Author: Saint Augustine

The African Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has applauded the management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) over its decision to suspend the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Valuation policy and subsequently approving one month grace period for importers and their agents to clear the backlog of vehicles at the ports. The President of the association, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite who gave the applause in a chat with newsmen in Lagos on Monday said that although the decision was delayed, it still served the purpose. His words, “We want to use this medium to thank the management…

In a renewed resolve to promote the business-friendliness of Lagos Ports, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello Koko has said the NPA is poised to deepen partnership with Lagos State Government. Speaking while he paid a courtesy and appreciation visit on the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-olu on Tuesday, Bello Koko said the traffic sanity being witnessed in Apapa is as a result of the partnership with LASG which he believes should be deepened in order to extend the success to the TinCan port axis. In a bid to promote security in the port corridors,…

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) setting out areas of collaboration in weather forecasting and climate research. Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh and his counterpart from NiMet, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu signed on behalf of both Agencies of government. The MoU is designed as a framework for NiMet to provide meteorological services for NIMASA to improve the welfare of seafarers and safety of navigation of vessels in Nigerian territorial waters in line with recommendations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Speaking shortly after the signing ceremony, NIMASA Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh expressed confidence that the forecast for maritime safety and security through NiMet from NIMASA would not…

… As VIN implementation negate port operations Even as Customs top brass grapple with technical issues militating against the economically rewarding deployment of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), there are  indications of turbulence in  administrative matters likely to significantly jeopardize operational efficiency of Customs if not immediately looked into and resolved. This Administrative hoopla has been brought to public attention by the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF),  re-echoeing  the need for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to reconsider the policy of elevating its officers who joined Customs between 2009 and 2015 and leaving behind those who joined the Service between…

… As he commissions laudable projects The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya has charged officers and soldiers of 6 Division, Nigerian Army to square up with oil thieves who are sabotaging the country’s economy by indulging in illegal oil bunkering activities in South South Nigeria. The COAS gave the charge at the Headquarters of the Division in Port Harcourt while addressing troops during an operational tour of the Division’s Area of Responsibility on Monday. Describing the oil and gas sector as the mainstay of the country’s economy, Gen. Yahaya maintained that the activities of illegal oil…

Following the suspension of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Valuation policy for one month by the Nigeria Customs Service to enable importers and their agents clear the backlog of vehicles at the seaports, the founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam has congratulated the Service for taking the action in favour of trade and humanity. Aniebonam in a statement in Lagos on Monday said that the action This underscored the continued efforts on the part of the Nigeria Customs Service to exercise restraint over the application of customs laws bothering on matters of…

A former Chairman of the Governing Council of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Aare Hakeem Olanrewaju has written the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi identifying financial interest as the major reason behind endless rancour among the freight forwarding practitioners especially during the electioneering process leading to the election of the Governing Council members. Olanrewaju who stated this in a letter dated 7th March, 2022 and made available to our correspondent acknowledged that the persistent clamour by the five accreditated associations in their 6:6:1:1:1 sharing formula quests over and in preference…

Oyo State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) has commenced the implementation of its oriented programs to tackle the menace of erosion and other environmental disaster under the World Bank Assisted project in the state. While holding meetings with Community Leaders and other Stakeholders in various benefiting communities in the state, the Project Coordinator of OYO NEWMAP, Engr. Omowunmi Yakub said Oyo State Government has graciously approved the commencement of desilting and clearing of waterways in all the mapped sites of seven Local Government Areas in the state. Engr. Yakub explained that work would commence immediately on the already mapped erosion sites to…

…Demands improvement As the electoral committee commences screening of both the candidates and voters for the forthcoming Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Governing Council election in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt, the African Association of Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has decried inadequate resources and manpower noticeable at the Lagos screening centre on the first day of the exercise. Addressing journalists on the screening exercise in his office in Lagos, the President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite noted that from the intelligence reports available to him, there were no resources for the screening exercise…

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), today, announced a one month window to enable importers clear the backlog of vehicles held up in the ports as a result of strike action embarked upon by the freight forwarders recently. The National Public Relations Officer, NCS, DC Timi Bomodi who announced the grace period in a statement in Abuja disclosed that the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.) graciously approved the one month window following the recent customs/stakeholders town hall meeting held in Lagos on VIN-Valuation, having listened to public outcry. Bomodi, however, informed that uniform application of…