MARITIME THIS WEEK: Recap of News, Events

MONDAY MARCH 9, 2020

Abiodun OBA |

Bashir Jamoh: Old Kid on the Block

On Wednesday, March 11th, 2020, there would be a change of guard at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as the incumbent Director-General, Dakuku Peterside, winds down his first term of four-year tenure on Tuesday, March 10th, 2020.

On Wednesday, Bashir Jamoh, who till Tuesday, March 10th, 2020, is the Executive Director, Finance and Administration in the agency, would take over the mantle of leadership as the new Director-General of NIMASA.

As much as the ascension of Jamoh to the top position in NIMASA enjoyed overwhelming industry support and endorsement, it was however crafted in drama.

Maersk to provide logistics support for FMCG Companies in Nigeria

Maersk has unveiled a plan to provide logistics and supply chain management support for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies in Nigeria.

FMCGs are products that are sold quickly and at a relatively low cost. They include non-durable household goods such as packaged foods, beverages, toiletries, over-the-counter drugs, and other consumables. These products are usually consumed on a small scale and are generally available in a variety of outlets including grocery stores, supermarkets, and warehouses.

The Head, Marketing and Business Development, Africa Region of Maersk, Anita De Werd, said in Lagos recently that the company aims to support Nigerian FMCG companies in effectively managing their inventories and product delivery.

NISA wants new NIMASA DG to give priority to stakeholders

Nigerian Indigenous Ship-owners Association (NISA) has appealed to the incoming leadership of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to make the interest of stakeholders a priority.

The appeal is coming on the heels of the expiration of the tenure of Dakuku Peterside as the DG of the apex maritime agency.

Recall that Dr. Bashir Jamoh, the present Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the agency was reportedly endorsed by the federal government to take over from Dakuku as the next DG of the agency.

TUESDAY MARCH 10, 2020

Dakuku bows out as NIMASA DG — hands over to Jamoh in Lagos today

The former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside will hand over to the Dr Bashir Jamoh on(today) Tuesday March 10,2020, by 10am.

A reliable source had informed yesterday that the official handover will take place at the headquarters of the agency in Apapa.

The source said, “Dr Dakuku Peterside and his management team will tomorrow (today) handover to Dr Bashir Jamoh by 10 am. A new management team will be announced because the tenure of the management team expired with the DG.

Aside Dr Peterside, others on the management team expected to hand over to the new team are Rotimi Fasakin, Executive Director Operations; Bashir Jamoh, Executive Director, Finance and Administration and Gambo Ahmed, Executive Director, Maritime, Labour and Cabotage.

So, Peterside and all the executive directors will hand over to the new management team.

APM Terminals set to acquire more equipment to stave off cargo glut

The Management of APM Terminals Apapa said on Monday, that it had placed orders for more equipment to cope with the significant growth at the Lagos Port.

The clarification is coming on the heels of a report that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had issued a 30-day ultimatum to the terminal operator to address alleged lapses, which had reportedly resulted in port congestion.

The ultimatum, which was reportedly given to the company last month, would expire this week.

Breaking: Okorie Appointed As NIMASA Board Chairman

Mr. Okorie Asita has been appointed as the new Board Chairman, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The appointment, which was announced today shows Asita taking over from Maj. Gen. Jonathan India Garba (Rtd).

Asita was introduced to top management employees of NIMASA today at a handing over ceremony between the former Director-General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and newly appointed DG, Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh.

Mr. Victor Ochei, the former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly was also introduced as newly appointed Executive Director in charge of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 11, 2020

Jamoh Resumes as NIMASA DG, To Pursue Policies That Would Drive Maritime Sector Forward

The newly appointed Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Bashir Jamoh, on Tuesday assumed office with a pledge to engage more deeply industry stakeholders to come up with policies that would drive the maritime sector forward.

The NIMASA boss who made the pledge on his assumption of office in Lagos shortly after taking over from Dr Dakuku Peterside, also promised to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor.

Speaking shortly after he was handed the baton of the agency, Jamoh also promised to harness deeply viable blue economy for the country.

LASG, Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority synergize to prevent flood

The Lagos State Government has established synergy and partnership with the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority to ensure the control and monitoring of the steady and systematic release of water from Oyan Dam to prevent flooding of the downstream communities.

The State Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, made this known at a news conference on the 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Predictions and prevention of flooding in the State in Alausa, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

Re-assuring Lagosians on the issue of floods, Bello said in a coastal area like Lagos, it was natural that, “sometimes when it rains, we are likely to have flash-floods on our roads as normal occurrences all over the world.

Buhari retains Hadiza as NPA Managing Director; appoints new board

President Muhammadu Buhari has renewed the tenure of Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman as Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) three months before her tenure expiration.

This is contained in a press statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

According to the press statement, Chief Akin Rickets has also been appointed as Board Chairman of the Authority

Also reappointed into the NPA management team are Mohammed Bello Koko and Idris Abdulkadir.

New appointees announced in the press statement include Onari Brown as Executive Director while Ghazali Mohammed, Sen John Akpe Akpan Udoedeghe, Sen Binta Massi Garba, Alh Mustapha Aminu Dutse and Abdulwahab Adesina are members of the board.

THURSDAY MARCH 12, 2020

Customs officers allegedly kill four Ibadan residents

No fewer than four people were, on Tuesday, allegedly killed by Customs officers in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Residents of the area gave two different narratives of the incident. While some said the victims were killed when a seized truck controlled by Customs officers hit road users, others said the victims were shot during a protest following the truck accident.

It was gathered that the protest occurred opposite the NCS barracks in Ijokodo area of Ibadan. The barracks is located along the Ijokodo-Apete Road.

Witnesses said the trouble started when some Customs officers seized a trailer carrying prohibited items into the country.

The officers after seizing the trailer were said to be driving it to their barracks.

A witness said the trailer’s brake failed and the driver lost control of the vehicle which hit some commuters.

Ship Owners Risk Vessels Detention Over IMO’s Sulphur Regulation

Port state control authorities have started enforcing the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Sulphur 2020.

The IMO from 1st March has made it an offense for ships to carry fuel that contains a sulphur content higher than 0.5 percent unless the ship has an Exhaust Gas Cleaning System.

The International Chamber of Shipping reminds ship owners and operators of the impending ban and reiterates the fact that any ship found to be non-compliant faces the prospect of detention.

As of March 1st, enforcement agencies will no longer have to prove usage. Showing that vessels without Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems have non-compliant fuel aboard will be enough to prove a violation.

FRIDAY MARCH 13, 2020

All Inland Container Depot Projects (ICD) to be completed soon

All Inland Container Depot Projects (ICD) in the country are being completed and commissioned as soon as possible.

The mandate given by the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amechi.

The Nigerian Shipper’s Council Director for Inland Transport Services, Mr. Akintunde Makinde made this known at a meeting with stakeholders at the NSC Corporate Headquarters in Lagos.

Makinde, who represented the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello, revealed that to facilitate the minister’s directive, the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Heipang, Jos is set to get a new investor following the buyout of the Duncan Maritime Ventures, the concessionaire of the project.

IWD: Maritime women sensitize secondary school girls on career path.

In their efforts to achieve the much-touted gender equality between men and women in the Maritime industry, a group of women has taken their campaign and mentorship programs to secondary schools.

This is part of the activities marking the celebration of International Women’s Day, 2020.

Women in Maritime WIMAfrica are poised to promote collaboration, more participation of women in maritime activities at both national, regional and international levels.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “I am generation equality: realizing women’s right with campaign equal rights.

Hajia Bola Muse, President, WIM Nigeria told journalists at a function that the association wants to ensure the advancement of gender equality in the Maritime industry as well as to bridge the gap of existing imbalance.

Threat of flood of cheap supply compounds oil slump

The slump in oil is being compounded by the threat of a flood of cheap supply as Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates promised to raise output to a record high in a standoff with Russia.

Brent crude was down $2.46, or 6.9%, at $33.33 by around 1108 GMT. U.S. crude was down $2.05, or 6.2%, at $30.93.

U.S. crude was down $1.38, or 4.2%, at $31.60 after also dropping 4% in the previous session.

The two benchmarks are down about 50% from highs reached in January and had their biggest one-day declines on Monday since the 1991 Gulf War after Saudi Arabia launched a price war.

Nigeria close to being COVID – 19 free, index case and its threat to Nigeria eliminated

The Lagos State Government on Friday gave the heart-warming news when it disclosed that all 179 people on isolation who had contact with the index case, an Italian who brought Coronavirus to Nigeria, have been released.

Of the 179 people who had contact with the index case, 40 of them were quarantined in Ogun State while the remaining were monitored in Lagos State.

Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, at a news conference to give an update on Coronavirus situation in the state on Friday, said initially, 179 contacts with the Italian were traced and that since they had exceeded the mandatory 14 days isolation, they had been let go as none of them developed any symptom of the disease.