LOL, operated by Turkish Airlines.

The General Manager, Public Affairs, AIB, Mr Tunji Oketunbi, who made this known in a statement issued in Lagos State on Sunday called on the press and the public to respect the privacy of the people involved and not to pre-empt the cause of the incident

The statement noted that the bureau was notified that at 3:30 a.m. local time, on December 31 2019, the aircraft was en route Port Harcourt from Istanbul with 295 passengers and 11 crew members on board.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 8, 2020

Customs to Strictly Enforce Government Policy on Goods

The new Customs Area Controller (CAC), Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Deputy Comptroller Chedi Dalha Wada, has said that the command will ensure strict enforcement of government fiscal policies to enhance economic growth and development.

In a press statement made available to newsmen by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Husaini Abdullahi said the ag CAC DC Wada, made the disclosure when he formally took over leadership of the Command from the immediate past CAC, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba.

KADUNA gas explosion: El-Rufai shuts retail shops

All gas refill stations located within residential areas in Kaduna state have been ordered closed.

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State who ordered the closure on Monday appealed to residents to report such gas outlets to government for immediate action.

El-Rufai who visited scene of Saturday’s gas explosion at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna said the gas refill stations should relocate to industrial layouts.

Freight Forwarders oppose POF collection at the ports

Freight forwarders and customs brokers on Tuesday kicked against the plan of the federal government to collect Practitioners Operating Fee (POF) in Nigerian Ports saying the fee would increase the cost of doing business in the port.

Recall that the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has announced the commencement of the payment of a thousand naira on 20 feet container, two thousand naira on 40 feet container, 350k per tonne on General cargo while it will cost one naira per tonne on bulk cargo to be paid to the Council.

But some aggrieved freight forwarders and Customs Brokers were miffed about the condition placed on the payment of the fee that no cargo would be allowed to exit the port without payment of the fee.

THURSDAY JANUARY 9, 2020

Port Congestion: Shippers Council to work with Customs to remove overtime cargoes.

Respite in sight as the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (ES/CEO) of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello has expressed the agency’s readiness to work with the Nigeria Customs Service to accelerate the removal of containers presently causing congestion at the nation’s seaports.

The Council boss said this when he led the Enforcement team of the agency on a working visit to AP Moller Terminal (APMT) Limited, in Lagos, recently.

Bello quipped that the Council had played similar role to the Power Holding Company Nigeria Limited (PHCN) to aid the removal of power cables from the ports in the past.

FRIDAY JANUARY 10, 2020

LPG cylinders are life endangering — SON

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has said that LPG cylinders are classified as life endangering and has been on the front burner.

Mr Bola Fashina, Special Assistant to SON Director-General, who disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja added that SON had been monitoring it for some time.

“We pay special attention to life endangering products such as LPG cylinders, iron rods, electrical materials such as cable wires and we have a very tedious procedure for certifying LPG cylinders to be imported into Nigeria.

Onne Customs Generates N135bn From Import, Export In 2019

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Area II Command, Onne Port, Rivers State has generated a total revenue of N107.3billion from Duty Paid Value on imported goods in 2019.

This was even as the command also generated $78,402,057 (N28.4billion at N362/$) from export in 2019.

This surpasses the annual target of N96billion for last year by N12billion which represents 112 percent of the target.

No setback for 2nd Niger Bridge – Ngige

The 2nd Niger Bridge project would not suffer any setback as the Federal Government has set aside the N336bn budgeted for its construction and is intact.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, gave the assurance in Awka, Anambra State, said the bridge was “speedily going on” with about 45 percent work done.

He said, “The 2nd Niger Bridge is ongoing. The contractor has made an undertaking on his own to deliver the project before the appointed date of 2022 and handover.