MARITIME THIS WEEK: Recap of News, Events

MONDAY JANUARY 13, 2020

Abiodun OBA

Bandits release two abducted Customs Officers

Reprieve has finally come to two customs officers, an Inspector and a Customs Assistant, who were abducted by armed bandits, as they have now regained freedom.

They were kidnapped on last week Tuesday while on official duty along Jibya Basari Road in Katsina State.

Confirming the release, Joseph Attah, National Public Relations Officer of the Customs, said they were handed over to customs authorities by operatives of the Nigerian Army yesterday.

Reprieve has finally came to the two customs officers, an Inspector and a Customs Assistant, who were abducted by armed bandits, as they have now regained freedom.

They were kidnapped on last week Tuesday while on official duty along Jibya Basari Road in Katsina State.

Confirming the release, Joseph Attah, National Public Relations Officer of the Customs, said they were yesterday handed over to customs authorities by operatives of the Nigerian Army.

NIMASA bans Vessels Importation By 2022 to boost Cabotage regime

As part of the five-year cessation of waiver clause in Cabotage regime, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has announced that importation of certain categories of vessels will be stopped by the federal government by 2022.

Some categories of vessels will be stopped from being imported into Nigeria from 2022 in order to further strengthen capacity of local ship building facilities.

Speaking over the weekend at a press conference in Lagos, the director general of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside stated that the decision to ban importation of vessels was taken by NIMASA and has been approved by the Ministry of Finance and necessary government organs.

TUESDAY JAN 14

Recruitment: Customs shortlists 162,399 for aptitude test

The Nigeria Customs Service said it has shortlisted 162,399 candidates out of a total 828,333 candidates who applied for customs job last year.

In a press statement by the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah, on Monday, the Comptroller General of NCS expressed dismay over activities of fraudsters to discredit the process.

“Following vacancies advertisement by the Nigeria Customs Service last year and the disturbing attempts by internet fraudsters to hack and discredit the recruitment process.

Navigational Aids: NAMA Accuses Nigeria Customs of Waiver Denial

The Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) has accused the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) of denying them waivers on navigational aids.

The Agency said this at the weekend during a press briefing held in Lagos and stated that NCS did not grant the waiver to clear the CAT111 navigation aids equipment from the Lagos seaport.

The Managing Director, NAMA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu explained the agency had to pay over N100 million, before being allowed to clear the imported equipment worth about one billion Naira.

WEDNESDAY JAN 15

N1.6bn Customs Recruitment Contract, Stakeholders call for Probe

Following financial irregularity allegations levied against the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) over the approval of N1.6bn to recruit 3,200 job seekers in the on-going employment exercise by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), stakeholders in the nation’s maritime sector have demanded the immediate investigation and public hearing into the allegation of N1.6billion for recruitment of 3200 personnel for the service.

Recall that the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, Senator Ade Fadahunsi accused the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, of paying a whopping sum of N1.6 billion to a consultant for the recruitment of 3,200 personnel into the service.

Navy declares war against sea pirates over killing of personnel

The Nigerian Navy has declared war against the sea pirates that killed four of its personnel and stealing of riffles belonging to the security agency.

To this end, the Navy had declared a curfew at Gagira, a suburb of Awoye coastal community in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State at the weekend.

The Naval ratings met their death during an exchange of gunfire that ensued between them and the pirates on a rescue mission over the kidnap of three foreigners.

THURSDAY JAN 16

ANLCA urges members to support CRFFN on POF collection

The National President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr. Tony Iju Nwabunike has mandated all members of the association to comply with the directive by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) over the collection of Practitioners Operating Fee (POF).

He made this known in a memo sent to all Chapters of the association in Lagos.

Nwabunike also observed that the association as a body was established to serve as an umbrella body for all customs brokers and freight forwarders in Nigeria in line with the principles and procedures of the CRFFN as provided for under the Act No.16 of 2007.

Customs Intercepts N8.3m Smuggled Diesel to Benin Republic

The acting Customs Area Controller (CAC), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A Compt. Usman Yahaya has intercepted 1500 units of 25 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) also known as Diesel worth N8.4million set to be smuggled to Benin Republic.

In a press statement made available to newsmen by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Jerry Attah, he said 1,185 bags of foreign parboiled rice worth N24million were also seized by the unit.

Attah in the statement said the contrabands were intercepted between the first week of resumption of the acting comptroller, Compt. Usman.

FRIDAY JAN 17

Illegal Oil Bunkering: Nine suspects handed over to EFCC

Nine crew members allegedly involved in illegal oil bunkering and a motor vessel, MV Salvation, have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Benin Zonal Office for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, NNS Delta gave the names of the suspects as, Tamuno Abereniboye, John Gwuene, Simon President, Nice Bien, Daniel Aghovwieokpo and Prince Ogun.

Others are Jabu Kimidengiyefa, Daniel People and Olawale Bello.

KLT: Navy, NAGAFF, RTEAN Parley on Curbing Gridlock

The Nigerian Navy, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), KLT Chapter and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) have parleyed to tackle gridlock at the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) area.

This partnership held last Wednesday became necessary due escalated gridlock inward KLT Phase 1and 2, which affected the inflow returns of empty containers back to the facilities.

They explained that not less than fifty container laden trucks with export commodities were held up for about 48 hours without access to the lighter terminals, which triggered off apprehension among stakeholders.